The heart of a school is its library. For many years in the mid-20th century the Olympia High School library was led by Hazel Loomis, herself an Olympia High School graduate.
Early Life and Education of Hazel Loomis
Hazel was born to Eli and Katherine Hank Loomis on October 15, 1888, in Walla Walla. Her father was a minister and the family moved to South Bend and Snohomish before settling in Olympia in 1901. Her father was pastor of the First Congregational Church. Later, he taught at Olympia High School.
Hazel Loomis excelled in her studies. In 1903 she earned the top average score on the eighth-grade exam in Thurston County, 93.59%. She was rewarded with a small scholarship. She was an active student at Olympia High School, serving as junior class editor for the student newspaper and performing in the senior class play. Her father was debate coach and Hazel joined the girls debate team, the “Fram.”
Hazel Loomis: Rural Teacher and State Traveling Library
Loomis graduated from Olympia High School in 1907. Taking a certification test that summer, she became a rural teacher for two years, including in the Shelton Valley. But teaching was not her passion.
In 1909, she began working for the Washington State Traveling Library, which brought books to isolated rural communities. Hazel was assistant traveling librarian to its head, Louella Diven. The staff quickly grew from the two of them to a full office.
Loomis was not formally trained as a librarian or as a teacher. She took business classes at Olympia High School, graduating a second time in 1910. Loomis resigned from the library in 1915 to attend the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. While she became an active Sunday school teacher, she soon returned to the Washington State Traveling Library. She was head of the collection loan department in 1922. Diven passed away the next year and Loomis was appointed acting superintendent of the traveling library.
Loomis eventually resigned from the library and sought a new career. In October 1925 she opened one of Olympia’s first daycares, the Children’s Inn, in the former Robert Elwell home, 315 Seventh Avenue East. Loomis took care of kids from infants to age six. Hours were limited, 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., but other times were available by appointment.
Olympia High School Librarian
The Children’s Inn did not last long. In fall 1926, Loomis became Olympia High School Librarian. The library she inherited was still rebuilding after a fire destroyed the first Olympia High School in 1918. Her father had been librarian at the time.
Loomis sought to bring more people into the library through campaigns and events. In 1928 she led a “Read More Books” campaign, displaying dust jackets from new library books in every classroom.
The library itself also saw improvements. Over summer break in 1930, the library was remodeled. Book shelves were moved around the walls of the room to create more seating room for study. 350 books were added to the collection, bringing the total to about 3,000. A magazine rack was also installed.
Loomis also taught a mandatory course for freshmen about using the library for reference and personal reading. In addition, she began teaching a class in library management in September 1929. Students learned library theory like the Dewey decimal system but also got practical experience at the Olympia High School and Olympia public libraries.
Loomis was regarded as an expert on student library assistants. In 1935 the Washington Education Association (WEA) invited her to talk at their conference on the “kinds of work that may be done by student assistants” and lead a discussion. In 1936 she chaired WEA’s library group.
In 1937, Loomis changed careers again, becoming study hall director, a job her father had once held. Study hall was then a chance for students to study, rather than disciplinary. In October a new platform was being built so she could see over their heads in room 121. She left in 1943, becoming a clerk at state agencies. She worked for the State Departments of Labor and Industries, Social Security and Public Service Commission before retiring in 1963.
Hazel Loomis’ Community Ties
Loomis was very active at her father’s church. In 1916 it became part of The United Churches of Olympia. As a young woman she was a leader with the Christian Endeavor Society and Young People’s Society. Later she would do the same with the Sunset Club and Woman’s League Omega Circle. She hosted meetings in her home and organized programs. She also taught Sunday school classes.
Besides the church, Loomis was active in other groups. In the late 1930s, she was part of the Olympia Civic Music Association, which brought noted performers like Issaac Stern to Olympia. She later did the same with the Olympia Fine Arts Guild. In the 1940s she served on the YWCA board of directors, where she organized programs and taught Bible classes.
Loomis was a charter member of the DC Chapter of the P.E.O., which was founded in 1947. She was program chair, gave talks and hosted meetings. She also kept ties from her teaching years and was active with the Thurston County School Retirees’ Association.
Hazel Loomis’ Legacy
Although Hazel Loomis never married, she was close to her extended family and a beloved aunt to her many nieces and nephews. She relocated to Seattle in the 1960s. In 1971, Loomis moved to the Oakhurst Convalescent Center in Elma, where she died on April 18, 1985. She was 96.
Hazel Loomis had a varied career. Celebrated as an “Olympia pioneer” teacher and librarian, she touched many lives during her years of service.
