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NOTES 
 
 ON 
 
 THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
 BY EDWARD EDWARDS. 
 
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 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
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 The early history of Libraries in America derives a special interest for 
 Englishmen from the fact that it is preeminently a record of reciprocal good 
 offices, between some of the best men of both countries. There is not a 
 Library in the United States, of the age of a century and upwards, which does 
 not treasure on its roll of benefactors the name of many a liberal-minded Eng- 
 lishman, who saw that in lending what furtherance he could to the cause of 
 learning in the rising community, he was at once discharging a plain duty, and 
 sowing the seeds of an abundant harvest, of which his own posterity would 
 surely reap a portion, though they might never behold the fields in which it 
 was to grow. 
 
 Many have been the flippant and shallow sneers which, in more recent days, 
 have been thrown by writers of a certain school — small, but noisy — at the 
 Americans, for their alleged disregard of literature of the higher order, and 
 especially for their want of those great collections of books, without which 
 thorough scholarship and lofty literary enterprise are alike impossible. 
 
 Perhaps an unlucky remark which fell from a North American Reviewer, 
 some years ago, may have been the germ of some of these depreciatory state- 
 ments. For in these days of countless periodicals a casual and hasty para- 
 graph will sometimes attain a singular vitality by mere dint of repetition. 
 Literature will not be much promoted, observed this writer, by a “ facility for 
 accumulating quotations by means of huge libraries.” * Of course, a brother 
 critic on this side of the water speedily improves the occasion, by assuring his 
 readers that the “ spirit of pride which leads us to contemn what we do not 
 possess, has unhappily had its effect on the Americans, and induced them to 
 undervalue the advantages of public libraries.” f Other writers follow the 
 lead, until we find the grave historian of Europe, Sir Archibald Alison, assert- 
 ing not only that “ literature meets with little encouragement in America,” but 
 that American historians will have to write the history of the present gener- 
 
 * North American Review, No. 65. 
 t Foreign Quarterly Review, Yol. vii. p. 227. 
 
 h 
 
 I 
 
 3 
 
xcvm 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 ation from the archives of oilier lands, so “ utterly regardless ” are their country- 
 men of “ historical records and monuments.” 
 
 Most true it is that America can show no great encyclopaedical collection 
 like the Imperial Library at Paris, or the British Museum Library in London, 
 or the Bodleian at Oxford. Such repositories as these are the slow growth of 
 centuries. They need the combination of many favourable circumstances, and 
 the laborious efforts of several successive generations of benefactors. The 
 rude and arduous pioneer work which the American Colonists had to perform, 
 might well have tasked their utmost energies, to the exclusion of all thought 
 for the wants of their future historians and scholars, in the way of a great 
 public provision of books. That Collegiate and other Educational Libraries, 
 indeed, should be formed in the States may be regarded as but the natural 
 sequence of that wise and far-sighted policy which led the Legislature of 
 Massachusetts to enact (more than two hundred years ago) that “ when any 
 town shall increase to the number of one hundred families they shall, under 
 penalty, ... set up a grammar-school ; ” * — thus initiating one of the best 
 systems of school organization which the world has seen, and deciding on 
 broad and enduring principles a question, which in the mother-country is to 
 this day made the arena of petty sectarian conflicts. But it would be vain 
 indeed to expect any elaborate collection of the muniments of history, and the 
 rarities of literature, from men who not only had before them the conversion of 
 a vast wilderness into a civilised and religious community, but of whom it 
 might be said with literal truth, that “ they who budded and they who bare 
 burdens, .... with one hand wrought at the work, and with the other hand 
 held a weapon.” 
 
 It wdl, however, become apparent in the course of our brief review of the 
 rise and progress of Public Libraries in the United States, that even in times 
 of savage warfare and intestine difficulty there have been Americans who were 
 thoughtfully providing for the wants of the men of letters of a more quiet 
 period to come ; whilst, on the other hand, the Union, as a country, has long been 
 distinguished for the wide diffusion of a popular taste for reading, and the large 
 facilities presented for the gratification of that taste. The discrimination, too, 
 which time was sure to bring with it, is visibly advancing. No circumstance 
 in recent days has more noticeably affected the book-markets of Europe, than 
 the rapid growth of the American demand for good, choice, and fine books. 
 Always a nation of readers, they are becoming, not indeed a nation of critics, 
 but — what is much better — of generous appreciators of the literature of all 
 Europe, as well as of their own. Seventy years ago it was said of them : “ It 
 is scarce possible to conceive the number of readers with which every little 
 town abonnds. The common people are on a footing in point of literature 
 with the middle ranks of Europe.” But the same writer tells us, that “of 
 expensive publications they have none. A single book of the value of £5 or 
 £10 is nowhere to be found here.” f Sixty-four years after these passages 
 were penned, another writer, Mr. Henry Stevens, of Vermont — who has had 
 
 * Charters and general laws of the Colony and Province of Massachusetts Bay. 
 (Boston, 1814. 8vo.) 
 
 f Bibliotheca Americana (1789), Preface. 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 XC1X 
 
 unusual opportunities of forming a correct judgment on suck matters — tells 
 us that “ a few years ago the veriest trash was deemed good enough for ex- 
 portation to Jonathan, who was then proverbially not over-particular either as 
 to the edition or condition of his books, provided he had enough of them. 
 Now, however, he buys . . . much more intelligently. ... He is ready and 
 anxious to secure for his library those literary gems which are so wont to de- 
 light the heart and empty the pockets of the bibliophile.” * And, above all 
 things, it might have been added, he is eager to collect, at any cost, every 
 work that throws light on the early history of his own country, so utterly wide 
 of the mark is Sir Archibald Alison’s unwise assertion, that Americans “ are 
 wholly regardless of historical records or monuments.” 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 OF COLLEGIATE LIBRARIES. 
 
 The largest Library (or that which was largest f only a few 
 months ago) is also their oldest. The Library of Harvard Col- 
 lege, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, is almost contemporaneous 
 with the College itself, which was founded by the Massachusetts 
 Legislature, at the instance of the celebrated Governor Win- 
 throp, in 1632, and endowed by John Harvard, with his library 
 and half his estate, six years afterwards. To the small, but precious collection 
 of Harvard, were successively added the valuable gifts of Sir Kenelm Digby, 
 Sir John Maynard, Dr. Lightfoot, Dr. Gale, Richard Baxter, Bishop Berkeley, 
 and other benefactors, of the mother country, as well as those of many native 
 Americans. How many interesting associations must have been bound up 
 with those early acquisitions, we may partly estimate from a passage in Baxter’s 
 writings : “ I purposed,” he says, “ to have given almost all my library to 
 Cambridge, in New England ; but Mr. Thomas Knowles, who knew their 
 library, told me that Sir Kenelm Digby had already given them the Fathers’, 
 Councils, and Schoolmen, and that it was Histories and Commentators which 
 they wanted. Whereupon I sent them some of my Commentators and some 
 Histories, among which was Freherus, Reuherus, and Pistorius’s Collections 
 . . . . Now, 1 must depend on the credit of my memory.” J Reminiscences 
 like this are all that now survive of this first “ Harvard Library,” the whole 
 of which, with the philosophical apparatus and much other property of the 
 College, as well as the building which it occupied, was destroyed by fire in 
 January, 1764. 
 
 The calamity, however, did but give a new impulse to liberal exertion both 
 at home and in England. The Legislature immediately set apart £2000 for a 
 
 * Stevens, My English Library, Preface. 
 
 f Taking into the account, that is, the subsidiary collections called “ Society 
 Libraries.” 
 
 X True History of Councils, as quoted in Orme’s Life of Baxter, vol.ii. p. 384. 
 
 h 2 
 
 I. 
 
 Collegiate 
 
 Libraries. 
 
 [1.] Library 
 of Harvard 
 College. 
 
 . OF ILL LIB. 
 
c 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 new building. Almost another £1000 was raised by a public subscription in 
 the State.* Equal zeal was shown in the restoration of the Library, so far as 
 that was possible. The General Assembly of New Hampshire gave books to 
 the value of £300 sterling. The Societies for the Propagation of the Gospel 
 gave an equal sum, to be expended in purchases. Amongst individual bene- 
 factors, Thomas Hollis stands preeminent. During the ten years which elapsed 
 between the fire of 1764 and his death, he sent over no less than forty-three 
 cases of books, selected with that keen relish for our best writers, and that 
 acute perception of the pregnant qualities of books as the “ fertilizers ” of the 
 soul, by which (as well as by some singular crotchets that did nobody much 
 harm) he was so remarkably distinguished. At his death he bequeathed to the 
 College a sum of money, from which there is still a fund of three thousand 
 dollars, the interest whereof is expended in the purchase of books.f 
 
 Mr. Brand Hollis followed his uncle’s example, both by the gift of books 
 and by a legacy at his death. John Hancock gave £550 in money, and “a 
 large collection of chosen authors.” Thomas Palmer, of Boston, gave, in 1772, 
 a set of the Works of Piranesi, and some other choice books ; and, nearly fifty 
 years afterwards, bequeathed a library of about 1200 volumes, valued at 2500 
 dollars. Samuel Shapleigh, who was Librarian at Harvard at the beginning of 
 the present century, gave a piece of land to the Library, and made it his 
 residuary legatee. The fund thence accruing is combined with that of Hollis, 
 and their conjoint interest amounts to about £100 a-year. 
 
 In 1818, Israel Thorndike, of Boston, purchased, and presented to Harvard 
 College the celebrated Library of Professor Ebeling, of Hamburgh, consisting 
 chiefly of books relating to America, extending to 3200 volumes ; and to which 
 was appended a collection of no less than 10,000 maps and charts. Another 
 remarkable collection of books relating to America was purchased of Mr. D. 
 B. Warden, by Samuel Elliott, of Boston, and simdarly presented in 1823. 
 Many other donations of almost equal importance must be passed over ■without 
 remark. But I cannot omit to record the gift, in 1846, of £100, for the 
 purchase of books, by the late Right Hon. Thomas Grenville. It was one of 
 the latest of a long series of beneficent acts that adorned a life unusually pro- 
 tracted, and the good deeds of which, as all students know, did not terminate 
 with the life. 
 
 Twenty years ago, the growth of the Library had outstripped the capabilities 
 of the building. But the munificent bequest of Christopher Gore enabled the 
 Regents to lay, in 1837, the foundation of a new structure, which received the 
 name of Gore Hall, and to which the books were removed in 1841. Mr. Gore 
 
 * Jewett, Notices of Public Libraries in the United States (1851) — a “ Smithsonian 
 Report,” — p. 31. 
 
 f Nor is it undeserving of remark that many of his gifts are clothed in that rich 
 and peculiar binding, with the well-known emblems, which still makes the collector’s 
 eyes to glisten, however small his general attachment to caps of liberty and “ red re- 
 publicanism.” Many of the Hollis volumes at Harvard have MS. notes by the donor. 
 In one of these he speaks of the pains he had taken to collect grammars and lexicons 
 of the “ Oriental rooLlanguages,” in the hope that he might thus help to form “ a few 
 prime scholars, honours to their country and lights to mankind.” — See the note quoted 
 by Mr. Jewett, in his Notices of Public Libraries in the United States, pp. 31, 32. 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 Cl 
 
 had been, in his life-time, a liberal benefactor to the Library, especially by the 
 gift of valuable law-books; and the sum ultimately receiveable, — after the lapse 
 of certain life-annuities, — from the bequest of his residuary estate, will fall 
 little short of £20,000 sterling.* 
 
 At the time of removal, the Library numbered about 38,000 volumes. In 
 the following year, a sum exceeding £4000 sterling was subscribed by thirty- 
 four gentlemen, of Boston, expressly for the purchase of books, and with a 
 special view to the filling up of deficiencies in certain important departments 
 of the sciences. About 12,000 volumes were purchased, from this source, be- 
 tween the years 1842 and 1850. During the same period about 4000 volumes 
 and upwards of 16,000 pamphlets were presented by various donors. Since 
 1850 the Library has been dependent for its augmentation on the interest of 
 the Hollis and Shapleigh Fund, and on casual donations. 
 
