^M'm^mnm^m^Mm^mm^m^^^ 'A''.>'' P95I A = — (^ A^ CD - = CI = = 33 = ^^ DO 3 = ^^^ CTj c 3 m =^^ r^ 8 = r— 3 m ^^ 33 9 m 6 m 1 5 = ^ LIBRARY ] uNivsasiTY OP J ^ E. H. AMDERSO:* The Providence Athenaeum 1753—1911 BY Joseph LeRoy Harrison -/ THE PROVIDENCE ATHEN/EUM THE PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM* J753— I9n The Providence Athen^uji, the real foundation of which dates back to 1753, is one of tlie few survivors of the " public " libraries of our forefathers, a distinctive type whose ownership is vested in its proprietors and whose origin and fullest growth cover the half centuries preceding and following the Revolutionary War. That it may be seen in a proper historical perspective, as a representative type of the proprietary library, a brief summary of the development of library history in the United States is essential. Early library history The public libraiy as we know it to-day is the result of a grad- ual and natural development, of which the period of the proprie- tary library forms one link in a chain whose beginning is happily anchored to the small and solemn private libraries of early colo- nial days. In 1620 the first library in America designed to be used by a constituency larger than the family was bequeathed by the Rev. Thomas Eurgrave to a projected college at Henrico, Va. In 1636 Harvard University was founded and two years later its library. The period from the establishment of these libraries to the organization of the Philadelphia Library Company covered something more than a century. This period witnessed also the foundation of William and Mary and Yale college libraries, 1693 and 1701 ; the establishment, 1697 to 1730, by the Rev. Thomas Bray, for a brief period commissary of the English church in Maryland, of a large number of parochial and lending libraries, ♦Reprinted, by permission, from an article in the Nexv England Magazine of September and October, I'Jll, by Joseph LeRoy Harrison. 2 extending from a nucleus of nearly thirty parishes in Maryland • J. ^ into Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and the oc- casional organization of " town," " parish " or " neighborhood " libraries, whose origin and history are for the most part obscure. The following, however, can be mentioned with certainty : Bos- ton, Mass., King's Chapel Library, as early as 169S, and Town Library, as early as 1653 ; Concord, Mass., Town Library, as early as 1672; Philadelphia, Pa., Parish Library of Christ Church, 1695 ; Annapolis, Md., " one and probably two public li- braries," 1696-1697; New York, N. Y., Sharp collection, given in 1713 to found a "public library" and the Millington ]5equest, 1730, the foundation of the " Corporation Library ; " and Louis- quisset district, P. I. (in what is now Lincoln, then within the limits of Providence) " Circulating Library," some time before 1711. The year 1731 began a new era in the intellectual life of the American people, an era of co-operation for the procurement of books. It was in this year that Benjamin Franklin proposed to his fellow members of the Junto, a debating society which sub- sequently became the American Philosophical Society, that they bring their books, obtained in these early days with difficulty and at great cost, to the club where they might be enjoyed by all. The direct result of this co-operation was the formation of the Phila- delphia Library (^ompan}^, the establishment of which is so import- ant, not only as the first of its type but historically in connection with library development in this country, that Franklin's account, as given in his Autobiograjihy, is of special interest: " About this time, our club meeting, not at a tavern, but in a little room of Mr. Grace's, set aj>art for that purpose, a proposi- tion was made by me, that, since our books were often referred to in our disquisitions upon the queries, it might be convenient to us to have them all together where we met, that upon occa- sion they might be consulted ; and by thus clubbing our books to a common library, we should, while we lik'd to keep them together, have each of us the advantage of using the books of all the other members, which would be nearly as beneficial as if each owned the whole. It was likM and agreed to, and we till'd one end of the room with such books as we could best spare. The number was not so great as we expected ; and tho' they had been of great use, yet some inconveniences occurring for want of due care of them, the collection, after about a year, was separated, and each took his books home again. "And now I set on foot my first project of a public nature, that for a subscription librar3\ I drew up the proposals, got them put into form by our great scrivener, Brockden, and, by the heljj of my friends in the Junto, procured fifty subscribers of forty shillings each to begin with, and ten shillings a year for fifty years, the term our company was to continue. We afterwards obtain'd a charter, the company being increased to one hundred : this was the mother of all the North American subscription libra- ries, now so numerous. It is become a great thing itself, and continually increasing. These libraries have improved the gen- eral conversation of the Americans, made the common tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen from other coun- tries, and perhaps have contributed in some degree to the stand so generally made throughout the colonies in defence of their privileges." Franklin's veiy simple but hitherto unthought of device, that of the joint stock library association, was contagious. Naturally adopted first in and about Philadelphia it soon spread throughout the colonies. Before the first shot of the Revolution was fired at Lexington the seed of library co-operation had taken firm root. Libraries had been founded as follows : — Pennsylvania : Philadelphia Library Company, 1731 ; Car- penters' Library Company, 1736 ; Four Monthly Meetings of Friends, 1742, and German Society of Pennsylvania, 1764, Phil- adelphia; Darby Library Company, 1743, Darby; LTnion Library Company, 1755, Hatborough ; Chester Library Comjjany, 1769, Chester; Juliana Library, 1770, Lancaster. New Jersey: Burlington Library Company, 1757, Burlington. New York : New York Society Library, 1754, " Corporation Library," 1730, and Union Library Society, 1771, New York city. Massachusetts: Prince Library, 1758, and New England Librar}^ 1758, Boston; Social Library, 1760, Salem; Social Library, 1763, Leominster ; Second Social Library, 1758, Hing- ham. Connecticut: Proprietors' Library, 1737, Pomfret. Maine: " Kevolving Library," 1751, parishes of Kittery and York ; Portland Library, 1763, Portland. South Carolina: Charleston Librar}^ Company, 1748, Charles- ton ; Winyaw Indigo Society, 1755, Georgetown. Rhode Island: Redwood Library, 1747, Newport; Provi- dence Libj'ary Company, 1753, Providence. Besides these libraries, which may be characterized as general in their scope, college libraries were founded by Princeton, then the College of New Jersey, 1746 ; University of Pennsylvania, 1755 ; C/olumbia, then King's College, 1757 ; Brown, then Rhode Island College, 1767 ; Dartmouth, 1770, and Rutgers, 1770. College society libraries had their start at Yale by the founding of the Linonian and Isrothers of Unity libraries, 1753; theolog- ical libraries by the Moravian Archives, Bethlehem, Pa., 1742, and scientific libraries by the American Philosoj^hical Society, Philadelphia, 1743. These libraries, together with those noted under the second period* of library development, were the chief means of general literary culture open to Americans I^efore the Revolutionary War. They represent the first half of the third period of library growth. The second half extended from the close of the war to 1826. The entire period covered nearly a centur}^, that is, from 1731 to 1826, and has exerted a pronounced, though graduallj^lessen- *The first period may be reg^arded as that of the small private library of the home, extending to Thomas IJurgrave's bequest in KJiO, and the second period from 1620 to 1731, wlien Franklin inaugurated the co-operative idea of the use of books. ing influence, to the present day. The growth of the proprietary library was naturally checked by the Revolution, but from 1785 to the close of the century and during the first quarter of the nineteenth century Franklin's idea spread rapidly throughout the country. "Society," "social," "town," "association," "Athe- naeum," " company," and " Franklin society " libraries, as they were variously called, continued to be established in the colonies and in most of the new states as they came into the Union, in- cluding Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Alabama. During the latter part of this third period of library develop- ment there began to appear a new and distinct type of librar}-. Though open to all, they were designed, as their names imply, for young men of the merchants' and mechanics' classes. Some of the more important of these libraries, with the dates of found- ing;, were the Mercantile Library, Boston, 1820 ; Mercantile