Magazine from 1894 is finally returned to New Hampshire public library

A magazine, checked out and overdue from a New Hampshire library, has finally been returned — perhaps as long as 132 years late.

John Hanson, an 84-year-old Barrington resident, recently strolled into the Concord Public Library to turn in a relatively well cared for edition of “The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine” from September of 1894.

In theory, Hanson could’ve been on the hook for a $12,055 fine for being 48,220 days overdue. But when Hanson returned it, the library was in the midst of a “fine freeze,” which canceled late fees.

“Yeah, when I saw that, I said to myself, ‘Boy, this would be a good time to bring it back,’” Hanson told NBC News on Tuesday.

The magazine is clearly the property of the Concord Public Library with a bookplate bearing its name and a reminder to readers that this periodical “may be kept for one week.”

Archivist and outreach coordinator Jennifer Needham was working at the circulation desk when Hanson arrived with an envelope in hand.

“‘I have a book to return and I bet you haven’t seen anything like this,’” Needham said, recalling Hanson’s introduction. “I honestly thought it was going to be from the 1980s, 90s, or 2000s. But then he pulled this out and I was like ‘Ooo tell me more!’ ”

Hanson, a Concord native, said he first came upon the periodical during a move from Boscawen to Barrington in 1966. He didn’t know then, and still doesn’t know now, how the work got into his possession.

His parents didn’t have Concord Public Library cards, he said.

Hanson’s late, first wife Carol was a voracious reader and frequent Concord Public Library patron. But he insisted that she, more than anyone else, wouldn’t have allowed a checked out book or magazine to languish for so many years.

Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine — Courtesy Concord Public Library

“I don’t know, I really don’t know (how the book came into his possession),” Hanson said.

“So I don’t know if it’s something that I got as a gift that was given to me. Or did I pick this up from a pile of free books on the side of the road to read? I honestly don’t know.”

The periodical was typical of its time with a wide variety of writings that included poetry, essays and news.

One topical story in that edition that caught Needham’s eye was about the rise of playgrounds at urban public schools.

“That’s one thing that was really interesting,” the librarian said. “I didn’t know this history, that they were arguing that more city schools should have outdoor spaces for children to play. It sounds like during that time, that just wasn’t a priority. It’s interesting that they would play inside then.”

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