 The Harvard Library is at present divided into four departments : 1 . The 
 Public Library, which contains about 61,000 bound volumes, and upwards of 
 25,000 pamphlets. The MSS. are few and of little importance. 2. The Law 
 Library, which includes the valuable collection of Mr. Justice Story, comprises 
 upwards of 14,000 volumes, and of which the purchased portion, exclusive of 
 many important donations, has cost upwards of £7000. “ It includes,” says 
 
 the Catalogue of 1850, “ all the American Reports ; the Statutes of the 
 United States, as well as of all the States individually ; a regular series of all 
 the English Reports, including the Year Books, and also the English 
 Statutes, as well as the principal treatises on American and English law ; be- 
 sides a large collection of Scottish, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, 
 and other foreign law, and a very ample collection of the best editions of the 
 Roman or Civil Law, together with the works of the most celebrated com- 
 mentators upon that law.” The Catalogue of this excellent collection was 
 prepared by Mr. Charles Sumner, the well-known and respected Senator of the 
 United States. 3. The Theological Library, containing between 3000 and 
 4000 volumes. It consists chiefly of modern works, but also contains some of 
 the Fathers of the Church in their original texts. And 4. The Medical 
 Library, especially intended for the Medical Students attending the lectures in 
 Boston, and containing about 1300 volumes. f 
 
 In addition to these main collections, the “ Society Libraries,” as they are 
 termed, which at various times have been originated by the students them- 
 selves, contain about 12,000 volumes, making a series of collections which 
 amount, in the aggregate, to upwards of 92,000 volumes. 
 
 All officers and students of the University ; officers of the State Govern- 
 ment, and members of the Legislature ; clergymen of all denominations, living 
 within ten miles of the Library ; all donors to the value of £8, during their 
 residence in Cambridge ; and all persons temporarily residing in Cambridge 
 for purposes of study, may borrow books without charge, under the conditions 
 prescribed in the laws of the University. Ready admittance, with all re- 
 quisite information and facilities for examining and consulting the books, are 
 afforded to all visitors, and the library is extensively used. 
 
 * Jewett, Notices, &c., ubi supra. 
 
 t Jewett, ubi supra. 
 
cn 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 [2.] Library 
 of Yale 
 College. 
 
 The Library of Yale College may almost be said to have been 
 founded before the Institution to which it belongs, since we read 
 in its history, that in the year 1700, eleven of the principal 
 
 ministers met at New Haven, and formed themselves into an association for 
 the erection of a College in the Colony ; and that, at their next meeting — the 
 first after they were organized — each of them brought a number of books, and 
 presenting them to the society, said, I give these books for the founding of a 
 College in this Colony.* 
 
 To this College, as to Harvard, Bishop Berkeley was an early and eminent 
 benefactor. In the dawn of his illustrious career he had said deliberately 
 that he would prefer the headship of an American College — on a scale worthy 
 of the work which he saw to be before it — to the primacy of England. Had 
 he succeeded in imparting to the English government but a tenth part of his 
 own seuse of its duties, he would assuredly have lived and died in the position 
 he longed for. As it was, he left America with a truer insight into its great 
 futurity than seems to have been attained by any other man of that genera- 
 tion, and kept through life a most loving regard for its best interests. His 
 donation to Yale was said to be “ the finest collection that ever came together 
 at one time into America : ” and his name is followed in the donation book by 
 the names of Newton, Halley, Woodward, Bentley, Steele, Burnet, Kennet, 
 Calamy, Edwards, and Henry. 
 
 Eor nearly a century and a half, however, the growth of Yale Library was 
 very slow. But in 1845 a fund was raised for large purchases in Europe, and, 
 by the care and exertions of Professor Kingsley, such a selection of books was 
 made as at once placed the library amongst the best — though not amongst 
 the largest — collections in the Union. On the 1st of January, 1849, the 
 number of volumes was 20,515, and it now exceeds 30,000, exclusive of pamph- 
 lets, and of the libraries of the Students’ Literary Societies, which number not 
 less than 25,000 volumes. There is a permanent fund of £5400, yielding an 
 annual income of £324 for purchases, and hence accrues a yearly addition of 
 900 or 1000 volumes. 
 
 Numerically, the College Library of Yale contains the smallest portion of 
 its literary stores. The two “ Society Libraries,” belonging to the students, com- 
 prise in the aggregate upwards of 25,000 volumes. Of these the “ Linonian ” 
 is the oldest, having been founded in 1753. In 1800 it contained but 475 
 volumes ; in 1822, 1187 volumes ; in 1842, the number had increased to 8000. 
 It has now nearly 14,000 volumes, and has a good catalogue. The library of 
 the “ Brothers in Unity ” is of nearly similar date, and contains a nearly equal 
 number of volumes. To this collection bibliographers and book lovers, both in 
 Britain and in America, are indebted for the admirable “ Index to Periodical 
 Literature,” of Mr. William Erederic Poole. “While connected,” says the 
 author in his preface, “ with the library of the ‘ Society of Brothers in Unity ’ 
 in Yale College, I attempted to . . . make the contents of Periodicals accessible 
 to the students in the preparation of their written exercises, and the discus- 
 sions of their literary societies.” This attempt ultimately resulted in the 
 volume which is now an indispensable part of the bibliographical apparatus of 
 
 * Jewett, ut supra, p. 70. 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 cm 
 
 a library. Both these collections are of course Lending Libraries, and how ex- 
 tensively they are used will appear from the fact that the aggregate annual 
 issue considerably exceeds the aggregate number of volumes which they con- 
 tain. The Library of the Americau Oriental Society is deposited in the College 
 Library building. 
 
 Next, in chronological order, of the Collegiate Libraries is j-g j Library 
 that of Columbia College, in New York. It originated in the of Columbia 
 bequest (about 1757) by Mr. Joseph Murray, of his library, ollc ge. 
 with other property, amounting in the whole to £8000. Another collection 
 of about 1500 volumes was bequeathed by Dr. Bristowe. Presents were also 
 received from Lord Bute, and from the University of Oxford, so that the 
 College possessed a considerable Library, when, in 1776, the authorities were 
 directed to make ready “ for the reception of troops.” “ The students were 
 in consequence dispersed, the Library and apparatus were deposited in the 
 City Hall, or elsewhere, and the College edifice was converted into a Military 
 Hospital. Almost all the apparatus, and a large proportion of the books 
 belonging to the College, were wholly lost to it in consequence of this removal ; 
 and of the books recovered, 600 or 700 were so only after about thirty years, 
 when they were found, with as many belonging to the New York Society 
 Library, and some belonging to Trinity Church, in a room in St. Paul’s Chapel, 
 where, it seems, no one but the sexton had been aware of their existence, and 
 neither he nor anybody else could tell how they had arrived there.” * 
 
 In 1792, a grant in aid of the restoration of the Library was obtained from 
 the Legislature. In 1813, the library of Professor Kemp, and in 1838, that 
 of Professor Moore, were purchased. It now contains upwards of 14,000 
 volumes. It is chiefly frequented by the officers of the College, and by 
 students of the three higher classes. 
 
 Brown University — first established at Warren, and thence j Library 
 removed to Providence — was incorporated in the year 1764. of Brown 
 The first beginnings of the Library appear to date from 1768, University, 
 when the Reverend Morgan Edwards, then in England, was authorized to 
 make some small purchases. Eight years afterwards the College building was 
 converted into a barrack and hospital ; the students were dispersed, and the 
 books removed; and it was not until after the conclusion of peace, in 1782, 
 that the small library was restored and the College reorganized. Shortly 
 afterwards a liberal subscription was raised for the purchase of books in 
 England. 
 
 Eor many years the chief accessions were obtained by gift or by bequest. 
 Of American donors, Mr. Nicholas Brown, of Providence, and the Rev. Isaac 
 Backus, of Middleborough, were the chief. The former imported from 
 England, expressly for the University, a valuable law library, and afterwards 
 gave £100 to be expended in other purchases ; the latter bequeathed a collection 
 of books, the precise number of which is not recorded ; but many of them 
 were both valuable and rare. Amongst these is a copy of Roger Williams’ 
 famous treatise on “ the bloody tenent,” on the fly-leaf of which is written, in 
 
 * Moore, Historical Sketch of Columbia College , p. 62, as quoted by Jewett, 
 Notices, &c., p. 94. 
 
CIV 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 the author’s hand, “For his honored and beloved Mr. John Clarke, an eminent 
 witnes of Christ Jesus, ag’st ye Hoodie doctrine of persecution,” &c. Amongst 
 the English donors the most noticeable appear to have been the Rev. William 
 Richards (the historian of Lynn), and Granville Sharp. 
 
 Mr. Richards had long carried on a correspondence with American divines, 
 and being a man of liberal principles, had made many inquiries as to the 
 accessibility and unsectarian character of the College at Providence. It was 
 stated to him that, “ Although the Charter requires that the President shall 
 for ever be a Baptist, it allows neither him, in his official character, nor any 
 other officer of instruction, to inculcate any sectarian doctrine ; it forbids all 
 religious tests ; and it requires that all denominations of Christians, behaving 
 alike, shall be treated alike. This Charter is congenial with the whole of the 
 civil government established here by the venerable Roger Williams, who 
 allowed ... no preeminence of one denomination over another, and none has 
 ever been allowed unto this day.” Gratified by this letter, Mr. Richards be- 
 queathed to this College a collection of about thirteen hundred volumes of 
 considerable value, and especially rich, it is stated, in the History and Antiqui- 
 ties of England and Wales. The name of Granville Sharp appears frequently 
 in the list of donors from the year 1785 until the period of his death. 
 
 Hitherto the library had been very slenderly provided with the literature 
 and the science of continental Europe, Between the years 1823 and 1845, 
 however, many valuable presents of foreign books were acquired by the 
 liberality of Mr. John Carter Brown, of the Rev. Thomas Carlile, and of the 
 wife of President Wayland. At the sole cost of the first-named gentleman, 
 and by the able instrumentality of Mr. Jewett, then Librarian of Brown 
 University, upwards of 3000 volumes, well selected and well bound, were pur- 
 chased in Prance, Germany, and Italy. Amongst them were entire collections 
 of the standard writers of each of those countries; complete sets of the 
 Memoires del' Institut de France, of the Memoires sur VUistoire de France, of 
 the Allgemeine Idteratur-Zeitung, and the Allgemeine Deutsche Bibliotliek ; 
 a long series of famous “Galleries,” including those of the Vatican, the 
 Museo Borbonico, the Musee Royal, and the Musee Frangais ; the great French 
 work on Egypt ; Canina’s masterly work on Architecture ; with many others 
 of great value. 
 
 Nothing in the history of this institution is more worthy of praise and 
 imitation than is the generous rivalry which has made the good deed of one 
 benefactor a spur to the good intent of another. No sooner had Mr. Carter 
 Brown interposed so effectively on behalf of the Foreign section of the Library, 
 than other friends clubbed together to improve its English department, at the 
 cost of a thousand pounds. In the following year a similar effort on behalf 
 of the Theological department was originated by the Rev. Samuel Osgood, and 
 by this means a fine series of the Fathers of the Church, of the Councils, and 
 of the best writers of the Reformation period were added to the Collection. 
 
