Marion M. King, former Lorain Public Library System director, sent a letter to Kenneth Cromer, then the Lorain Public Library System director, declining an invitation to the Toni Morrison Reading Room dedication on January 19, 1995. Marion King had been the director of the Lorain Public Library at the time that Chloe Wofford (now Toni Morrison) was employed by the library as a student aide.

The heading of the letter reads as follows: Miss Marion L. King 807 West Avenue Elyria Ohio 44035.

The text of the letter reads:
"Dear Mr. Cromer, I appreciate your special invitation to attend the dedication of the Toni Morrison Reading Room. I regret very much that I am physically unable to attend. I am writing to explain to Toni - Chloe to me. I think it is fine that she wanted such a memorial.
Yours very truly, Marion King.

The letter is dated Jan. 17, 1995. There is a stamped date mark at the bottom right of the letter: RECEIVED JAN 19 1995. It was the custom of the library at the time to date stamp all letters received by the library.