History of Stinson Memorial Library District:

The building was named for Captain Robert Burns Stinson who served with Company F-60th Illinois Veteran Volunteer Infantry , Civil War.  Upon Captains Stinson's death in 1903, he bequeathed $50,000 to the city of Anna for the construction of a library. His will stipulated that only the interest earned from the principal could be used to erect and maintain the library.  By 1913, sufficient funds were raised to support construction of the library.

Working plans for the building were drawn in June, 1913, and construction began and continued until the summer of 1914.  Dedication ceremonies for the new library were held on August 14, 1914.

The building was designed by Walter Burley Griffin, a graduate of the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois and a colleague of Frank Lloyd Wright.  From 1900 to 1905 Griffin worked with Wright designing buildings in the Prairie Style.

Griffin established an independent practice in 1905 and developed his own architectural style.  Stinson Memorial Library, with its use of native limestone and concrete, is considered to be one of Griffin's most outstanding designs.

More history can be found here.