 Besides these special efforts directed, and wisely directed, to certain parti- 
 cular classes of literature, a permanent fund of £5000 has been formed by 
 subscription, the interest of which is annually expended in purchases ; a 
 new building has been erected with capacity to accommodate the growing 
 library for a long time to come ; and an excellent catalogue has been prepared 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CV 
 
 and printed. The number of volumes now exceeds 26,000, exclusively of 
 about 7000 volumes which belong to two literary Societies formed by the 
 students. The Library is extensively used, and is accessible for all literary 
 and studious purposes under very liberal regulations. 
 
 Dartmouth College at Hanover (New Hampshire ) was found- j-- -j jjb rary 
 ed in 1769, and, by gradual accumulations, has become pos- of Dartmouth 
 sessed of about 21,000 volumes, which belong, in nearly equal Colle ge. 
 portions, to the Library of the College properly so called, to that of the Society 
 of Students, designated the “ Social Friends,” and to that of another Society, 
 called the “ United Fraternity.” 
 
 The other principal College Libraries of the United States — founded sub- 
 sequently to the commencement of the present century — I can but briefly 
 enumerate. Taking the chief of them only (in chronological order), they are as 
 follows : — 
 
 OTHER UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE LIBRARIES. 
 
 Date of 
 Founda- 
 tion. 
 
 Name of College or University. 
 
 City or Town 
 where situated. 
 
 Name of State. 
 
 Aggregate num- 
 ber of vols. (in- 
 cluding the Stu- 
 dents’ Libraries;. 
 
 1800. 
 
 1. Vermont University. 
 
 Burlington. 
 
 Vermont, 
 
 13,600. 
 
 1802. 
 
 2. Bowdoin College. 
 
 Brunswick. 
 
 Maine. 
 
 26,600. 
 
 1802. 
 
 3. South Carolina Col- 
 lege. 
 
 Columbia. 
 
 S. Carolina. 
 
 21,400. 
 
 1808. 
 
 4. Andover Theological 
 Seminary. 
 
 Andover. 
 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 24,000. 
 
 1825. 
 
 5. Virginia University. 
 
 Charlottesville. 
 
 Virginia. 
 
 21,200. 
 
 1838. 
 
 6. Union Theological Se- 
 minary. 
 
 New York. 
 
 New York. 
 
 about 
 
 18,000. 
 
 Of these Libraries, the collections at Burlington, Columbia, and Charlottes- 
 ville, appear to be most noticeable for the care with which they have been 
 selected. The first named is rich in the Greek and Roman classics, and in 
 the literature of Spain and of Scandinavia : the greater portion of the fine 
 library collected by the Hon. George P. Marsh, formerly Minister from the 
 United States to Turkey, being here deposited. The Columbia Library was 
 founded by an act of the Legislature, and receives an annual appropriation for 
 books of £100. Professor Lieber has rendered great assistance in the selection 
 of books, and the collection is said to be more valuable " than many of twice 
 its size.”* That at Charlottesville was originally formed and arranged by Pre- 
 sident Jefferson ; enlarged by a legacy of President Madison, and by another 
 — comprising 3380 volumes — of Mr. Christian Bohn. It occupies a fine circular 
 building, erected in 1825, expressly for the Library, at a cost of £14,000. 
 
 There are many other collegiate libraries, of which no notice can here be 
 taken, the numerical contents of which, however, are enumerated in our 
 “ Statistical Table.” 
 
 * Jewett, ut supra, p. 155. 
 
CV1 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 OF PROPRIETARY AND SUBSCRIPTION LIBRARIES. 
 
 The first establishment of proprietary libraries in the United States con- 
 nects itself with the illustrious name of Franklin ; and to narrate the rise in 
 other words than his own would be impertinent. “ At the time,” he says, 
 “ when I established myself in Pennsylvania, there was not a good bookseller’s 
 
 [1.] Library S ' 10 P any °f the Colonies to southward of Boston Those 
 
 Company of who loved reading were obliged to send for their books from 
 I hiladelphia. England; the members of ‘the Junto ’ [a sort of half convivial, 
 half literary club, mainly of Franklin’s foundation] had each a few. We had 
 left the ale-house where we first met, and had hired a room to hold our club in. 
 
 I proposed that we should all of us bring our books to that room, and 
 
 for some time this contented us ... . But soon [in 1731] I set on foot my 
 first project of a public nature, that for a subscription library. I drew up the 
 proposals . . . and, by the help 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 [in 1712] 
 obtained a charter, the company being increased to one hundred. This teas 
 the mother of all the North American Subscription Libraries now so numer- 
 ous. It is become a great thing itself, and continually goes on increasing.” 
 “ These libraries,” adds Franklin, “have improved the general conversation 
 of the Americans, made the common tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as 
 most gentlemen in other countries, and perhaps have contributed, in some 
 degree, to the stand so generally made throughout the Colonies in defence of 
 their privileges.”* 
 
 It is worth while to remark that, when Franklin took this step, no town in 
 England possessed a subscription library. Liverpool appears to have been 
 amongst the earliest towns which took action in this direction, and there no 
 such library was formed until 175G.f Bristol did not possess one until 1772. J 
 Nor is it less to the honour of Franklin, and of Philadelphia, that one of the 
 first regulations which was made for the management of the Library, directed 
 that it should be publicly and gratuitously accessible as a library of reference. 
 The instructions to the first Librarian, Louis Timothee, expressly empower 
 him to permit “ any civil gentleman to peruse the books of the library in the 
 library -room.” The first donor to the infant Library was Peter Collinson, “ Mer- 
 cer, in Gracious Street, London,” and the second, William Rawle, of Philadel- 
 phia (who gave Spenser’s works in six volumes). Franklin himself succeeded 
 Timothee as Librarian for three months. In 1738, a piece of ground was 
 granted to the society by John Penn ; and, within little more than thirty years 
 
 * Autobiography (Sparks’ Edition), p. 97. 
 
 f Brooke, Liverpool as it was . . . in the last century , p. 89. 
 
 I Tovey, The Bristol City Library, p. 000. 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CV11 
 
 of the establishment of the Library, it was stated in a report that “many other 
 libraries, after our example and on our plan, have been erected in this and the 
 neighbouring provinces, whereby useful knowledge has been more generally 
 diffused in these remote corners of the earth.” * 
 
 In August, 1771, an order was made that the Librarian should “furnish the 
 gentlemen who are to meet in Congress, in this city, with such books as they 
 may have occasion for during their sitting, taking a receipt for them. A 
 similar privilege was afterwards accorded to the legislature of Pennsylvania. 
 In 1777, the Library was, for a time, converted into a military hospital. During 
 the nine months of the British occupation of Philadelphia, the Library sustained 
 no injury, except (as during the whole period of the war) from the non-import- 
 ation of books. The funds which had accumulated in the interval were ex- 
 pended, on the conclusion of peace, in a large accession of English and foreign 
 literature. In instructing their agent as to the purchases they wished to make, 
 the Committee write thus : — “ "We shall confide entirely in your judg- 
 ment to procure us such books of modern publication as would be proper for 
 a public library, and though we would wish to mix the utile with the dulce, 
 we should not think it expedient to add to our present stock anything in the 
 novel way.” 
 
 In 1789, a new building was erected for the reception of the books, and an 
 inscription was placed on the corner-stone, which is worth quotation : — 
 
 Be it remembered 
 
 in honour of the Philadelphia youth 
 (then chiefly artificers), 
 that in 1731, they cheerfully, 
 
 (at the instance of Benjamin Franklin, 
 one of their number) , 
 instituted the Philadelphia Library, 
 which, though small at first, 
 is become highly valuable and extensively useful, 
 and which the walls of this edifice 
 are now destined to contain and preserve ; 
 the first stone of whose foundation 
 was here placed the 31st Aug., 1789. 
 
 The collection founded by Eranklin had scarcely been arranged in its new 
 habitation when the addition to it of the library of James Logan (the friend of 
 William Penn, and the first president of the Pennsylvania Council) made an 
 enlargement of the building necessary. This “ collection of rare and valuable 
 books, principally in the learned languages, and in the existing languages of 
 the continent of Europe, . . . which, having formed it at considerable expense, 
 he was anxious should descend to posterity, . . . Mr. Logan had endowed and 
 vested in Trustees, for the use of the public for ever.”f The library thus be- 
 queathed was enlarged by the brother and son of the founder. At the time of 
 annexation it contained about 4000 volumes. Large additions have since 
 been made by purchase (as well from the sale of the original building and site, 
 as from the founder’s endowment), and also by donation. In 1828, Mr. 
 
 * Address presented to John Penn, 1763, quoted by Jewett, ut supra, p. 116. 
 f Catalogue of the Loganian Library (Ibid. p. 121). 
 
CVlll 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 William Mackenzie, an eminent collector, bequeathed “ all his books printed 
 before the beginning of the eighteenth century, and eight hundred volumes 
 more to be chosen by the Trustees, from his French and Latin books of later 
 date.” This valuable bequest amounted to 1519 volumes “of great rarity and 
 value,” and 3566 volumes were subsequently purchased from the Executors. 
 500 selected volumes were also left by Mr. Mackenzie to the Philadelphia 
 Library, and its Directors made a purchase of 1466 additional volumes.* The 
 present contents of the Loganian collection exceed 10,000 volumes, and they 
 are thoroughly accessible to the public at large. 
 
 The progress of the Philadelphia Library during the present century has 
 been still more considerable. By the bequest of a native of Ireland, Mr. 
 Henry Cox, it received a large number of MSS. relating to Irish history, in- 
 cluding, it is said, the original correspondence of James I. with the Privy 
 Council of Ireland for upwards of twelve years, with other historical docu- 
 ments, the value of which remains unknown. f Shortly afterwards (in 1803) 
 another British subject, the Rev. Samuel Preston, Rector of Che veiling, in 
 Kent, bequeathed his library of above two thousand five hundred volumes, 
 many of them, it is stated, “ very splendid works, selected with great taste and 
 judgment.” Mr. Preston, it appears, was an intimate friend of Benjamin 
 West. In the following year John Bleakley, of Philadelphia, bequeathed a 
 thousand pounds to the library, of which he had long been a director. At a 
 subsequent period about 5000 volumes were purchased on very favourable 
 terms of James Cox, an artist, since deceased. Amongst these were many 
 valuable works on the fine arts, and many rarities. By these varied means, the 
 Philadelphia Library, which, seventy years ago, contained but little more than 
 5000 volumes, has now grown to upwards of 50,000 volumes. 
 
 Much to the honour of the Association, “citizens and strangers are per- 
 mitted to consult the books without charge.” j The privilege of borrowing 
 is of course restricted to shareholders and subscribers. “ The number of per- 
 sons who consult the library is,” it is stated, “ very considerable.” § 
 
 Libras of Another Philadelphia Library — that of the American Piiilo- 
 the American sophical Society — is of considerable antiquity, and now con- 
 Philosophical tains upwards of 20,000 volumes. The Society itself dates 
 from 1742, was also founded by Franklin, and is the oldest of its 
 kind in the United States ; but of the precise date when its collection of 
 books was begun, there seems to be no record. The Society also possesses a 
 considerable number of MSS., Maps, and Prints. 
 
 [3.] Redwood The Redwood Library, at Newport, Rhode Island, appears to 
 Library at rank next to the Philadelphia Libraries in point of date, though 
 
 Newport. there is great difference between it and them in point of extent. 
 
 But this collection is intrinsically more valuable than might be inferred from 
 
 * Catalogue of Books belonging to the Library Company of Philadelphia (18351, 
 Preface, p. x. seqq. 
 
 f But for so many similar examples, the possession of State papers of a date com- 
 paratively recent by a private person would excite suspicion as to the manner of their 
 obtainment. Can this Mr. Henry Cox have been a descendant of the Irish Historian, 
 and Lord Chancellor, Sir Richard Cox ? 
 