Library, New York, 1820; Mechanic Apprentices' Library, Fort- land, Me., 1820; Mechanics Apprentices' Library, Boston, Mass., 1820; Mechanics' Society, Detroit, Mich., 1820; Apprentices' Library, New York cit}^, 1820; Apprentices' Library C'ompany, Philadelphia, Fa., 1820 ; Charitable Mechanics' Association, Salem, Mass., 1820 ; Mercantile Library, Fhiladelphia, 1821 ; Associa- tion of Mechanics and Manufacturers, Frovidence, R. I., 1821 ; Printers' Library, New York city, 1823 ; Middlesex Mechanics' Association, Lowell, Mass., 1825; Mechanics' Association, Forts- mouth, N. H., 182b; Mechanics' Association, Bangor, Me., 1820; Young Men's Institute, New PTaven, Conn., 1826. In that a fee was charged for their use they were allied to the proprietary librar}', but their scope was broader and their estab- lishment one step nearer the free public librar3^ They were not exclusive, as the college library, or limited to those who could afford the initial cost of a share, as the proprietary library, but were open to all for a comparatively small annual fee. They were designed not only to furnish books but to provide a general higher education for young men Avho desired to supplement their school work. 6 In leaving tliis third ])eno(l of library development, essentially the period of the proprietary and mercantile libraries, it may be said that an interesting and important chapter of library history', one closely allied to the educational history of the country as well, has never been written, and offers a rich field for some future historian. P'rom the special viewpoint of library history the period is important for its libraries are the foundation on which the free public library of to-day rests. They gave much to their successors, in earnest piirpose, in spirit, catholicity of view, even in methods, but above all they prepared the way and demon- strated the need of something more than they could supply. For the purpose of this introduction, essentially concerned in the history of the proi)rietary library as a background for the subject of this article, the subsequent steps in the development of library history in the United States may be briefly stated. The fourth period of development was the real beginning of the public library system in Americ^a. It dates back to the year 1826, when Governor De Witt Clinton, of New York, advocated in his annual message to the legislature the establishment of free school libraries. The founding of these libraries by state gov- ernments recognized one of the most important functions of the ])ublic library, that is, it recognized the library as an essential part of the system of public education and as such entitled to a share in public taxation. That the state should educate its citi- zens and for that purpose maintain schools was a principle already firmly grounded, but now for the first time in history it recog- nized the library as both the complement and supplement of the school, a factor in its educational system. The fifth step was that of libraries endowed by private gener- osity and thrown open to the public on such conditions as their founders thought wise. The old Astor Library of New York, and the Peabody Institute, of Baltimore, are examples. The origin of endowed libraries dates back to about the same time as that of the free public librar}^ and to a great extent their scope and interests have been identical. Such is the history of the library movement in the United States up to the time when that movement, with the founding of the Boston Public Library in 1854, broadened in its scope and became the free public library movement; which, in its turn, underwent such an awakening in 1876 as to begin a new epoch in the history of libraries, an epoch alreadj- spoken of as the modern library movement. The origin of The Providence Athenajura, formed by the union of the Providence Library Company and the old Providence Athenicum, dates back to the tirst half of the third period. It was one of the direct results of Franklin's influence and Provi- dence was among the first towns to follow Philadelphia in the establishment of a library, if, indeed, in the neighborhood circu- latino- library in the Louisquisset district, it did not antedate it. At least only twelve towns throughout the colonies, exclusive of those in which the Bray and college libraries had been estab- lished, anticipated Providence in founding a library, that is, Kittery and York parishes, in the Province of Maine ; Boston and Concord, in Massachusetts; Pomfret, in Connecticut; New- port, in Rhode Island; New York city; and Philadelphia and Darby, in Pennsylvania. The history of the institution divides naturally into that of the Providence Library Company, 1753 to 1836 ; the old Providence Athen^um, 1831 to 1836, and The Providence Athena?um, 1836 to 1911, and will be treated under these three heads. Providence Library Company 1753-1836 Among those most interested in the formation of the Provi- dence Library Company was Stephen Hopkins, governor of Rhode Island and signer of the Declaration of Independence. There is a striking similarity between his experiences in Provi- dence and those of Franklin in Philadelphia. Like Franklin he was a lover and collector of books, and at the home of his grand- 8 father, Captain Samuel Wilkinson, in the Louisquisset neighbor- hood, he undoubtedly used the circulating library of which men- tion has been made. Removing to Providence from his farm in Scituate, R. I., in 1742, he found he had soon absorbed the few books to which he had access, and then, like Franklin, not find- ing book-shops at hand, he joined with his friends in sending to England for books. The Providence Library Company was established in 1753. The preamble to the subscription list, dated March twenty-second of that year, reads : " WJiereas a Collection or Library of usefull and Edifying Books will most certainly tend to the Benefit and Instruction of the Inhabitants of this Town and County of Providence, and the Rising Generation thereto belonging. — Therefore TPe the Sub- scribers considering the Advantages thereof, and the Improve- ments which may be thereby made, not only by us but by our Posterity, and for the Encouragement of the Same, have here- unto voluntarily Subscribed our Names, and opposite thereto such Sum of Money as we are willing to Contribute towards the usefull and Laudable Design aforesaid. Which said Sum bv us Severally Subscribed opposite to our respective Names, We the Subscribers do hereby Promise to pay on Demand, unto such Person or Persons as shall (when the Subscription is full) be b}' the Majority of us the Subscribers nominated and appointed to receive the Same, and which, by and with Our Approbation, or the Majority of us, is to be by such Receiver appropriated to and for the Use aforesaid, and to and for no other Use or Purpose whatsoever. In Witness and Confirmation of which We have hereunto Severally set our Names this Twenty Second Day of March Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Three. "iV; B. There is no Subscription for the Use aforesaid to be taken under the Subscription of Twent}' Five Pounds Old Tenor, but as much more as any well Spirited Subscriber shall think proper." 9 The list contains eigbty-six names, eigbty-one subscriptions at £25, three at £27, 10s, one at £30 and one at £50. Among the original subscribers, all prominent in the business and social life of Providence of that day, may be mentioned : Nehemiah Allen, Nathan Angel, Samuel Angel, Job Arnold, Jonathan Arnold, Jonathan Ballou, Benjamin Bowen, Ephraim Bowen, James Brown, John Brown (son of Elisha), Nicholas Brown, John Brown, Moses Brown, Obadiah Brown, Joseph Bucklin, Sarah Burrough, John Cole, Gideon Comstock, Nicholas Cooke, Benjamin Gushing, Stephen Hopkins, Esek Hopkins, George Jackson, Richard Jackson, Jolin Jenckes, Samuel Night- ingale, Jonathan Olney, Joseph Olney, Richard Olney, Thomas Owen, Ambrose Page, John Power, Barzillai Richmond, Joseph Russell, Darius Sessions, Joseph Snow, Joshua Spooner, Richard Steere, Thomas Steere, Paul Tew, Elisha Tillinghast, Nicholas Tillinghast, Daniel Tillinghast, David Vanderlight, Resolved Waterman, Thomas Waterman, William Wheton, Jeremiah Whipple, Joseph Whipple, Stephen Whipple, Jacob Whitman, and David Wilkinson. The first meeting of the new society was held at the house of Mr. Joseph Angell, December 15, 1753. Mr. Nicholas Brown was appointed clerk and Messrs. Nicholas Brown, Nicholas Til- linghast and John Randal a committee to collect subscriptions. The second meeting was held on Christmas day following, also at the home of jMr. Angell. Messrs. Stephen Hopkins, Samuel Nightingale, Ephraim Bowen, Nicholas Cooke, David Vander- light and Paul Tew were appointed "to make out a Catalogue of Books, with the Sterling prices affixed in order to send to England for the intended Library."* Subscribers were allowed to " put in such Books as the Com.