Nokomis: 100 years of service: Pioneer women’s club established Redmond’s first library in 1927

By Mary Stevens Decker • December 30, 2009 2:19 pm
Officers of Redmond’s Nokomis Club stand in front of an art piece called “Women of Vision” in the lobby of the Redmond Regional Library. The art commemorates the organization’s role in establishing Redmond’s first public library in 1927. From left to right are Nokomis secretary Catherine Moody
Officers of Redmond’s Nokomis Club stand in front of an art piece called “Women of Vision” in the lobby of the Redmond Regional Library. The art commemorates the organization’s role in establishing Redmond’s first public library in 1927. From left to right are Nokomis secretary Catherine Moody

Redmond’s Nokomis Club celebrated its centennial year in 2009.

Established in 1909 as an organization of pioneer women, Nokomis was named for a figure in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “The Song of Hiawatha.”

The ladies of Nokomis promoted reading and education and established Redmond’s first public library in 1927. They continued to fund and operate the library until it became part of the King County Library System (KCLS) in 1947.

Since the 1950s, the group has awarded an annual scholarship to a Redmond high school senior. Recently, Nokomis members raised $1,090 for the next Audrey Gorlick Memorial Scholarship, to be given at the end of this academic year to a graduate heading to college or a technical school.

Gorlick was a longtime Nokomis member who was profiled in the July 19, 2008 edition of the Redmond Reporter, shortly after she passed away at the age of 103.

For the most recent scholarship fundraising campaign, Nokomis member Sharon Daley spearheaded an effort to involve Redmond businesses. Accents Etcetera fashioned a gift basket including donations from 21 Redmond businesses and totaling $874.50 in merchandise. KidsArt also donated a $146 scholarship.

QFC Bella Bottega allowed Nokomis members Judy Lang and Marge Hanson to sell $550 worth of raffle tickets outside the store. QFC employee Eric Sadlier was the lucky winner of the gift basket.

Visitors to the present-day Redmond Regional Library, 15990 NE 85th St., can view a special piece of fused-glass art called “Women of Vision,” presented to the KCLS by Nokomis on March 7, 2009. The art adorns the lobby of the library as a reminder of some of Redmond’s first true champions of knowledge.