 + Catalogue, &c., ut supra, p. xi. § Jewett, ut supira, p. 122. 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 C1X 
 
 its smallness. Abraham Redwood, the founder, gave, in 1717, the sum of £500 
 for the purchase of standard books in London. A sum of £5000 was speedily 
 subscribed by the citizens for the erection of a building to receive them (to 
 which sum was ultimately added £1200 more), and a site was freely presented 
 by Mr. Henry Collins.* In its very infancy the Redwood Library had the 
 distinction of attracting to Newport the Rev. Ezra Stiles, who for so many 
 years elevated the town and Colony by his learning and his public spirit, and 
 of whom Channing has said, that in his early years he regarded no human 
 being with equal reverence. f Mr. Stiles was long Librarian, and was the means 
 of adding to the collection many works of great value. 
 
 Here, as elsewhere, the Revolutionary war interrupted the peaceful pursuits 
 of literature ; but here, too, an enlightened public opinion saw in the transient 
 evil the seeds of permanent good, and was patient. The Library suffered more 
 from the perils of the time than some others ; and when these were over its 
 progress met with a check in the death of the founder. Of late years a re- 
 vived interest has been evinced in its growth and usefulness, but it does not 
 yet number 5000 volumes. 
 
 The Library of the New York Society dates from 1754, when j- 4 j New 
 (according to Smith’s History of New York) “ a set of gentlemen York Society 
 undertook a subscription towards raising a public library, and Library, 
 iu a few days collected near £600, which were laid out in purchasing 700 
 volumes of new well-chosen books.” They subsequently obtained what re- 
 mained of a “ Public City Library ,” wliicli had been established more than 
 half a century before, but had fallen into a neglected and dilapidated condition. 
 In 1772 the Society was incorporated. 
 
 During the occupation by the British troops, this Library seems to have 
 suffered more injury than was sustained by similar institutions in most of the 
 other occupied towns. John Pintard (of whom mention will be made hereafter, 
 in connection with the “Historical Society of New York”) affirmed, as an 
 eye-witness, “ that the British soldiers were in the habit of carrying away the 
 books in their knapsacks, and bartering them for grog.” In 1788, however, 
 vigorous exertions appear to have been made for the recovery, augmentation, 
 and improvement of the collection. 
 
 Originally located in the City Hall, this Library has had the singular fortune 
 of occupying within sixty years three new buildings, each of them expressly 
 erected for its reception. Its temporary abodes included, it has, within little 
 more than that period of time, had six different habitations. The moving 
 cause is not explicitly stated, but would seem to have been the rapid increase 
 in the value of sites favourable to commerce. In 1795, when removed to its 
 first new building, it contained about 5000 volumes. When transferred to its 
 second, in 1840, it had grown to about 27,000 volumes. In the present year, 
 
 * Catalogue of the Redwood Library, 1843, Preface. (Quoted by Jewett, pp. 
 48, 49.) 
 
 f Christian Worship: a Discourse at Newport, R. I., 27 July, 1836 ( Works, vol. 
 ii. p. 207). In this discourse Dr. Channing speaks of the Redwood Library as 
 “ yonder beautiful edifice, now so frequented and so useful as a public library, but 
 once so deserted that I spent day after day, and sometimes week after week, amidst 
 its dusty volumes without interruption from a single visitor.” — Ibid. p. 205. 
 
cx 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 in which has occurred its latest change of abode, it possesses somewhat more 
 than 40,000 volumes. If we may judge from the spirited address which was 
 delivered before the shareholders in February last, by its able Librarian, Mr. 
 Mac Mullen, “on the past, the present, and the future of the New York 
 Society Library,” it is now on the threshold of a new and energetic career of 
 usefulness. 
 
 Amongst the minor collections which, from time to time, have merged into 
 that of the Society Library, two merit special mention. The one was the gift 
 (indirectly) of an English clergyman ; the other, that of the descendant and 
 representative of John Winthrop, the founder of Connecticut. 
 
 In 1729, Dr. Millington, Rector of Newington, bequeathed his library to the 
 Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, by whom it was 
 presented to the Corporation of New York, “ for the use of the clergy and 
 gentlemen of New York, and the neighbouring provinces.’' The Winthrop 
 Collection consists of 275 volumes, and was presented in 1812. Of its worth 
 as an illustration of American history — apart from all other value — not a word 
 A good catalogue of the entire Library was published in 1850.* 
 Eight years after the foundation of the Redwood Library in 
 Rhode Island, and almost contemporaneously with the establish- 
 ment of the New York Society, a few young citizens of South 
 Carolina formed themselves into a “ Library Society ” at Charleston. Backed 
 by larger means they had, at the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, not only 
 amassed upwards of 5000 volumes (rich in classical literature), but had gathered 
 a fund of £20,000, with a view to the “ establishment of an institution for 
 education in connection with their library.” In addition to its own collection, 
 the Society had also inherited the valuable library of Mr. Mackenzie, be- 
 queathed to it “ for the use of a College when erected in this province.” In 
 the terrible fire, which, in January, 1778, destroyed nearly one-half of Charleston, 
 the Society’s Library almost totally perished. Only 185 volumes out of be- 
 tween five and six thousand were saved. Mackenzie’s Library fared better, 
 nearly two-thirds of the books being saved, but of these many belonged to 
 broken sets. 
 
 It was not until 1792 that any effectual steps could be taken for the re- 
 storation of the Library. Then, however, they were taken with vigour. In 
 1811, 7000 volumes had been collected. The present number exceeds 21,000, 
 nearly the whole of which have been purchased. The name which appeal's 
 most frequently as a donor of books is that of an eminent French botanist. 
 Many years ago, Andre Michaux, in the travels undertaken for the preparation 
 of his noble work on the Forest Trees of North America, met with liberal 
 hospitality in Carolina. “ Scarcely a year,” says the preface to the Catalogue 
 of 1826, “for some time past, has elapsed without our receiving from him some 
 volume or work as a testimonial of his remembrance.” 
 
 [6 ] Library Salem, in Massachusetts, commenced what is now its “ Athe- 
 of the Salem nseum Library,” in 1760. The war checked the growth of the 
 Athenaeum. „ g oc ; a j Library,” as it was then called, but laid the foundation 
 
 * Mac Mullen, Lecture, & c., ubi supra (1856) passim; Smith, History of New 
 York, [under the year 1754] ; Jewett, Notices, &c., pp. 86—88. 
 
 need be said. 
 
 [5.] Library 
 Society of 
 Charleston. 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CXI 
 
 of another and a better one. The present collection has been formed by the 
 union of the two. 
 
 Dr. Richard Kirwan, the well-known chemist and mineralogist, had sent 
 part of his library across the Irish Channel in a vessel which became the prize 
 of an American privateer. When brought into Beverley for sale, some eminent 
 clergymen and men of science, of Massachusetts, combined for its purchase, 
 and made it the ground- work of the “ Philosophical Library ” of Salem. The 
 books of Kirwan became a seed-plot to the mind of Bowditch. The illustri- 
 ous expounder and continuator of the Mecanique Celeste, half-a-century after- 
 wards, bequeathed a thousand dollars to the Salem Athenaeum, as a token of 
 his remembrance of the benefit. In 1810, the two collections were conjoined, 
 and the “ Athenaeum ” received a charter of incorporation. It now contains 
 about 12,700 volumes, — is rich in works of science, and in the Transactions of 
 learned Societies, — and has a valuable series of pamphlets. 
 
 In 17fi5 a collection of books, on a similar plan to that of ^ 
 
 Salem, was commenced at Portland, and, like that, has now of the 
 merged into the Library of the Portland “ Athenaeum.” The 
 number of volumes is about 8000.* No other Library on the 
 Proprietary or Subscription principle of much importance occurs during the 
 remainder of the last century. Early in the present century that of the New 
 York Historical Society was founded by John Pintard f (who is 
 deservedly remembered in New York for many good deeds, and 0 f the New 
 
 Portland 
 
 Athenaeum. 
 
 York Histori- 
 cal Society. 
 
 merits to be remembered by all lovers of books for his keen en- 
 joyment of them up to the age of eighty-six. “Books,” said he, 
 
 “give me a downy pillow”). It now numbers nearly 18,000 volumes ; is, of 
 course, especially well-provided in American history, and continues to be a 
 library for reference, not for lending. 
 
 The Library of the Boston “Athenaeum ” stands saliently out p j Library 
 from amongst its compeers, alike for its extent, its liberality of of the Boston 
 access, its richness in departments not usually well-filled in Athenaeum - 
 American libraries, and for a precious remnant which it includes of the library 
 of George Washington. 
 
 Pounded in 1806, it has, within half-a-eentury, amassed more than 60,000 
 well-selected and well-arranged volumes, and these are lodged in a noble build- 
 ing which is already capable of accommodating half as many more. Eor books 
 and building together, a sum of fifty-four thousand pounds sterling has been 
 raised by subscription and donation (independently of the annual subscriptions 
 for maintenance and ordinary expenses). This has been done quietly and with- 
 out ostentation ; and the greater part of the sum has been raised within the 
 last ten or eleven years. Of such an indication of public spirit Boston may 
 well be proud. 
 
 As may be expected under such circumstances, the bulk of this fine collection 
 has accrued from systematic purchases. George Watson Brimmer gave, in 
 1838, a “ magnificent series of books on the Pine Arts ; ” and, between the 
 years 1823 and 1826, three several small and special Boston Collections — 
 
 * Annual Report of Portland Athenceum, Oct., 1854, p. 5. 
 
 f Semi-Centennial Celebration of the Neio York Historical Society (1854), p. 48. 
 
cxn 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 theological, medical, and scientific — were wisely merged in the Athenaeum ; 
 but almost everything else has been bought. 
 
 This Library is rich in the Transactions of learned Societies. It has complete 
 sets of those of the Royal Society, of the French Institute, and of the Aca- 
 demies of Berlin, Gottingen, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Turin, Lisbon, Madrid, 
 and St. Petersburgh, with many others of less note. In Natural History, also, 
 it has many fine works. 
 
 When Bushrod Washington died, the library which he had inherited from 
 his uncle, along with the Mount Vermont estate, was divided. Part was left, 
 and still remaius there. The other part fell to Colonel Washington, and came 
 eventually into the market. The public papers were bought by Congress, but 
 the books and pamphlets were declined. These were then purchased by Mr. 
 Henry Stevens, and offered to the Boston Athenaeum. With the public spirit 
 which is characteristic of the place, a few Boston gentlemen, whose liberality 
 was far from being exhausted by the many previous subscriptions above- 
 mentioned, made the acquisition, and presented it to the Library. It consists 
 of about 450 bound volumes, and of nearly 1000 pamphlets, as yet (or lately) 
 unbound. About 350 contain his autograph, and some of them his notes. One 
 of the books has his autograph in a school-boy hand, written about his ninth 
 year. Several have the autographs of his father and mother. Several others 
 are presentation copies from distinguished authors. 
 
 The regulations of the Boston Library, says Professor Jewett, “ are framed 
 with the design that it shall answer the highest purposes of a public library. 
 Practically it is such, for each proprietor, besides the right for himself and his 
 family to use the Library, may grant to two other persons constant access to 
 it, free of all assessments ; and tickets for a month to any number of strangers. 
 Any person indeed, strangers or residents, may be introduced for a special 
 purpose by a note from a proprietor. Thus the by-laws open the doors of the 
 institution to a large number of persons ; so that the proprietor who bestows 
 on others the free use of all the rights he can impart, renders himself thereby 
 a public benefactor. Nor is this all ; the principal civil authorities of Massa- 
 chusetts, the clergy of Boston, and the resident graduates of several colleges, 
 may have access, and may borrow books, on the same terms as proprietors. 
 