^'^e j"flge pi'oper to be received to the full value, or any Part of their Subscriptions." At a meeting on January 5, 1754, the catalogue prepared by the committee was accepted. On February first the committee on subscriptions •In all quotations from the okl record books the spelling, punctuatioii, cnpital- ization and phraseology of the original have been retained. 10 reported that it had collected £1500 old tenor. It was voted to deliver this sum to Mr. Paul Tew, who reported on February sixth '• that he had contracted with Mv Obadiah Brown . . . to deliver him One Hundred Pounds Sterling woi-th of Books . . . to be delivered at Rhode Island, within Six Months." Messrs. Stephen Hopkins, Nicholas Tillinghast, Paul Tew and Nicholas Brown were appointed on August second a committee to draw up " such Rules and Orders as are requisite for the well regulating said Library." Five days later the committee reported, a body of rules containing seventeen articles of which the follow- ing extracts are of interest : " That when the Library is so far furnished with Books as to make it fit to be opened for use, some proper Person be appointed Librarian ... to attend one Afternoon in each Week the open- ing of the Library ... to Shew the Library to all Strangers, who are Gentlemen, and desire to see it. "That no Proprietor shall . . . have at one Time more than one Folio, or one (Quarto, or one large Octavo Volume, or two small Octavo or Duodecimo Volumes ; the Folios to be returned , . . within three Months Quartos within two, and Octavos and duodecimos within one juonth . . . '' That . . . any Person of a good Character may hereafter be . . . made a Proprietor ... he first paying to the Librarian Three Pounds Sterling . . . " That all Ministers and Preachers for the Time beins: among; the Different Denominations of Christians within the Town of Providence shall be allowed the same Liberty ... as tho they were Proprietors ... " That whenever the General Assembly sits in the Town of Providence the Librarian . . . shall deliver to whomsoever they appoint the Keys of the Library ... so that the Members may have opportunity to read any of the Books, if they see Clause, trusting to their Honor to leave them in their Places. " That Mr. Nicholas Brown be the first Librarian, and every Saturday, from two to five of the Clock in the Afternoon be the Times of opening the Library." 11 If Mr. Obadiah Brown kept liis contract, the books probably arrived in August, 1754. They were placed by permission of the General Assembly, granted the P^'ebruary previous, in the council chamber of the Town House (also referred to as the "Court House" and the "State House'') which stood on IVIeeting street, just above the Friends' Meeting-house, on the site of the present Meeting street school house. The old "llegister book " contains a nine- teen page " Catalogue of all the Books belonging to the Library in Providence, as well those which were procured here as those which were purchased in London." This catalogue is neatly ar- ranged alphabetically under the size of the book, that is, folio, octavo, duodecimo and twenty-four mo, the customary grouping of those early days, and the number of volumes and cost sterling is given with each title. Five-hundred-and-eighty-three books are listed. Though every title is of interest, as an indication of the sturdy character of the purchases of those early libraries, the list is too long to give in its entirety. Those which survived the fire of 1758 and are on the shelves of the Athenaeum to-day may be enumerated as ])erhaps fairly representative of the entire col- lection, or at least of the books in circulation. They are as fol- lows : Henry Baker, Microscope made easy, Lond. 1744; George Bickham, Universal penman, Lond. 174o ; John Camp- bell, Lives of the admirals, Lond. 1750 ; Nicolas Fouquet, Coun- sels of wisdom, O.xford, 1786 ; James Fraser, History of Nadir Shah, Lond. 174'2 ; William Gibson, Farrier's new guide, Lond. 1735; Pierre Gilles, Antiquities of Constantinople, Lond. 1729; Hugo Grotius, Rights of war and peace, Lon(L 1738 ; Stephen Hales, Statical essays, Lond. 1740 ; Herodotus, History, trans- lated by Isaac Littlebury, LoniL 1737 ; Francis Hutcheson, In- quiry into the original of our ideas of beauty and virtue, Lond. 1753 ; John Keill, Introduction to natural philosophy, Lond. 1745; Thomas Pitts, New martyrology, Lond. 1G33; Sallust, Works, translated by Thomas Gordon, Lond. n. d. ; Sharafad- Din-Ali al Yezdi, History of Timur-bec, Lond. 1723; Peter Shaw, Chemical lectures, Lond. 1755; Sir John Spelman, Life of 12 Alfred the Great, Lond. 1709 ; John Tillotson, Works, Lond. 1752. A little more than four years after the installation of the library the Town House was burned. There is a gap in the Register from 1755 to 1762, but under date of the latter year the following account of the tire is given : " The Books being arrived from England, neat and proper Cases were erected in the Council Chamber, in the Town House in Providence for receiving them ; and being placed there in proper Order, the Library was opened, and the Books received and returned by the Proprietors, agreeable to the foregoing Rules, and continued to be used in that manner, to great Satisfaction, as well as Profit and Advantage, until the twenty fourth Day of December One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty eight, when the Town House with all the Books in it was entirely con- sumed by Fire. This accident was occasioned thus. The General Assembly Sitting in the Court House the preceding Week, when the Weather was very cold, Large Fires Avere kept in the Chambers. The Chimneys, not being built from the Ground, but founded on the Chamber Floor?, were Supported by Timber, to which the Fire communicated itself through the Hearths, and there remained concealed, from Saturday, when the Assembly left the House, until the Sunday following, about Ten o'Clock at Night, when the Inside of the House was discovered to be wholly in Flames. The Fire being got to so great a H eighth, it was im- possible to save the House or any Thing in it. One Dwelling House also which stood next to it, was burnt down. The Friends Meeting House, and another House which Stood near it, suffered great Damage by the Fire, but were saved by the Dili- gence and great Activity of the People, with the Help of one Water Engine, the only one then in the Town." Immediately following the account of the tire is this record of the successful attempt to le-establisli the lil)rary : '■ The Library being thus lost, except about Seventy Volumes then abroad in the Hands of the Proprietors, Application was 13 made to the General Assembly, who at their Session in the month of February one Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty granted a Lottery, the Deduction from which, namely one Thousand Dollars, to be appropriated to the purchasing Books for a New Library, of which Books Avhen purchased, the Propri- etors of the Former Library were to be the Owners together with all such otliers, who should take Sixty Tickets apiece on their own Risque in this Lottery'. The Lottery being compleated, one Thousand Dollars were delivered to a Committee appointed by the Proprietors for that Purpose, who Sent it in Bills of Ex- change to M^ John Richardson a Stationer in London together with a Catalogue of Books to be purchased, who procured and Shipped them to Boston, where they arrived some Time in the month of January, 1762. " The Proprietors having Advice that their Books, to the amount of Two Hundred and twenty Pounds eleven Shillings and Six Pence Sterling were arrived in Boston, met together in Providence the thirtieth Day of January one Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty two and having chosen the Honorable Stephen Hopkins Esquire Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island to be their Moderator, they voted and ordered a Tax to be assessed on the Proprietors at Forty Shillings old Tenor and one Quarter of a Dollar in Silver, that the Librarian collect, and the Treasurer receive this Tax, and that no Proprietor receive an}' Books until this Tax be by him respectively paid. It was further resolved that M'" Silas Downer be Librarian, and M^ Nicholas Tillinghast Treasurer of the Proprietors ; And that the Honble Stephen Hopkins, Nicholas Cooke, Esq';, M'" Esek Hop- kins, Mr John Cole, and M^ Nicholas Brown be a Standing Committee, who are to provide a pro])er Place for the Books, jjro- cure them to be transported from Boston, to receive of M\ Josei)h Lawrence what books belonging to the late Library are in his Hands, and to do every other Necessary Thing more especially to draw up and present to the Proprietors at their next meeting a Sett of Rules and Orders for the Good Regulation of the Pro- prietors, respecting the Library. — adjourned to Feb. 12. 1762. 