Exhibition / Sir James Reckitt: A Life of Legacy

• 18 March - 18 May 2024
• Hull Central Library Gallery
• Free

Sir James remains one of Hull’s most famous citizens. One of the driving forces behind Reckitt and Sons, an industrialist, a philanthropist and city leader. He was also a powerful advocate for public libraries and founded the first free public library in the city in 1889.

We all owe so much to his philanthropic dedication - and we give thanks for the establishment of the that manages an endowment fund established by Sir James Reckitt to support public library provision throughout the city, enabling and helping us to achieve so much for the residents of Hull today.

James died on March 18 1924, aged 91. We'll mark the centenary of his death and celebrate the life of this remarkable man with a series of special events in all our libraries throughout the year. We started the celebrations with the launch of a new exhibition 'Sir James Reckitt: A Life of Legacy', on Monday 18 March. .

Cllr Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for culture and leisure said: “Sir James Reckitt’s incredibly important work within the library service lives on today through the James Reckitt Library Trust. So it is fitting that this exhibition will be hosted here, and will open exactly 100 years since his death on 18 March 1924.”

The exhibition has been developed with local historian Mike Covell, and has received generous support from Reckitts Heritage with the chance to view several fascinating artefacts kindly on loan from the Reckitt’s archive, and from our own collections.

The framework of the exhibition includes:

• 1: THE MAN – who was James Reckitt?
• 2: BUSINESS – where he traded, what he traded in (more than just Reckitts).
• 3: PHILANTHROPY – the organisations he aided
• 4: LEGACY – expansion of Reckitt

The exhibition has been funded by the James Reckitt Library Trust and Hull Culture and Leisure Ltd and will run until Saturday 18 May.

CENTRAL LIBRARY OPENING HOURS

• Monday / 9.30am to 5pm
• Tuesday / 9.30am to 5pm
• Wednesday / 1pm to 7.30pm
• Thursday / 9.30am to 7.30pm
• Friday / 9.30am to 1pm
• Saturday / 10am to 4pm
• Sunday / Closed

www.hulllibraries.co.uk/local-library/central-library

Host or Publisher Hull Libraries