 It remains to give some brief description of the building which contains this 
 excellent Library. Its style is Palladian, and its material freestone and brick. 
 The facade is 100 feet in length and sixty in height. The principal floor com- 
 prises two reading-rooms, a committee-room, and a sculpture gallery. The 
 floor above contains the library, which is arranged in a large room (109 feet by 
 40 feet), filled with bookcases to the height of 19 feet, and two smaller ones. 
 The upper story comprises a series of rooms for pictures. The entire cost of 
 the building has been about £27,000 sterling.* 
 
 [10.] Library 
 of the Ame- 
 rican Anti- 
 quarian 
 Society. 
 
 The Library of the American Antiquarian Society was 
 founded at Worcester, Massachusetts, in October, 1812. It 
 now contains nearly 21,000 volumes, and has been formed (as 
 the Society’s name denotes) for the special cultivation of Ame- 
 
 * Bibliotheca Sacra, Jan., 1850 (article written by the late lamented Rev. B. B. 
 Edwards), pp. 176, 177. Jewett, Notices, ut supra, pp. 19—23. 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CX1U 
 
 rican history. Its founder was Dr. Isaiah Thomas, the historian of printing, 
 who gave as its ground- work his own collection of about 3000 bound volumes, 
 a large number of pamphlets, and the best series of newspapers existing in 
 America. This last-named collection begins with the first number of the first 
 paper printed in the United States. By his instrumentality a precious remnant, 
 perhaps the greater portion, of the oldest library which had been formed in 
 Massachusetts — that of Increase and Cotton Mather — was presented by their 
 descendant, Mrs. Hannah Mather Crocker. It amounted to 900 volumes, and 
 included MS. papers, diaries, and correspondence of considerable value, as 
 well those of the two John Cottons, as of the Mather family. Dr. William 
 Bentley, of Salem, Mr. Thomas Wallcut of Boston, and Mr. Thomas L. Win- 
 throp, its present President, have all been liberal donors to the Society’s 
 Collection. 
 
 The founder made the aggrandizement of this Library the main object of his 
 latter years. Although he was sixty-three years old when it began its useful 
 career, he was permitted to preside over it for nearly twenty years more, and 
 marked every one of them by some valuable gift- At the time of his decease 
 he had, on the whole, presented about 9000 volumes, and he left the Society 
 a perpetual endowment towards the expenses of maintenance. 
 
 Amongst the Society’s MSS., other than those already mentioned, there are 
 many possessing considerable importance for the early history of New England. 
 There is also a curious series of old prints, maps, and charts. 
 
 The American Academy of Natural Sciences was ori- [11.] Library 
 ginated at Philadelphia, in 1S12, and incorporated in 1817. The °an Academy 
 Library is especially rich in works of Natural History. Of books of Natural 
 relating to Ornithology — a most costly department — it was said, Sciences - 
 in 1850, to possess a complete series.* It also possesses — what would not 
 there be looked for — a curious collection of the revolutionary literature of 
 Prance. This formed part of a liberal present of books from Mr. William 
 Maclure, amounting in the whole to 5233 volumes. The Zoological collections 
 of this Academy are the best in the United States, and the Ornithological 
 section of them is one of the largest in the world. It was stated to contain, 
 six years ago, about 25,000 specimens.f 
 
 Of all those Subscription Libraries which bear the name ^ 12 .] Merc.in- 
 “ Mercantile,” that of New York is foremost, though not quite tile Library of 
 earliest in point of date. The first meeting for its establish- Boston, 
 ment was held in November, 1820, about six months after the commencement 
 of that at Boston. Both began on a very humble scale ; but the former has 
 grown until it possesses 48,000 volumes. The latter counted, in 1854, but 
 15,247 volumes. J Both, however, can look back on a long career of useful- 
 ness, and forward to one of indefinite progress. 
 
 The name “ Mercantile Library Association ” scarcely de- j Mercati- 
 scribes the original scope of the Society of New York, or of tile Library of 
 the others, having a like designation. But it seems to become New Yo,lv ' 
 less inapplicable with every passing year, from the widening process which 
 
 * Jewett, Notices, &c., ut supra, p. 124. f Ibid. 
 
 1 Thirty-Fourth Annual Report (1854), p. 5. 
 
CX1V 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 time has brought to bear on the first plan. Originally, it was an association 
 of merchants’ clerics, to the exclusion as well of merchants as of all others. 
 Within seven years the collection had grown sufficiently to need better accom- 
 modation than seemed attainable without the erection of a new building. In 
 1828, a meeting of prominent merchants was convened with a view to the 
 provision of a suitable structure by a joint-stock. It was to be named 
 “ Clinton Hall,” and the shareholders the “ Clinton Hall Association.” The 
 members of the latter became, ipso facto, members of the library society * 
 The building thus erected — at a cost of about £11,000 — was opened in 1830. 
 At that date the Library possessed but 6000 volumes. During the next thirty 
 years 37,000 volumes were added, at a cost of £13,071 sterling (45,356 
 dollars), from which number must be deducted about 6000 volumes (of the 
 more ephemeral sort) worn out during the same period. So that the incre- 
 ment, since 1S20, would pretty accurately represent the actual contents of the 
 Library in 1850, as respects mere numbers. During the same period 14,616 
 members were admitted. 
 
 In 1853 it was found to be desirable that a more capacious building should 
 be procured. A joint-stock fund was again resorted to, with such success as 
 led to the obtainment and thorough adaptation to its new purpose, of a very 
 suitable building, at a cost, including furniture, of £49,200, nearly the whole 
 of which has been defrayed. When the small remainder of debt shall have 
 been paid off, the entire income of the “ Clinton Hall Association ” will be ap- 
 plied to the increase and improvement of the Library. 
 
 The total number of volumes in the Library on the 1st of May, 1856, was 
 46,383, of which 3588 had been added during the preceding sixteen months. 
 Of these 3004 were purchased, and 584 presented. The sum expended in 
 books and periodicals was about £900, and in binding about £300. Of the 
 presented books, the greater part were public documents, including the 
 “ Annals of Congress.” f 
 
 The Beading Booms are amongst the finest in America, and are probably 
 better supplied with periodicals in all departments of literature, both English 
 and foreign, than any other. The New York Mercantile Association owes the 
 perfection of this department, as it does the general efficiency of the institu- 
 tion, to the talents and energy of its Librarian, Mr. S. Hastings Grant. 
 
 The “ Mercantile Library Association of Cincinnati ” was 
 tile Library of formed in 1835, and incorporated in the following year. It now 
 Cincinnati ; (1856) contains 16,423 volumes, and its annual aggregate circu- 
 it 'Vajuis*^ lation is about 30,000 volumes.:}: That of St. Louis dates but 
 
 from 1846. § It now contains about 13,000 volumes, || the 
 money value of which, with the other property of the Association, is estimated 
 at upwards of £9000. The annual circulation, during 1855, was 15,219 
 volumes. 
 
 * Thirty-fourth Annual Report (1854), p. 5. f Annual Reports, passim. 
 
 % Twenty-first Annual Report (1856), p. 6. 
 
 $ Homes, Inaugural Address at the Opening of the Mercantile Library Hall of 
 St. Louis (1855), p. 26. 
 
 || Tenth Annual Report (1856) p. 15. 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CXV 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 OF CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE LIBRARIES. 
 
 Tiie first Library of Congress was founded in April, 1800. ^ j Congress 
 It was collected under the superintendence of Mr. Gallatin, Dr. Library. 
 Mitchell, of New York, and others. Though small, it was [1800.] 
 valuable, and is said to have been much resorted to in the early days of Wash- 
 ington City. On the 21th of August, 1814, it was totally destroyed by the 
 British Army. 
 
 The loss induced Mr. Jefferson to offer to Congress his well-selected library 
 of 7000 volumes. It was purchased in 1815 (for £4600 sterling), and became 
 the nucleus of the fine collection which, on the , was par- 
 
 tially destroyed by fire. Both books and catalogue were arranged in subjects, 
 according to Bacon’s Classification of Human Knowledge, of which Mr. Jewett 
 has said very appropriately : “ It was not intended by its author as a biblio- 
 graphical system. Nor has any improvement which it has received rendered 
 it convenient or useful for that purpose. The system was introduced by Mr. 
 Jefferson, and, unfortunately, has been continued here long after its abandon- 
 ment in most other Libraries.” * At the time of this second calamity, the 
 Library contained upwards of 50,000 volumes of printed books. The MSS. 
 were but few. The then yearly appropriation for the purchase of miscellaneous 
 books was £1000, and for that of law-books £200. 
 
 About 20,000 volumes were saved from the fire ; including the greater por- 
 tion of Jefferson’s valuable collections on the History and Political Affairs of 
 America, and nearly all the books of the law department. At the beginning 
 of 1S54, at least an equal number of volumes had been added to the salvage. 
 With a liberality worthy of the occasion, Congress bad appropriated to this 
 purpose 85,000 dollars (£17,000). The purchases are controlled by a joint 
 committee of the two Houses. 
 
 In the course of 1855, the number of volumes had grown to upwards of 
 60,000, including many extensive and costly sets, such as the Archaeological 
 and Scientific Works of Rosellini, Champollion, Humboldt, and Lord Kings- 
 borough ; complete sets, or sets as nearly complete as were procurable, of The 
 London Gazette (for one hundred and ninety years) ; of the History, Debates, 
 Journals, and Papers of the British Parliament (an entire series of which now 
 considerably exceeds 3000 volumes) ; of The Times, and of The Boston 
 Centinel ; with many works on American History, both valuable and rare. 
 
 Of this most important Library, a thoroughly good catalogue might well be 
 looked for. The plan of such a catalogue has been elaborately prepared by 
 Professor Jewett, and has been published under the following title : “ Smith- 
 sonian Report, on the construction of Catalogues of Libraries , and their pub- 
 lication by means of separate stereotyped titles By Charles C. Jewett, 
 
 Washington, 1853.” 
 
 * Notices, &c., p. 139. 
 
 i 2 
 
CXV1 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 National Li- 
 braries at 
 Washington. 
 
 In the preparation of the Catalogue thus indicated, a considerable advance 
 appears to have been made, although circumstances have recently occurred 
 which have delayed its progress. That all difficulties may be completely over- 
 come, and a problem be solved, the solution of which will ultimately improve 
 the working of every great library in the world, must be hoped for ardently. 
 
 [2 ] Other Edition to the Library of Congress, the capital of the 
 
 ' ' Union possesses a “ House of Representatives’ Library,” with 
 
 about 35,000 volumes ; a “ Department of State Public Library,” 
 which comprised, in 1853, about 10,000 volumes ; * another 
 collection — accruing from the legal exaction of copies of new books — which, 
 in 1850, contained about the same number of volumes ; f in addition to the 
 special collections (Military, Technological, and Astronomical) of the War 
 Office, the Patent Office, and the National Observatory. In 1854 these special 
 libraries contained, in the aggregate, upwards of 15,000 volumes. 
 
 [3.] State Li- The earliest State Library was that of New Hampsliire, 
 founded at Concord, about 1770. The best furnished is that 
 at Concord. ’ °f New York, which was not commenced until 1818, but is 
 [1770.] rapidly taking rank amongst the most important of American 
 libraries. During the long interval which elapsed between the establishment 
 of these two libraries, only two others of the same kind were formed — that of 
 Pennsylvania, at Harrisburg, in 1816, and that of Oliio, at Columbus, in the 
 following year. Now, such libraries are to be found in a majority of the 
 States. 
 