14 "1762. On the ninth Day of February A. D. 1762. The Books were brought into Town from Boston, and put up in Order in M^ Esek Hopkins's Shop." A catalogue of the books of tlie new library appears in the Register under the general heading, " A Catalogue of all the Books belonging to the Providence Library. Those marked with an Asterisk (*) are such books as were saved in the Hands of the Proprietors when the late Library was burned." This catalogue, containing 911 titles, was printed in 1768, together with the " Rules for governing the proprietors of and institutions for ren- dering useful the books belonging to the Providence Library." The books remained in Mr. Hopkins' shop from 1762 until 1764 (probably the fall of that year) when the Register contains this note of their removal to the new Court House : "1764. This Day the Library was removed from M"; Esek Hopkins's, where it hath been kept ever Since it arrived from England, into the Council Chamber, where, proper, and very neat Shelves, with large pannelled Doors, were put up at the charge of the Proprietors, and so contrived, as not to take from the Beauty of the whole Finishing of the Chamber, which is elegantly done in J>election Work. For the Privilege of keeping the Books in this Place, the Members of the General Assemblv are to have the Inspection of the Books, during their Session here." Between 1764 and the granting of the charter in 1798 the llegister contains little of importance in the history of the insti- tution. The "Charter and by-laws of the Providence Library company," published in 1818, contains, however, this interesting note : " In the year 1770, Rhode Island College was established in this town,* and the college edifice erected the same year — on this occasion tbe Librarj' Company offered the use of the books to the officers and students of that institution, until a library could be procured sufficient for that respectable establishment. Under these circumstances and from the doors being left open to •Removing from Warren, R. I., where it was first established. 15 accommodate the members of the Legislature, other persons in the absence of the Librarian, had access to the books; many of which were lost, and the value and usefulness of the Library was evidently declining; and the Proprietors having no corporate powers, had not sufficient authority to enforce a compliance with their votes and regulations. It was therefore determined to apply to the General Assembly for an act of incorporation ; and on that being obtained to adopt such other measures to preserve the books and increase their numbers as might render the Insti- tution more useful and respectable, and to bear some proportion to the progressive increase of the town." As early as March, 1783, it was proposed that the next meet- ing of the board should consider "the Expediency of Petitioning for a Charter." The minutes of the April meeting, however, con- tain no mention of such consideration, nor do those of any subse- quent meeting until that of March 7, 1795, and the library was not incorporated until October '61, 1798. The act contains seven sections, in addition to the following introduction, which is given in full because of the interesting light it throws on the early con- ditions, struggles and purposes of the library : " State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations : In General Assembly, October Session, A. D. 1798. AN ACT To incorporate the Directors and Company of the Providence Library. Whereas, Jabez Bowen, Moses IJrown, William Pichniond, John Smith, Nicholas Brown, Joseph Jenckes and Paris Jenckes Tillinghast, the standing Committee of the Providence Library Company and others, proj)rietors of said Librar}^ have presented their j)etition to this General Assembly, setting forth, that the Library of which the said Committee have tlie superintendence, was established in the year 1753, with much exertion, and with 16 the design that it should prove beneficial to future generations. That at a certain period of its existence, the said Library con- sisted of upwards of eight hundred volumes of well selected books, but that the number at present is much reduced, the sets broken, and the volumes mutilated and defaced. That this dimi- nution of the number and quality of the Books is to be attributed principally, to a want of power in the proprietors, to establish laws, ordinances, and regulations, for the government of the said Library; in which power is included that of determining the manner and form of obtaining, transferring and conveying the rights or shares in said Library, and that of imposing taxes upon the rights or shares, so that the institution may possess the faculty of supplying the decrease and diminution, natural to such estab- lishments, and also the means of providing such compensation for the Librarian, as would induce a person qualified for that office to give such attention thereto as would accommodate the propri- etors and preserve the Library from injury. That one further object of the proprietors is, to increase the number of Books in the Library, and, if thought expedient, to add thereto such other articles and apparatus, in addition to the Books, as may facilitate the study of the different sciences ; and that at several meetings holden in pursuance of publick notice in the newspapers, the company have resolved to petition this Assembly for an Act to incorporate them. Wherefore, the j^ersons before mentioned prayed, that they might be incorporated with the powers before mentioned, and such further powers as might be necessary to carry into effect the purposes of the company as before mentioned. And, whereas, this assembly are sensible of the utility of the said institution, and are willing to grant to the proprietors such powers as will enable them to effect the purposes thereby intended." The two decades from 1798, the year of incorporation, to 1817-1818, when the charter was twice amended, were interest- ing years in the work and development of the institution. In January 1801 the governing board took up the question of in- creasing "the Library by the Admission of Subscribers for the 17 number of One Hundred and forty new shares." The effort was successful, and tlie added revenue was largely used for the pur- chase of books. With the renewed life of the institution the board began as early as 1802 to consider the advisability of securing new quar- ters, realizing that the Court Plouse was inconvenient of location and that for too large a part of the time it was inaccessible be- cause closed. At a meeting held in September a committee was appointed to look into and report on the matter, but no definite action was taken. Seven years later, in 1809, a committee was appointed to confer with those having charge of the building of a new grammar school as to the feasibility of an additional story for the use of the librar}'. During this same year an offer of land " North of Angell Street " was made by Mr. Moses Brown and even a vote to build was passed. In J 813 the "Committee for Procuring a room for the Library" was instructed " to Confer with Mr. Thos. Burgess on the Subject of purchasing the building in Bowen's lane " occupied by him. And again, in 1815, it was " Voted that Mr. Tillinghast be a committee to draw up a sub- scription paper for the raising a sum of money to enable the Company to erect a building for a Library Room." The matter of location was finally settled in 1816. On August 16 of thi&. year what was known as the " Literary and News Room," which Mr. Howland speaks of as " a very respectable literary establish- ment, which had been purchased by a number of gentlemen irt this town " was absorbed by the Providence Library Company on the basis of admitting its members as proprietors in the com- pany. At a meeting of the company held in Sei)tember it was voted to accept an offer made by Mr. Thomas Arnold of the rooms occupied by the Literary and News Room, in Cheapside, as Market Square and the beginning of North Main street were then called, and the books were soon removed from the Court House to the literary quarters. At the close of a six-page narrative covering the history of the 18 Providence Library Conij)any, 1753 to 1818, Mr. John Ilowland says : "It then became necessary to ap))ly for further powers and for such alterations in the act of incorporation as a change of circum- stances had rendered necessary and proper ; and at the session of the General Assembly held in February, 1817, the act altering and amending the Charter, was passed ; since which the By-Laws and Regulations which follow the same have been passed and. established by the Company. "To encoui-age, particularly among the youth of the town, a taste for reading, it was deemed advisable to establish a Reading Room in connexion with the Library. Accordingly one has been o^iened in the Library Room, to which the Proprietors have access every day, and also such persons as have become annual subscribers, pursuant to a resolution of the Corporation. Many have availed themselves of the opportunity of becoming subscrib- ers, and the beneficial effects of the establishment are already apparent. All true friends to the literary character of this com- munity nnist feel an interest in its increased prosperity; to insure which, and to render it permanent and worthy of the town, only requires the liberality and attention of the wealthy, and the punc- tual payment of the assessments by the Proprietors in general. The