 As the name implies, these libraries are maintained at the public charge, and 
 primarily for the use of the respective legislatures and public functionaries ; 
 virtually they are accessible to all persons having any studious or serious pur- 
 pose. The Library at Concord contains about 5500 volumes, of which about 
 [4.] Of Penn- two-thirds relate to legal and political subjects. That at Harris- 
 burg contains upwards of 10,000 volumes, occupying two rooms 
 in the State House. That at Columbus contains about 16,000 
 volumes, and is extensively used. About 3000 persons annually 
 consult the Library, and about 1800 volumes are annually lent 
 out. j: Part of the expenses of maintenance are defrayed by the 
 profits which accrue from the sale of the State Reports and Documents. The 
 Library occupies a room 118 feet by 22 feet, and is open for eleven hours 
 daily (Sundays excepted) in summer, and for thirteen hours daily in winter/ 
 [G.] Of New The State of New York is unrivalled both for the liberality 
 York, at Al- with which its Public Library has been supported from public 
 bany. [1818,] f unc [ S) an( [ f or the care and energy with which it has carried 
 out the system of domestic and international exchanges. It is a sufficient 
 proof of the former assertion to state that there has been expended on its 
 account (chiefly during the last 12 or 14 years) upwards of £20,000, in addi- 
 tion to the contributions of individuals, and of public institutions ; whilst of 
 the successful results, as respects New York, of the plan of library exchanges, 
 the distinguished writer (Mr George Livermore, of Boston) of an article 
 
 SYLVANIA, at 
 Harrisburg. 
 [1813.] 
 
 [5.] Of Ohio, 
 at Columbus. 
 [1817.] 
 
 * Norton’s Literary Register (1854), p 103. 
 1 Jewett, ut supra, p. 171 
 
 t Jewett’s Notices, p. 140. 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CXV1I 
 
 entitled “Public Libraries,” in the North American Review of July, 1850, 
 has said : “ No one can look over the printed list of donations to the New 
 York State Library, procured through M. Yattemare’s agency, without feeling 
 that that State, at least, has good cause to speak well of his scheme, and its 
 results ; ” although he adds, “ but our conviction is strong that the system 
 does not possess the elements of permanent or long-continued vitality.” 
 
 In 1815 the Library contained but about 10,000 vols. It was then placed 
 under the management of the Regents of the University of New York, as Trus- 
 tees ex-officio. In 1850 the number of volumes had already grown to 23,274, 
 of which 9870 related directly to legislation. Three years afterwards the 
 number had increased to 34,279. It now exceeds 41,000, exclusive of MSS., 
 of which mention will be made hereafter. Thus, under the vigorous manage- 
 ment of the Trustees of the University, the Library has been quadrupled within 
 about ten years. Nor is its merely numerical increase the chief thing that 
 merits notice. 
 
 In 1849 a Select Committee of the New York Assembly reported on the 
 results of the increased appropriation, and on the general progress of the 
 Library. After various details the committee proceed thus : “An examination 
 will convince all that it has become a worthy object of state pride. Already 
 the law department is considered the most perfect of any similar collection in 
 the States. It is believed, also, that nowhere can be found so many useful 
 works on America and American affairs. The most unwearied pains have been 
 taken ; Europe and this country have been ransacked to procure everything 
 valuable in this department. The value of these books cannot be estimated 
 in money, for money could not replace many of them. There are also valuable 
 scientific, statistical, documentary, and miscellaneous works, otherwise in- 
 accessible to Americans generally.* 
 
 What is termed the “Warden Collection,” is especially rich in the materials 
 of American history, and was acquired in 1845, at a cost of £800. f 
 
 Amongst the MSS. of the State Library are included an important series of 
 Charters, Commissions, Letters Patent, and other similar documents of the 
 highest interest for the American historian, from Charles the Second’s grant to 
 the Duke of York, of March, 1664, down to the period of independence. In 
 1853 the legislature authorized the purchase of the correspondence and other 
 papers of George Clinton, first Governor of the State of New York. They 
 have since been admirably arranged and indexed, and a portion of them, relat- 
 ing to the celebrated case of Major Andre, has been placed in frames under 
 glass for more ready examination and secure preservation. :{: 
 
 The Library is accessible for reading and consultation to every citizen. 
 Members of the Legislature, only, are of riyht permitted to borrow books, and 
 that only during the session of the Legislature. By a law of May, 1844, it is 
 enacted that “ the State Library ” shall be kept open every day in the year, 
 Sundays excepted, during such hours in each day as the Trustees may direct. 
 
 This period has been fixed at twelve hours daily. The illustrated works 
 
 * Report printed in Assembly Documents of 1849, as quoted by Jewett, Notices, 
 &c., p. 75. 
 
 f Ibid. p. 74 ; Annual Report of Trustees, loth Jan., 1849, p. 0 
 
 % Annual Report of the Trustees, 22nd Jan., 1856, p. 8. 
 
cxvm 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 [7.] Of New 
 Jersey, at 
 Trenton. 
 [1824.] 
 
 [8.] Of In- 
 diana, at In- 
 dianapolis. 
 [1825.] 
 
 [9.] Of Mas- 
 sachusetts, 
 at Boston.’ 
 [1826.] 
 
 and prints are exhibited on two days in the week only, and then under judi- 
 cious regulations.* The extent to which the Library is used is, as might be ex- 
 pected, very considerable. 
 
 To the late Mr. 0. Rich, formerly consul for the United States at Valencia, 
 and afterwards of London; to Jonathan Goodhue, an eminent and most re- 
 spected New York merchant; to M. Vattemare; and, above all others, to the 
 lamented Theodric Romeyn Beck, LL.D., so long Secretary to the Regents of 
 the University, this Library is indebted for its rapid progress, its excellent 
 selection and comprehensiveness, and its liberal accessibility. 
 
 New Jersey possesses a State Library, organized in 1824, at 
 Trenton, which, though still small, is in progress. That of Indiana 
 was founded in 1S25 ; is also, as yet, of inconsiderable extent, 
 but it now increases at the rate of 250 volumes per annum on 
 the average, and is widely accessible both as a consulting and a 
 lending library. Massachusetts established its State Library, at 
 Boston, by a law of March, 1826, which enacted that “ all books 
 and MSS. belonging to the Commonwealth, and now in any of 
 the departments of the State House, shall be collected, deposited, 
 and arranged . . in the room . . . called the Land Office.” 
 During the eleven years from 1838 to 1848 inclusive, the annual appropriation 
 for the purchase of “ such books, MSS., and charts, as tend to illustrate the 
 resources and means of improvement of this Commonwealth, or of the United 
 States,” was about £80 a year, and the number of volumes added to the 
 library during that period was 4680. 
 
 The collection includes many books of great value — such as Audubon’s 
 American Birds ; Hamilton’s Collection of Antiquities ; Botta’s Monuments dc 
 Ninive ; the Acta Historica Ecclesiastica nostri temper is, printed at Weimar, 
 between the years 1741 and 1774; — some of which are the results of the 
 system of international exchange. But its greatest treasure is the series 
 of Records of the General Court of Massachusetts, commencing in 1629, 
 and extending to October, 1777. These Records contain the entire legislative 
 history, and much of the religious history of Massachusetts, between these 
 periods. No books in the Library, it is said, are consulted more frequently or 
 with more interest.! It is fortunate, therefore, that the volumes thus exten- 
 sively used arc only authenticated transcripts, the originals of which are pre- 
 served in the Archives of the Secretary of State. 
 
 Of the remaining State Libraries our mention must be very brief. They 
 are all in their infancy, but several of them evince such a sense of the public 
 value of institutions of this kind, on the part both of the authorities and of the 
 
 [10 ] Of citizens at large, as cannot fail to insure their progress. Mary- 
 land established its State Library in 1827, which now contains 
 about 15,000 volumes, and has an annual income of £100 for new 
 purchases. Missouri had the misfortune to lose its library by fire 
 in 1837, eight years after its foundation. Measures were taken 
 
 Maryland, 
 at Annapolis. 
 [1827.] 
 
 [11.] Of Mis- 
 souri, at Jef- 
 
 * Rules and Regulations subjoined to the Catalogue of the Neiv York Slate 
 Library (1850), pp. 1055 — 1059. 
 
 f Bibliotheca Sacra, July, 1850, pp. 177, 178 [Article by the late B. B. Edwards]. 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CX1X 
 
 ferson City. 
 [1828.] 
 
 [12.] OfVm- 
 ginia, Rich- 
 mond. [1828.] 
 
 [13.] Of 
 Kentucky, 
 Frankfort. 
 [1834.] 
 
 for the formation of a new collection, which, in 1849, contained 
 4637 volumes,* and now contains about 6000. The State 
 Library of Virginia dates from 1828, and contains about 15,000 
 volumes. That of Kentucky was founded in 1834. It con- 
 tained, in 1849, about 8000 volumes,! and now contains nearly 
 10,000. Maine began its State Library in 1836, and _has [now 
 15,500 volumes. Here also considerable advantages appear to 
 have been derived from M. Vattemare’s system of exchanges. 
 
 As to the use of the Library, “ probably 2500 persons,” it is 
 stated, consult it each year. The State Library of Connecticut 
 is of still more recent, formation. In an able report addressed 
 by the State Librarian, Mr. Trumbull, to the General Assem- 
 bly, in 1855, it is remarked: “As yet Connecticut has only the 
 beginning of a library, .... far from being adequate to supply 
 necessary books of reference to the Legislators, Judges, State Officers, and 
 others who have occasion to resort to it. Its increase has been necessarily 
 very slow, having been mainly dependent on exchanges with other States, on 
 the receipt of public documents and other works distributed by Congress, and 
 (since 1849) on the operations of the system of international exchange, for which 
 the State is largely indebted to the good offices and untiring exertions of M. 
 Vattemare, now the accredited agent of the State for that end.”! The Report 
 proceeds to point out the various classes of books, the collection of which most 
 merits the care of the Legislature, and is likely to open a new and prosperous 
 era in the annals of the Library. Of other State Libraries recently com- 
 menced, an enumeration will be found in the appended “ Statistical Table.” 
 
 [14.] Of 
 Maine, at 
 Augusta- 
 [1836.] 
 
 [15.] Of Con- 
 necticut, at 
 Hartford. 
 [I860.] 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 OF TOWN LIBRARIES. 
 
 Those who have followed our historical summary thus far, will have, we 
 think, no difficulty in assenting to the assertion which preceded it, that the 
 provision of Libraries in the United States is — all things fairly taken into 
 account- — a very honourable one. But we now approach a quite new epoch 
 in the history of American Libraries, which bids fair, if it but proceed as it has 
 begun, to eclipse all preceding efforts in this direction. The libraries whose 
 progress we have been reviewing, however well stored, generously supported, 
 and liberally managed, are, in almost every instance, dependent for their main- 
 tenance on the fluctuating and insecure resource of voluntary contributions, 
 and for their accessibility on the favour and goodwill of their Directors. The 
 State Libraries are, indeed, an exception, but, from their very nature and 
 object, the usefulness of these is limited, or almost limited, to lawyers and 
 
 * Jewett, Notices, &c., p. 181. 
 
 4 Report, &c., Hartford, 1855, p. 5. 
 
 t Ibid. 166. 
 
cxx 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 public men. Up to the year 1848, uo Town or City Library, strictly so called, 
 existed within the breadth of the Union. 
 
 By “Town Library,” we mean a library which is the property of the town 
 itself, and enjoyable by all the townspeople. Such a library must be both 
 freely and of right accessible, and securely permanent. It must unite direct 
 responsibility of management with assured means of support. No such library 
 existed in the United States until that of Boston was founded, in 1848. Nor 
 did any such library exist in the United Kingdom until after the passing of 
 the “ Libraries Act,” in 1850. 
 