charter amendment of 1817 was general in its scope, that is, practically a new act of incorporation, while that passed by the General Assembly at the October session of 1818, entitled "An act granting additional powers to the directors and company of the Providence Library," conferred upon the company the right to sell shares for non-payment of dues. The last eighteen years of the life of the Library Company is of no srreat interest. In 1825 a committee consisting of Mr. Charles F. Tillinghast and Dr. Joseph Mauran was appointed to "devise ways and means to increase the funds of this institution," and the year following it was " Voted that a Committee of three be ap- pointed to Petition the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island at their present Session for the grant of a Lottery to raise 19 a sum not exceeding Ten Thousand Dollars to aid the funds of the Corporation with a view to the Enlargement of the Library." At a meeting in June, 1827, it was reported that Moses Brown had " signified his intention of making a donation of a lot of ground and a sum of money for the use of the Library." At a meeting of stockholders, in March, 1881, there was ordered re- corded a deed, dated October 14, 1880, from the heirs of Nathan Waterman to the Providence Library Company, conveying the Waterman homestead, providing a library building should be erected on the lot within five years. The deed also contained this curious condition : " That the said Library building shall be erected without a cellar, it being the object and intention of the aforesaid Grantors, to preserve undisturbed, the remains of their ancestors, deposited on said lot." A committee consisting of Messrs. Horatio G. Bowen, Moses B. Ives and Charles F. Tillinghast was appointed " to procure drafts and estimates of a building." It reported on December 22, 1885, "that so much time passed while the Committee was making the necessary ar- rangements, that before they had fully completed them, the time w'ithiu which the Company could build upon the Waterman lot expired." It is probable that during the closing period of its existence the library was twice moved. In May, 1820, it was voted to remove to " the rooms now in the occupation of the Eagle Insurance Com- pany," and the Providence directory published in January, 1824, gives the address of the Library Company as No. 8 North Main street. In April, 1824, it was voted to move into rooms over the Washington Insurance OfKce, No. 1 Market Square. From July, 1882, to the close of its separate existence the " Minute book " contains repeated entries of conferences between the Company and the newly started Athenanim wuth a view to their union and also of the appointment of various committees to meet those appointed by the Athenteum in an endeavor to arrange a satisfactory basis of union. The record of the meeting of the Company, December 22, 1885, closes with the following minute : 20 "Resolved, that Mess^® ZacliV Allen, William R. Staples and Thomas B. Fenner, be a Committee with power in their discretion, to sell or dispose of the property and settle the debts of this Cor- poration and to paj^ the ballance of the proceeds if any shall re- main, after said payments, to the Treasurer." The final entry in the old Minute book, after recording the proceedings of a special meeting held -May 14, 1836, reads, " Meeting adjourned sine die." The Register and Minute books contain many interesting and often quaint records. In 1769 it was voted "That tlie School Masters for the Time being . . . who shall keep School in the Brick School House . . . shall have the privilege of the Library," and in 1802, "That the Preceptors of the Public Schools have the use of Bickham Uni- versal Penman . . . each to have it one month only in Rotation." The printers of the local papers were allowed the use of the library in return for printing library notices. Notices of missing books were published in the papers but were not always successful in bringing in the volumes for on at least one occasion, in 1799, the directors themselves waited on the delinquent proprietors and demanded the books. Mr. John Smith, Esq., and Mr. Joseph Jenckes were appointed "to Collect the books from the Weybossett Bridge Northward, Capt. Joseph Tillinghast and Mr. Nicholas Brown Southward from said Bridge, William Richmond esqT and Paris J. Tillinghast on the West side of the Bridge. Jabez Bowen esq"; to apply at the College." In 1783, it was "Resolved That this Meeting be further ad- journed until Wednesday next at 3 o Clock in the Afternoon. That the ToAvn Crier at 2 o Clock in the afternoon of that day go through the Town and notify the said meeting and the Busi- ness to be transacted and Request the attendance of all the Pro- prietors and that all Books belonging to the Library then out in the hands of the Proprietors be brought in," In 1818 the directors initiated a novel method of securing a quorum at their meetings b}^ agreeing to fine themselves fifty 21 cents when absent from any meeting and twenty-five cents if fifteen minutes late. The money so raised was to be used for " binding^ or rebindinsj " the books of the library and as the rule continued in force during the existence of the company a small income was assured for that purpose. The Providence Library Company issued two catalogues of its books : " Catalogue of all the books belonging to the Provi- dence Library . . . Providence, N. E. Printed and sold by Waterman and Russell, at the New Printing Office, at the Paper- Mill, M, DCC, LXVIII" ; containing also the "Rules for govern- ing the Proprietors," and '• Charter and by-laws of the Provi- dence Library Company and a catalogue of the books of the library. Providence, Printed by Miller and Hutchens, April — 1818," a book of forty-six pages, containing Mr. John Howland's history of the institution, the charter of 1798, the amended instru- ment of 1817, the by-laws and regulations, and a twenty-eight page catalogue of the books in the library, then numbering 1851 volumes. Besides these sources of the history of the Company mention should be made of the "Register Book," 175^ to 1835, and the "Minute Book," 1774-1836. The officers of the Providence Library Company, with the dates of their election, were as follows : Presidents, Jabez Bowen 1799, Moses Brown 1801, Nicholas Brown 1807, John Rowland 1812, Rev. Henry Edes 1813, and Joseph L. Tillinghast 1832, Secretaries, Nicholas Brown (clerk) 1753, Theodore Foster 1774, Jonathan Gould 1787, Samuel Danforth 1795, Paris J. Tilling- hast 1799, George R. Burrill 1803, AValter R. Danforth 1807, George J. Olney 1811, Walter R. Danforth 1815, William E. Richmond 1816, Benjamin Cowell 1817, John Taylor 1823, Josiah Lawton 1825, George C. Arnold 1827, Thomas C. Harts- horn 1828, and Horatio G. Bowen 1830. Treasurers, Nicholas Tillinghast 1762, Joseph Jenckes 1799, John Howland 1812, Obadiah Brown 1816, Richard J. Arnold 1823, George Curtis 1824, Charles F. Tillinghast 1825, and Allen O. Peck 1827. Librarians, Nicholas Brown 1754, Silas Downer 1762, David S. 22 Rowland 1767, Theodore Foster 1774, Peregrine Foster 1788, Jonathan Gould 1787, George R. Burrill 1787, Samuel Danforth 1793, Paul Allen, Jr. 1795, Col. Robert Taylor 1799, Walter R. Danforth 1809, George J. Olney 1811, Dudley C. Chappotin 1815, Samuel P. Bullard 1815, John Johnson 1816, Thomas Humphrey 1820, James W. Fosdick 1820, Wheeler Martin, 1822, Charles F. Tillinghast 1823, Charles Fitch 1825, Horace Draper 1827, Moses D. Southwick 1828, Horatio G. Bowen 1829. Providence Athenaeum • 1831-1836 On the evening of P'ebruary 21, 1831, a meeting was held at No. 51 Arcade for the purpose of considering " the expediency and practicability of establishing an Athenaeum." William T. Grinnell was chosen chairman and Thomas H. Webb secretary. From this date until Jul}^ 18, when an organization was effected, those interested were active in promoting the society. On April 16 the committee appointed to secure subscribers, consisting of Messrs. Thomas H. Webb, John R. Bartlett, William Butler, Richard W. Greene and Benjamin Hoppin, Jr., reported that they had obtained thirteen patrons at 1100 each and thirty-three stockholders at $25 each, making in all forty-six subscribers, with funds amounting to $2,125, and also that Mr. Cyrus Butler had subscribed for sixteen shares, amounting to $400, on condition that $3,000 be raised. At the July meeting the secretary reported that $3,150 had been subscribed. Tristam Burges was elected president, John Mackie and Frederick A. Farley, vice-presidents ; Thomas H. Webb, secretary, John R. Bartlett, treasurer, and Lemuel H. Arnold, Thomas Burgess, Richard J. Arnold, Thomas C'. Hoppin, William T. Grinnell, Richard W. Greene, Charles Dyer, William Butler, John Taylor and Stephen Tripp, trustees. A constitution and by-laws, presented by a committee consisting of Messrs. Frederick A. Farley, Thomas H. Webb and Richard W. Greene, 23 were adopted. The following were present : Messrs. Frederick A. Farley, John R. Bartlett, li. J. Arnold, Thomas C. lloppin, William T. Grinnell, Cyrus Butler, Charles Dyer, Paris Dyer, Benjamin Dyer, William Butler, Jonathan Taylor, Stephen Tripp, S. A. Arnold, Massa Basset, V. W. Ferris, L. Branch, C. Cheney, D. T. Goodhue, Benjamin lloppin, Jr., Jonathan Wel- don, Robert Rhodes, Thomas Doyle, John Paine, W. R. Staples, Henry Anthony, John G. Anthony and Leander Utley. An act incorporating the Athenieum, framed by Messrs. Thomas Burgess and Richard W. Greene, passed the General Assembly June 22, 1831, the names of Cyrus Butler, John Mackie, Charles Dyer and Richard VV. Greene appearing in the charter as the rep- resentatives of the society. The reading room was opened early in August at Nos. 42 and 44 Arcade and the library for general circulation in December, when, according to the report made at the first annual meeting of the corporation, November 28, 1831, there were 1,159 volumes, purchased at a total cost of $1,614.77. The Atbenanim was organized in July, 1831, and the last meet- ing of which there is any entry in the Trustees' records is April 2, 1836, when the only business transacted was a vote instructing the treasurer to inform the Arcade corporation that the Athe- naeum surrendered its rooms. Within a year of its establishment the trustees of the Athenaeum began to consider a union with the Providence Library Company, and the subject of the union was repeatedly discussed at both board and annual meetings until its consummation. From a brief statement concerning the old Athenieum appear- ing in the first annual report of the new institution, submitted in February, 1837, the following estimate of its work is taken: "From that time (i.e. 1831) till its union in 1836, with the Providence Library, for the purpose of forming ' an enlarged insti- tution,' suited to the wants, and creditable to the liberality and in- telligence of the community, the Providence Athenanim steadily put forth all its energies for the accomplishment of the noble ob- ject which it was established to promote. Notwithstanding many 24 circumstances adverse to its growth, it succeeded in making, if not a large, a very choice collection of books — which ultimately ■constituted by far the most valuable portion of the Library of the new institution, at the date of its origin." The society issued one catalogue under the title " Catalogue of the Providence Athenoeum Library," Providence, 1833, This was an interesting subject grouping of the books in the library, num- ■bering sixty-seven pages. Two record books of the society are still preserved : "Trustees' records," containing charter, consti- tution, etc., 1831 to 1836 and "Institution records," 1831 to 1835. The officers of the Providence Athenaeum, 1831-1836, were as follows : Presidents, Tristam Burges 1831, and Frederick A. Farley 1834. First Vice-Presidents, John Mackie 1831, Fred- erick A. Farley 1833, and Stephen Tripp 1834. Second Vice- Presidents, Frederick A. Farley 1831, William T. Grinnell 1833, and Thomas II. Webb 1834. Secretaries, Thomas H. AVebb 1831, and Daniel C. Gushing 1833. Treasurers, John R. Bart- lett 1831, and Philip Allen, Jr. 1834. Movement p^or the union of the libraries As early as July, 1832, as has already appeared, the subject of uniting the libraries began to be discussed, and formal negoti- ations through various committees and informal conferences con- tinued until a final agreement was reached. At six o'clock on the evening of January 25, 1836, " a public meeting of citizens generally and of the proprietors of the Providence Library and the AthenjBum companies in particular," was held in Masonic Hall, which occupied the up])er story of the old "City Building," Market Square, now leased by the Providence Board of Trade, to take the first steps necessary in forming the new library. The call for the meeting was signed by fifty-nine persons, including Moses Brown, Nicliolas Pn-own, Moses B. Ives, Robert H. Ives, John Carter Brown, Crawford Allen, Truman Beckwith, W^illiam Butler, Charles F. Tillinghast, Benjamin Iloppin, Cyrus Butler, Thomas C. Iloppin, John J. Stimson, Joseph Balch, Jr., Philip 25 Allen, Samuel Y. Atwell, Albert G. Greene, Zachariah Allen, and Sullivan Dorr. Zachariah Allen presided at the meeting and William S. Patten acted as secretary'. A draft of an act of incor- poration, reported by Mr. William R. Staples, was adopted and a committee appointed to petition the General Assembly for its passage. The petition sets forth, among other facts relating to the two libraries, that the Providence Library Company and the Providence Athenaeum, " after mature consideration, and ineffect- ual attempts for a union, have severally resolved to dispose of their libraries and dissolve their corporations, in case the honor- able Assembly would grant a new charter for the same objects to those of the corporators of each, and such others, as would join them in appljdng therefor." According to the terms of agreement between the two library companies the books of each were to be purchased by the new institution. For those of the Providence Library the sum of $1,000 was paid, and by the purchase of the shares of the Providence Athena3um at the rate of $25 each, the books, furniture, etc., of that library became the property of the new Athenfeum. The amount of this purchase was |3,925. The number of volumes purchased of the Providence Library Com- pany, exclusive of books unbound, broken sets, etc., was 1,680, and the number purchased of the Providence Athenreum was 2,400, a total of 4,080. After the terms of the purchase of the Providence Athenaeum had been agreed upon many of its stock- holders consented to exchange their shares for shares in the new institution, thus adding about 8700 to its funds. The Pkovidence Athenaeum 1836 to 1911 The act of incorporation of The Providence Athemt-um, as reported to the meeting of January 25, was presented to the General Assembly on January 29, 1836, and referred to the com- mittee on education. On February 2 the act was ])as8ed by the House of representatives, concurred in by the Senate and became 26 a law. At the first meeting of the corporation, February 22, in- Mechanics Hall, Market Square, the charter was accepted and a constitution and by-laws adopted. At an adjourned meeting, February 29, the following officers and directors were elected : Zachariah Allen, William Jenkins, John Carter Brown, Freder- ick A. Farley, Thomas H. Webb, William S. Patten, Thomas B. Fenner, Owen Mason, William Butler, Amasa Manton, Stephen Tripp, John J. Stimson, Henjy Anthony, William R. Staples, treasurer and Thomas White, secretary. The first meeting of the new board was held March 2, at the office of Mr. Zachariah Allen. Mr. Moses B. Ives was elected president and Mr. Zachariah Allen vice-president. Mr. Ives and Mr. Allen declining to serve Mr. John Pitman and Mr. William Giles Goddard were a week later elected to these offices. The new library was opened October 10, 1836, in rooms which had formerly been occupied bj^ the old Athenaeum, on the west side of the second story of the Arcade, No. 42 being used as a read- ing room and No. 44 for the library. Mr. Samuel W. Peckhani, then a student in the law office of United States District Attor- ney Richard W. Greene, who had been elected librarian on Sep- tember 26, was in charge. The hours of opening, at first fixed from three to five dailv, were soon leno;thened to from three ta six. Seven months before the opening of the library a communica- tion from Messrs. Nicholas Brown and Moses B. and Robert H. Ives, for the estate of Thomas P. Ives, deceased, dated March 9, 1836, was received by the board of directors, offering " to fur- nish a lot of land opposite the Town House, at the junction of Benefit and College streets, for the site of an edifice to be erected of stone or brick for the suitable accommodation of the Athe- nanim, Historical and Franklin Societies — the lot and building to be owned by the Athenanim, and the other Societies to be accommodated therein, upon terms to be agreed on." The lot was valued by them at $4,000. They also offered to pay $;6,000 towards the erection of such a building and $4,000 towards the 27 purchase of books for the Athenfeura, making a total of $14,000, upon condition that, before the following June, the sum of $10,000 more be made up, to be applied to the building, and $4,000 more towards the purchase of books, by the subscriptions of responsible persons, and exclusive of moneys received for shares to be sold in the Athenteum. The offer was accepted b}^ the board. The committee ap- pointed to collect the necessary subscriptions met with immediate success, the sum of $15,604.50, an excess of $1,604.50 above the required amount, being subscribed by 196 individuals and firms. Most of the subscribers to the fund, together with others, took shares in the new institution, fixed constitutionally at fifteen dol- lars, enabling the library to open with a membership of 291. In the meantime the subject of the erection of the building by the Athenjeum for its own accommodation and that of the His- torical and Franklin societies had early engaged the attention of the board of directors. A plan furnished by Mr. William Strick- land, of Philadelphia, was adopted, the lot of land was conveyed to the Athena?um as proposed, and Zachariah Allen, John J. Stimson and William S. Patten were appointed by the board a building committee to contract for and superintend the erection of the building. The ground was broken on April 4, 1837, and the building was commenced on the ninth of May, the interval being occupied in excavating and preparing the ground. Samuel B. Durfee, of Providence, was the master mason and Ebenezer Carpenter, of Providence, took and executed the contract for the carpenters' and joiners' work. Under the terms of an agreement the Providence Franklin Society, founded in 1821 as the Philosophical Association, was allotted the basement story and the Rhode Island Historical Soci- ety, founded a year later, the east room of the principal story. The Historical Society never occupied the room, however, and the joint tenancy with the Franklin Society lasted but little more than a decade, the Athenaeum coming into possession of the entire building in 1849. 