 By chapter 52, of the Statutes of 1848, the Massachusetts Legislature 
 [1 ] Free enacted that the City of Boston might, from the city funds. 
 Public Libra- establish a Public Library, and expend 5000 dollars (£1000) a 
 
 r y t’ 16 Clt y year for its maintenance.* In aid of the first expenses, £200 
 of Boston. 0 . . , . 1 ’ 
 
 was given by Mr. Bigelow, and large contributions of books 
 
 were made by Mr. Winthrop and Mr. Edward Everett. 
 
 The earlier steps in the realization of this project were slow but sure. They 
 proved conclusively (were proof needed) that under judicious regulation the 
 levying of rates for Public Libraries may become a spur, not a hindrance, to 
 private munificence. The first money donation which followed that of the 
 Mayor of Boston was one of ten thousand pounds (50,000 dollars) from Mr. 
 Joshua Bates for the purchase of books. f This princely gift was invested, 
 and it put the Library at once into possession of a permanent augmentation 
 fund of £600 a year. Mr. Jonathan Phillips followed with another gift of 
 £2000, to be similarly applied. 
 
 In an admirable Report, presented to the City Council, in July, 1852, the 
 Trustees develope their views as to the plan of the new Library, and their desire 
 to awaken “ a general interest in it, as a City Institution, important to the 
 whole people, as a part of their education, an element of their happiness and 
 prosperity ; ” regarding that course as being “ the surest way to make it at 
 last a great and rich library for men of science, statesmen, and scholars, as 
 well as for the great body of the people, many of whom are always successfully 
 struggling up to honourable distinctions, and all of whom should be encouraged 
 to do it.” £ 
 
 It was not until the 20th of March, 1854, that the Boston City Library 
 was opened to readers, nor until the 2nd of the following May that it was 
 opened to borrowers It begun witli about twelve thousand volumes, and, 
 before the close of the year, this number was increased to 16,553, of which 
 6360 had been presented, and the remainder purchased. The aggregate issues 
 during the first six months amounted to about 40,000 volumes. The Com- 
 mittee thus close their first Report on the actual working of the Library : 
 
 “ The benefits that must follow from such an institution, fitted, as the Public 
 Library is, to continue by home-reading, and self-culture, the education begun 
 by our excellent system of Free Schools, your Committee will not pretend to 
 estimate. Indeed, if this Library should be liberally fostered and administered 
 by the persons to whom its support and care are intrusted, all its benefits to 
 
 * Jewett, Notices, &c., p. 48. 
 f Boston City Documents , No. 73 [Nov. 1853], p. 4. 
 t City Documents of 1852, No. 37, p. 20. 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CXX1 
 
 Die intellectual, moral, and religious training of our community, and especially 
 of our children, can neither be measured nor foreseen.”* 
 
 The Legislature of Massachusetts took a further step in advance on the 
 subject in 1851, by passing “ an Act to authorize cities and towns to estab- 
 lish and maintain Public Libraries.” American legislation differs from Britisli 
 so widely in the particulars of prolixity and verbosity, that the entire Act may 
 be cited and read with little expenditure of type, or of time. 
 
 1. “Any City or Town of this Commonwealth is hereby authorized to 
 establish and maintain a Public Library within the same, with or with- 
 out Branches, for the use of the inhabitants thereof, and to provide 
 suitable rooms therefor, under such regulations for the government of 
 said Library as may from time to time be prescribed by the City Council of 
 such city, or the inhabitants of such town ; 
 
 2. “ Any City or Town may appropriate for the foundation and com- 
 mencement of such Library, as aforesaid, a sum not exceeding one dollar 
 for each of its ratable polls, in the year next preceding that in which 
 such appropriation shall be made ; and may also appropriate annually, for 
 the maintenance and increase of such Library, a sum not exceeding twenty- 
 five cents for each of its ratable polls in the year next preceding that in 
 which such appropriation shall be made ; 
 
 3. “ Any Town or City may receive in its corporate capacity, and hold 
 and manage any devise, bequest, or donation, for the establishment, in- 
 crease, or maintenance of a Public Library within the same.” 
 
 The first town to take action under this Statute was New Bed- [2.] Free 
 ford, by whose Council a Tree Library was established, hi I’ u Wic^ Libra- 
 August, 1852. The proprietors of a Subscription, or “Social ofNew BecU 
 Library,” transferred their collection to the new foundation, forcl - 
 which was opened for public use on the 3rd of March, 1853, with about 6000 
 volumes. f This number has been, within about three years, increased to 
 0000 ; and in their fourth Report the Trustees are enabled to affirm that “ it 
 is undoubtedly true that no act of the municipal authorities of New Bedford 
 has reached with its recreative and improving operation so large a part of our 
 population, and probably none has ever met so universally and deeply the 
 approbation of the people .... A Tree Public Library is the crowning glory 
 of the system of public education, which has been from our earliest history 
 the pride of Massachusetts.” J 
 
 In a Report of the preceding year there is a passage bearing on a point which 
 is always interesting in connection with the present subject — that of the 
 selection of the books: “While care has been taken,” say the Trustees, 
 “that no publication injurious to the public morals should find a place upon 
 our shelves, we have endeavoured to divest ourselves, in our efforts to place 
 before our fellow-citizens the means of a more extensive and genial culture, of 
 all narrow and sectarian partialities. In this respect we are gratified to be 
 able to state that no difference of opinion has for a single moment interrupted 
 the harmony and unanimity of our proceedings.” § 
 
 * City Documents , 1854, No. 74, p.'15. f First Annual Report , [1853], p. 4. 
 
 X City Documents of New Bedford [1856], No. 6, p. 4. 
 
 § Documents of 1855, pp. 80, 81. 
 
cxxn 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 [3.] Astor Whilst the “ Old Bay State ” was beginning to form Town 
 Free Library Libraries, by wise and foreseeing legislation, aided by the muni- 
 NewVork licence of merchants who may, without any flattery, be said to 
 be “ as princes in the earth; ” that munificence unaided was pro- 
 viding, in the chief city of the “ Empire State,” a library on the largest scale 
 and of the widest accessibility. 
 
 John Jacob Astor, a native of the little village of Waldorf, near Heidelberg, 
 was brought to London whilst yet a mere youth. By dint of great industry 
 and frugality, he found himself, at the close of the American war, in possession 
 of a small sum which he invested in merchandise suited to the New York 
 market. On his voyage thither he formed an acquaintance with a furrier — a 
 countryman of his own — and, by his advice, invested the proceeds of his ven- 
 ture in the fur trade. “ He began his career,” says his friend and biographer, 
 “ of course, on the narrowest scale, but he brought to the task a persevering 
 industry, rigid economy, and strict integrity. To these were added an aspiring 
 spirit that always looked upward ; a genius bold, fertile, and expansive ; a 
 sagacity quick to grasp, and convert- every circumstance to its advantage, and 
 a singular and never wavering confidence of signal success.”* With the good 
 fortune that so often attends sagacious activity, Mr. Astor again found himself 
 in London at a critical occasion; — at the period, namely, when a treaty was 
 concluded which, for the first time, opened a direct commercial intercourse 
 between Canada and the United States. He entered innnediately into a contract 
 with the North-West Company for furs. In the course of thirteen or fourteen 
 years he had amassed means enough to launch the gigantic commercial enter- 
 prise known as the “ American Eur Company ” (afterwards the “ South-West 
 Company ”), w T ith a capital of one million of dollars, wholly furnished by him- 
 self. With that famous episode in the history of this enterprise, the splendid 
 though unsuccessful attempt to establish an American colony beyond the 
 Rocky Mountains, Mr. Washington Irving has made all the world familiar. 
 
 To have failed in a great project, which undoubtedly aimed as much at pub- 
 lic as at private advantage, and to know that such failure resulted mainly from 
 the supineness of the people and of the government in the furtherance of then- 
 own interests, would, perhaps, have deterred most men from busying them- 
 selves much about the public thereafter. With Mr. Astor, however, it was 
 otherwise. Whether or not the precise channel which his munificence has 
 chosen was the result of any reflections upon the share that popular ignorance 
 may have had in the ill fortune of the greatest enterprise of bis life, is but 
 matter of conjecture. Be that as it may, his foundation at New York is the 
 noblest contribution towards the dispefiing of popular ignorance, and the 
 facilitating of mental culture, which any American citizen has yet left behind 
 him. 
 
 In a codicil, dated 22nd August, 1839, to his last will, Mr. Astor says : 
 “Desiring to render a public benefit to the City of New York, and to con- 
 tribute to the advancement of human knowledge and the general good of 
 society, I do, by this codicil, appropriate four hundred thousand dollars 
 (£80,000 sterling) out of my residuary estate to the estabhshment. of a Public 
 
 * Washington Irving, Astoria, p. 11 [Edition of 1851]. 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CXX111 
 
 Library in the City of New York to the intent that the said amount 
 
 be . . disposed of, as follows, namely : — 
 
 1. * In the erecting of a suitable building for a Public Library ; 
 
 2 . ‘ In furnishing and in supplying the same from time to time with 
 
 books, maps, charts, furniture, and other things appertaining to 
 
 a Library for general use, upon the most ample scale and liberal character ; 
 
 3. ‘In maintaining and upholding the building, and other property, 
 and in defraying the necessary expenses of . . . the accommodation of per- 
 sons consulting the Library.’ 
 
 “ The said Library is to be accessible at all reasonable times and hours, for 
 general use, free of expense, to persons resorting thereto I fur- 
 
 ther direct that a sum, not exceeding 75,000 dollars (£15,000), may be ex- 
 pended in the erection of a building for the Library ; 120,000 dollars (£24,000) 
 may be expended in the purchase of books, .... and the residue shall be in- 
 vested as a fund for the maintaining and gradually increasing of the Library.” 
 Mr. Astor proceeded to name the first Trustees (Washington Irving, W. B. 
 Astor, Daniel Lord, James G. King, Joseph G. Cogswell, Pitz-Green Halleck, 
 Henry Brecvort, Samuel B. Buggies, Samuel Ward, and Charles Astor Bris- 
 ted), in addition to the Chancellor of the State of New York, and the Mayor 
 of the City, for the time being, who are always to be Trustees, ex-officio. The 
 Trustees were incorporated by an Act of the Legislature of the 18th Jan., 1849, 
 and it was enacted that all the property of the Corporation, real and personal, 
 “ shall be exempt from taxation in the same manner as that of the other in- 
 corporated Public Libraries of this State,” and that “ the said Trustees shall, in 
 the month of January of every year, make a Bcport to the Legislature for the 
 year . . . preceding, of the condition of the said Library, of the funds, and 
 other property of the Corporation, and of its receipts and expenditures during 
 each year.” * 
 
 Mr. W. B. Astor, the son of the founder, shortly afterwards presented to 
 the Library the sum of 12,500 dollars (£2500 sterling!), f°r the special pur- 
 pose of forming a complete technological department, by the purchase of books 
 on every branch of practical industry and the mechanic arts. In 1849, Mr. 
 Joseph G. Cogswell was chosen Superintendent, or Principal Librarian. In 
 March, 1850, the corner-stone of the new building was laid, and in the sum- 
 mer of 1853 the building was completed. Its architect was Mr. Alexander 
 Sseltzer, a pupil of Schiukel, and its style may be termed Florentine. The 
 entire structure is tire-proof. The dimensions of the principal Library Hall 
 are one hundred feet by sixty, and this room alone is capable of containing 
 100,000 volumes. The reading rooms are stated to be capable of accommo- 
 dating 500 persons. The structure was completed for the £15,000 specified 
 by the founder, and the cost of the fittings, about £3500 more, was defrayed by 
 surplus interest which had accrued whilst the building was in progress. On 
 the 1st February, 1854, it was opened for public use, with about 80,000 
 volumes of books. 
 