28 The building was completed in the spring of 1838. The first meeting of the board of directors in its new home was held June 22. The books were removed from the Arcade in July, the building dedicated July 11 and opened for the use of shareholders July 16. The structure, to quote the description of the building com- mittee given in the third annual report of the institution, " is of the Grecian Doric order of architecture, constructed of granite. It is forty-eight feet in width, and seventy-eight feet in depth. The front is fine hammered granite from Quincy, Massachusetts, from the quarry owned by Nathaniel F. Potter, of Providence, who contracted for and furnished it for the sum of §3,417, in- cluding the two fluted columns, fourteen feet high, each shaft in one piece, two feet, four and one-half inches in diameter at the base . . . The side walls of the building are of granite, from John- ston, in this state, from a quarry of Amasa Sweet. It is rough, as split from the rock, technically called ' rough ashler,' firmly secured to thick interior walls of stone." The cost of the building was $14,966.12, the grounds and tlieir preparation $3,419.66, fences, $511.40, a total of $18,897.18. The receipts of the institution at its commencement, from donations, subscriptions, sales of shares and contribution of the Franklin Society, were between $33,000 and $34,000. Of this amount nearly $19,000 was expended on the building and grounds, as above, and $5,000 invested in bank stock, leaving some $9,000 for the purchase of books. The dedication of the building by appropriate religious and literary exercises took place at the Baptist Meeting House on the afternoon of July 11. A procession, composed of various public bodies, the proprietors of the Athenanmi and citizens generally, was formed at the library building, and, marshalled by Judge Thomas Burgess and Sheriff Roger Williams Potter, proceeded to the church, where a discourse was delivered by Rev. Dr. Wayland, president of Brown University. Rev. Edward B. Hall officiated as chaplain, and odes, written for the occasion by 29 Thomas P. Rodman and William J. Pabodie, were sung by the Providence Glee Club. As this article is mainly concerned with the beginnings of the -rithenreum as embodied in the history of the Providence Library Company, the old Providence Athenreum and the foundation of the present institution, especially as their history throws light on the early development of librai'ies in this country, it is not neces- sary to treat fully the subsequent history of the Athena?um, but under a few general headings to give only the more salient feat- ures of its later growth. The external walls of the building remain practically^ as M'hen completed in the spring of 1838. The interior, however, has undergone important alterations. The ground floor, constructed for the use of the Franklin Society, Avas originally divided into four rooms. In 1850-1851 the central partitions were removed, making two rooms, the front or west room being fitted up as a reading room, Avhich it still remains, and the rear or east room, now the periodical room, being shelved for maps and bound files of newspapers. The main library room was connected with the ground floor, the present stairway being built, and a hot water system of heating introduced. The expense of these extensive alterations was mainly provided for by a verbal bequest of Cyrus Butler through Alexander Duncan. The library room, in the principal story, was originally thirty- two feet long by forty-three feet wide, and was separated by a thick wall from another room to the east, connecting with the former by two doors. This " east room," so-called, before it was furnished with shelves for books in 1841, was often used for the free exhibition of works of art belonging to the Athenjeum, or loaned for this purpose. The partition wall was removed in 1868, the two rooms being thrown into one. At the same time the accommodations for the library w^ere largely increased by the present arrangement of alcoves and galleries, the total expense of the alterations being a little less than 18,000. This was almost entirely provided for b}' voluntary subscriptions by the sharehold- ers and others. 30 The general appearance of tlie building; from the street is the same as when completed, but the surroundings are very different. At the time the edifice was erected neither the opposite nor the adjoining block of dwelling houses had been built. The site of the former, then considerably lower than the level of Benefit street, had once been temporarily occupied by a tent, or circular building, with a canvas roof for circus performances. The only noted building in the neighborhood was the old Town House, mentioned in Messrs. Brown and Ives' letter offering the gift of the land. This ancient relic continued to be an op])Osite neigh- bor until 1800, when it was torn down. Going back to the date of the erection of the building the land on the east side of Benefit street, from the corner of College street to the brick dwelling house on the corner of George street, was a high bank, sloping towards Benefit street, and probably still retained some traces of the original conformation of College Hill. The back part of it was on a level with the gangway on the east, now partly held up by the retaining wall at the rear of this building. On this emi- nence salutes were fired on the Fourth of July from the guns of the United Train of Artillery, whose armory was on the opposite side of the street. For a quarter of a century no extensive changes were made in the Athenaeum building. In 1894, however, there was begun a series of important alterations and im])rovements lasting, with little interruption, until 1898, and increasing the shelf capacity of the library some 25,000 volumes. The changes were inaugurated by the conversion of the cataloguer's room into a general refer- ence room and librarian's room, with a capacity of 2,500 volumes. In 1896 the gallery space occupying the entire west end of the building was made into an art room through the generosity of Mrs. Elizabeth A. Shepard. The room was given and furnished in memory of her father. Professor Goddard, who was closely identified with the institution from its start until his death. The brass-tablet over the casement window of the room bears this in- scription: " Art memorial room. In memory of William Giles 31 Goddard, a founder of the Athenai'um, and the steadfast friend of sound learning and of wholesome literature. 1794-1846." During the same years the east room on the ground floor, some twenty- two by forty-three feet, was entirely remodeled, and shelved in compact stack construction to accommodate the Athenaeum's large and valuable collection of bound periodicals. The room has a capacity of 12,000 volumes and is also used as a study room for club work. In 1897 the directors' room was fitted up as a reference room for Rhode Island history and genealogy and as a catalogue room. During this year an entrance also was cut through the east wall, making a much appreciated approach from College street. This same period included a new roof and skylights, in- troduction of electricity, thorough overhauling of the heating and plumbing systems, new fences, regrading of the grounds, planting of shrubbery, new walks and many minor repairs. In 1906, through the active interest of one of the shareholders, a purse was raised among friends of the AthenaMim for the alter- ation and renovation of the reading-room. Though the alcoves were removed the retention of the cornice, pilasters and most of the shelving gave the new room all the charm and character of the old. On July 10th of the present j^ear plans were appi-oved by the board of directors for an extensive addition to the present build- ing on the south and east. The southern wing is approximately thirty by forty feet and its j^rincipal room is provided with alcoves and gallery similar to the present main library room. The ground floor is an extension of the present periodical room. The addition to the east provides, on the ground floor, a boiler and unpacking room ; on the main library floor, a vestibule entrance, children's room and directors' room, and on the gallery floor a room for special collections and a staff room. In adopting these plans the board has had in mind the retention, so far as possible, of the old lines of the building without and the old atmosphere and distinctive character within. The officers of the institution have been as follows: Presidents, 32 John Pitman, 1836-1856; William S. Patten, 1856-1870; Wil- liam Gammell, 1870-1882; Alexander Farnura, 1882-1883; Au- gustus Woodbury, 1883-1888; Samuel L.Caldwell, 1888-1889;; Samuel W. Peckham, 1889-1895; Josei)h C. Ely, 1895-1897; Royal C. Taft, 1897; Alfred Stone, 1897-1908; Stephen H. Arnold, 1908 — date. Vice-Presidents : William G. Goddard, 1836-1845; George Baker, 1845-1840; William S. Patten, 1846-1856; Alexis Caswell, 1856-1868; William Gammell, 1868- 1870; Alexander Farnum, 1870-1882; Augustus Woodbury,. 1882-1883; Royal C. Taft, 1883-1897; Alfred Stone, 1897; Stephen H. Arnold, 1897-1908; John C. Pegram, 1909 ; Wil- liam L. ITodgman, 1910 — date. Treasurers: William R. Staples,. 1836; Stephen Tripp, 1836-1345; Thomas M. Burgess, 1845- 1847; Stephen T. Olney, 1847-1850; Henry Anthony, 1850; Henry T. Beckwith, 1850-1860 ; Amasa Paine, 1860-1863; Henry T. Cornett, 1863-1865; Stephen H. Arnold, 1865-1897; Charles R. Stark, 1897-1905 ; Charles T. Dorrance, 1905— date. Secre- taries : Thomas White, 1836 ; Samuel W. Peckhara, 1836-1845 ; Samuel Austin, 1845-1847; Isaac Proud, 1847-1849; Albert J. Jones, 1849-1854; John Gorham, 1854-1856; Samuel W^ Peck- ham, 1856-1857 ; James Tillinghast, 1857-1871 ; Charles P. Rob- inson, 1871-1877; William M. Bailey, Jr., 1877-1893; Charles T. Dorrance, 1893 ; Pardon S. Jastram, 1893 — date. Librarians : Samuel W. Peckham, 1836-1838; Stephen R. Weeden, 1838- 1845; Thomas H. Williams, 1845-1854; J. Dunham Hedge, 1854-1879; Daniel Beck^ath, 1879-1894, and Joseph L.Harri- son, 1894 — date. Of those included in this list of officers two stand out conspic- uously because of their long service and deep interest in the Athena'um. Judge Peckhara was actively identified with the institution from its incorporation in 1836 until his death, in 1895. He served as the first librarian, 1836 to 1838, as secretary from 1836 to 1845, seven terras as director and as president from 1889 to 1895. Mr. Arnold has been in continuous service as an officer of the Athenjeum for nearly half a century. He was treasurer 33 from 1865 to 1897, vice-president from 1897 to 1908 and has held llie office of president since 1908. The present governing board is made up as follows: — Stephen II. Arnold, president; William L. llodgraau, vice-president; Charles T. Dorrance, treasurer; Pardon S. Jastram, secretary. Directors : Arthur P. Sumner, Frederick II. Jackson, N, Darrell Harvey, Edward S. Clark, Zechariah Chafee, Henry A. DuVil- lard, Edward D. Pearce, William C. Poland, Albert E. Ilani, Howard L. Clark, Edward F. Ely, Harold P. Waterman, Otis Everett. Auditing Committee: Arthur Knight, Eugene W. Mason, Fletcher S. Mason. From the first the Athenanim has been the recipient of many and valuable gifts of money, of books and of works of art. In 1849 Alexander Duncan, in accordance with the wishes of C'yrus Butler, gave ^0,000 to be added to the permanent endowment fund and $4,000 to pay off the old debt to the Franklin Society and make necessary alterations in the basement. In 1865 Thomas Poynton Ives left a bequest of $10,000, which was sub- sequently added to the endowment fund. In 1X07 twenty-one subscribers contributed $3,285 to the endowment fund and the following year eighty-nine shareholders gave $7,72'2 for altera- tions in the building. In 1896 Mrs. Elizabeth A. Shepard gave the art room, shelved and fully furnished for use. At various times from 1896-1906, shareholders contributed $5,917, including $1,000 given for the special purpose of renovating the reading room, towards the general improvements of the building and grounds. The Athenauun has received seven book funds as follows : The Allen Brown Bequest of $500, bequeathed in 1861 as an unrestricted book fund. The Carrington Hoppin Fund of $3,000, bequeathed in 1879, and at Mr. IIo})pin's request limited in its use to the purchase of books relating to Italy and Italian art. The Thomas P. I. Goddard Fund of $10,000, given in 1889 and used in accordance with the expressed desire of the donor for 34 the purchase of " standard works of permanent value." The Albert Jones Fund of |1,000, bequeatlied in 1887, and limited by the terms of the will to the purchase of books " illustrating the arts of design as ap})lied to decorative or industrial art." The William M. l>ailey, Jr. Memorial P'und of 1 1, 000, raised by friends of Mr. Bailey for the purchase of books, engravings and photo- gra[)hs relating to architecture. The Elizabeth A. Shepard Book Fund of 13,000, given in 1905 and 1906 by Mrs. T. P. Shepard as a general book fund. The Miller Fund, bequeathed in 1900 by Mrs. Helen Woods Miller, widow of Dr. Horace G. Miller, the income to be applied for the purchase of books. Among the more valuable works of art, all of them gifts, may be mentioned : Coi)y of Stuart's portrait of Washington, executed by an Italian artist from the original painted for the Marquis of Lansdowne ; portrait of Cyrus Butler ; portrait of James G. Per- cival, by Alexander ; marble bust of John Pitman, l)y George O. Annable ; " The Hours," by Edward G. Malbone, perha[)s the most noted work of this celebrated miniature painter ; portrait of Washington Allston, by Chester Harding ; Cavalier of the time of Charles I., by Van Dyke; portrait of John Hampden, by Gandy; ))ortrait of Theophila Palmer, known as "A girl reading," by Sir Joshua Reynolds; marble bust of Shakespeare; portrait of Zachai'y Taylor, by C. A. Foster ; miniature of Nicholas Power, by Malbone; Malbone's portrait sketch of himself ; portrait of Mrs. Sarah Helen Whitman, by C. G. Thompson ; Wandering Jew, water color by Horace Vernet; portrait of Samuel W. Peckham, from his heirs, 1897 ; bronze tablet in honor of the Carrington Hoppin bequest ; and a portrait of Joseph C. Ely, by Hugo Breul. Among other gifts may be mentioned a drinking fountain from Mrs. Anna Richmohd and a bequest of $5,000 from Joseph J. Cooke for the purchase of books from his private library. It may be noted that a number of the paintings, including the Van Dj'ke and Reynolds, were given by Ethelbert R. Billings and the mini- ature of Nicholas Power by his daughter, Mrs. Sarah Helen Whitman. 35 "The Hours" was painted by Malbone in 1801 during a seven months' sojourn in London. It was given by the artist to liis sister, Mrs. Harriet, Whitehorne, wife of John G. Whitehorne, of Newport. Mrs. Whiteliorne died in 1853 and her executor, to carry out her wish that the jjicture should remain in the artist's native state, suggested that it be purchased for the Athenaeum. Acting on the suggestion. Miss EHzabeth B. Patten, afterward Mrs. Arthur F. Dexter, then scarcely more than a girl, collected from 119 friends of the institution most of the necessary money, and the miniature came into possession of the Athenaeum on August 26, 1854. In connection with the portrait of Mrs. Whitman it may be noted that one of the Athenauxra's treasures is a volume of Colton's American review for 1847, the December number of which con- tains the anonymous poem Ulalume with Edgar Allan Toe's signature attached. The story is that Mrs. Whitman, who was then engaged to Poe, asked him one day when they were in the Athenanim, if he had read the new poem and if he knew its author. He surprised her by acknowledging himself the author, and taking up the library copy of the magazine signed his name at the end of the poem. It may be stated broadly regarding the growth of the institu- tion that during the seventy- five years of its history from 183G to 1911 its endowment fund has increased from $5,000 to 152,138.03. receipts from annual and other rights from ri?l,4G5 to $7,258, the number of shares from 293 to 1,000, the number of volumes in the library from 4,162 to 76,576 volumes and the annual circula- tion from 3,684 to 62,927. The Athen.-i'um has issued four printed catalogues, as^ follows Catalogue of the Athenaum library, Proviast, fading slowly out in the light of the new deraocrac3^ It is the new democracy that most needs the old heritage of reverence and faith and poise of spirit. It is democracy that must be saved from crudity and obscurantism and made familiar with our intellectual heritage. Changes must come to all things human, to home and school and church and city. Even this granite front must cruml)le. But ideas and ideals survive and are transmitted from age to age. Instead of dwindling they shine with increasing light and power. That we appreciate some of these ideals and would convey them to remote generations — that is the meaning of the simple but heart- felt exercises of this winter afternoon."