 In the selection of books, the aim has obviously been to give no preference 
 to special classes of literature, but to collect a library which should be at once 
 * Jewett, Notices, &c., pp. 88—91. 
 
 f Annual Report of the Trustees of the Astor Library, 1854, p. 11. 
 
CXX1V 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 select and encyclopedical. And, undoubtedly, with the resources and the 
 prospects of the Astor Library, this was the right course. In “ Theology,” its 
 books at the opening amounted to 3752 volumes, including the best editions 
 of the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures ; numerous versions of them in the prin- 
 cipal languages of Europe and the East ; most of the Benedictine Editions of 
 the Fathers; the great collections of Councils, and the best English Divines, 
 both early and recent. In “ Jurisprudence ” it numbered 3107 volumes, and 
 is especially rich in the modern law of Continental Europe, and in British law. 
 The American law department was, for the most part, reserved for future oppor- 
 tunities. In moral and mental “Philosophy,” the number of volumes was 
 1500. In the “ Mathematical Sciences,” about 5000, including the collections 
 of Halley and Legere. The astronomical section is especially rich. Of 
 works of “ Natural History ” there were 4219, including the splendid and costly 
 works of Martins, Wallich, Audubon, Gould, Sibthorp, Lambert, and Chenu. 
 Li “Chemistry, Physics generally, and the Useful Arts,” upwards of 5000 
 volumes, in addition to 2000 volumes of the Transactions of Scientific Societies ; 
 and in “Pine Arts” 2500 volumes; on the first fifty of which, say the com- 
 mittee, 2975 dollars (£595 sterling) were expended. In the “Medical 
 Sciences” the number of volumes was 1751. 
 
 The Historical Department contained, at the opening of the Library, 20,350 
 volumes, of which 3407 were on the History of America. This part of the 
 collection includes most of the early Spanish writers, early Voyages in all 
 languages, and a long series of histories of the War of Independence, and of 
 works relating thereto. In the class “ Politics,” the principal contents of the 
 Library, at the same period, consisted of Journals, Debates, and Reports of the 
 British Parliament, and of other European legislatures, and amounted to 2880 
 volumes. 
 
 In the class “ Literature,” the section of Linguistics seems to be best pro- 
 vided. It contained at the opening 2100 volumes, including the best works 
 on .Egyptology (to use the fashionable phrase) and on the Oriental languages, 
 — some of them of great value and rarity. In the whole it has Grammars and 
 Dictionaries of 104 different, languages. In the Literature of Greece and Rome, 
 the Library counted 3100 volumes, — the apparatus criticus included. In that 
 of Italy, 17 61, and in that of Prance, 3101 volumes. Of Spanish and Portu- 
 guese literature there were 673 ; of Dutch, 156 ; of German, about 1400; and 
 of Scandinavian, 809 volumes. In the Hungarian and Sclavonic languages 
 collectively, the number of volumes was but forty-one. In English literature 
 there were 3400 volumes ; 300 of which were exclusively Shakespearian. It 
 need scarcely be added that this enumeration of languages has relation to the 
 class “Literature” only. Of Polygraphic and Miscellaneous works the 
 number of volumes was nearly 5000. 
 
 If, then, we group these several statements into a simpler and more com- 
 prehensive classification, the broad result may be stated thus : — 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CXXV 
 
 Volumes. 
 
 1. Theology 
 
 
 . . 3,752 
 
 2. Philosophy 
 
 
 . . 1,500 
 
 3. History 
 
 
 . . 20,350 
 
 4. Politics and Law 
 
 
 . . 5,987 
 
 5. Sciences and Arts 
 
 
 . . 20,500 
 
 G. Literature and Polygraphy 
 
 
 . . 26,141 
 
 
 Total 
 
 . . 78,230 
 
 For the systematic comprehensiveness and the judicious selection which alike 
 characterize this fine Library, New York is eminently indebted to Mr. Cogs- 
 well, who made two several journeys to Europe in search of books, visiting 
 every European book-mart of much importance, and who himself inaugurated 
 the Library, in the best possible manner, by presenting to it a series of books, 
 in every section of Bibliography, amounting to nearly 5000 volumes. 
 
 Very wisely, the Trustees have determined that the Astor Library shall be a 
 Library for consultation, not for borrowing, although it is by no means certain 
 that “ a free library of circulation is a practical impossibility in a city as populous 
 as New York,” as Mr. Cogswell seems to think.* Nor is it practicable — - 
 ponder it as we may — to perceive why a mere conjecture, expressed thus — 
 “ One hundred volumes a day is a low average of the daily use,” is “a state- 
 ment with respect to the extent of the use of the library, as exact as the 
 nature of the case will admit ; ” or why “ it would not be easy to say which 
 department is most consulted,” since both difficulties would be instantly re- 
 moved by the simple expedient of registering the issues, as has long been done 
 in libraries where the issue of Jive or six hundred volumes a-day is not a 
 “ low average,” but an ascertained fact. These, however, are little blemishes 
 in what is otherwise a most interesting Report of the first year’s working of 
 the Library, and are sure to disappear from future Reports. 
 
 Especially interesting is the statement, that “ Very few have come to the 
 Library without some manifestly distinct aim It is shown by experi- 
 ence that the collection is not too learned for the wants of the public 
 
 In the linguistic department it possesses Dictionaries and Grammars, and other 
 means of instruction, in more than a hundred languages and dialects, four- 
 fifths of which have been called for during the first year of its operation. 
 Our mathematical, mechanical, and engineering departments are used by great 
 numbers ; . . . . students at a distance have found it a sufficient object to in- 
 duce them to spend several weeks in New York, to have the use of them. 
 
 The same remark applies to Natural History The books have been 
 
 carefully used, and the rules of quiet and order invariably observed.” 
 
 It remains to be added, that the present yearly income is £2483, and the 
 ordinary expenses of maintenance £1142, which leaves £1341 a-year available 
 for the purchase and binding of books. 
 
 * Annual Report on the Astor Library (1854). 
 
CXXV1 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 OP THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 
 
 The Smithsonian Institution was founded by an Act of the Congress of the 
 United States of America, on the 10th August, 1816, in pursuance of the be- 
 quest by James Smithson, of all his property to the United States, in order to 
 the establishment of an institution “at Washington, under the name of the 
 c Smithsonian Institution ’ for the increase and diffusion of knowledge 
 
 among men.” 
 
 James Lewis Macie (afterwards called Smithson) appears to have been a 
 natural son of Sir Hugh Smithson, Bart., who was created Duke of North- 
 umberland, in 1766 (and shortly afterwards “ Vice- Admiral of all America”), 
 after his marriage with the heiress of the Percies. Mrs. Elizabeth Macie, his 
 mother, is said to have been of the Wiltshire family of Hungerford. Little 
 is known of his life, save that he was educated at Oxford, that he cultivated a 
 knowledge of chemistry, was well acquainted with Cavendish, and contributed 
 to the Philosophical Transactions several analytical papers on chemical sub- 
 jects ; that he was proud of his descent, yet keenly sensitive on the score of 
 the “ bar sinister ” in his escutcheon ; ambitious of leaving a name that, to 
 use his own words, “ would live in the memory of men when the titles of the 
 Northumberlands and the Percies are extinct or forgotten,” yet willing to make 
 his purpose wholly contingent on the birth of no child or children to a nephew 
 who survived him ; that he passed most of his life on the Continent, and died 
 at Genoa in 1829, unmarried, leaving a fortune of about £120,000 sterling. 
 
 Mr. Smithson is said to have been a man of reserved manners and sensitive 
 feelings ; but an anecdote (almost the only one which has survived of him) shows 
 that he must have possessed considerable coolness and strength of nerve. 
 “ Happening to observe a tear gliding down a lady’s cheek, .... he submitted 
 it to reagents, and detected what was then called microcosmic salt, with muriate 
 of soda, and, I think ” (Mr. Davies Gilbert, President of the Royal Society, is 
 the narrator), “ three or four more saline substances held in solution.” 
 
 The will of the founder of the Smithsonian Institution, bears date 23rd Oct., 
 1826. In it he describes himself as “ James Smithson, son of Hugh, first 
 Duke of Northumberland, and Elizabeth, heiress of the Hungerfords, of Aud- 
 ley, and niece of Charles the Proud, Duke of Somerset.” After bequeathing 
 an annuity to a former servant, he leaves the whole of the income arising from 
 all his property, of what nature soever, “ to Henry James Hungerford, my 
 nephew, heretofore called Henry James Dickinson, son of my late brother, 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Louis Dickinson,” for his life, and then directs that 
 “ should the said Henry James Hungerford have a child or children, legitimate 
 or illegitimate ,” such child or children should inherit the whole of his property 
 of every kind absolutely and for ever. Failing such issue (as proved to be the 
 case), he bequeathed the whole — subject to the annuity already mentioned — 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CXXV1I 
 
 " to the United States of America,” in the few words cited above, and without 
 further detail of his intentions. 
 
 The Act of Congress, which organized the Institution, created a Board of 
 Regents, directed the construction of a suitable building, empowered the Re- 
 gents to appoint officers, which “ said officers shall be removable by the 
 Board of Regents, whenever in their judgment the interests of the Institution 
 require any of the said officers to be changed ; ” and enacted that “ the said 
 Regents shall make, from the interest of said fund, an appro- 
 priation, not exceeding an averaqe of 25,000 dollars annually. Congress Ap- 
 1 ° J propriation 
 
 for the gradual formation of a Library composed of valuable for the Smith- 
 
 works pertaining to all departments of human knowledge.” Of sonian Li- 
 all remaining monies, “ not herein appropriated, or not required 
 for the purposes herein provided,” * the Regents are directed to make such dis- 
 posal as they may deem best suited for the promotion of the testator’s pur- 
 pose ; and by the 10th section it is enacted that one copy of all books, maps, 
 and prints, for which copyright shall be secured, shall be delivered to the 
 Librarian of the Smithsonian Institution, and one other copy to the Librarian 
 of the Congress Library, for the use of such Libraries respectively .f 
 
 The amount received by Mr. Rush on behalf of the United States was 
 £103,013 sterling. “ He brought it over in sovereigns — deposited it in the 
 Mint of the United States, where it was re-coined into American eagles, — thus 
 becoming a part of the currency of the country. This money was afterwards 
 (and unwisely) lent to some of the new States, and a portion of it was lost ; 
 but it did not belong to the United States — it was the property of the Smith- 
 sonian Institution — and the government was bound in honour to restore it. 
 Congress has acknowledged this by declaring that the money is still in the 
 Treasury of the Union, bearing interest at the rate of six per cent., and 
 annually producing a revenue of about 30,000 dollars (£6000 sterling).” J 
 The plan which was adopted for carrying out the founder’s object, proposed, 
 
 1. To stimulate men of talent to make original researches, by offering 
 suitable rewards for memoirs containing new truths ; 
 
 2. To appropriate annually a portion of the income for particular re- 
 searches ; 
 
 3. To publish a series of periodical reports on the progress of the 
 different branches of knowledge ; 
 
 4. To publish occasionally separate treatises on subjects of general 
 interest ; 
 
 “The Act of Congress,” continues the Programme of Organization, “estab- 
 lishing the Institution contemplated the formation of a Library and Mu- 
 seum ; and the Board of Regents, including these objects in the plan, . . . 
 resolved to divide the income into equal parts. One part to be appropriated 
 to ... . publications and researches ; the other .... to the formation of a 
 library and a collection of objects of nature and of art. These two plans are 
 not incompatible with each other.” 
 
 * Copy of the Will, Act, &e., in Appendix to Eighth Annual Report of the Board 
 of Regents , &c. (1854), pp. 107—123. 
 t Ibid. {Programme of Organization ),pp. 128 — 133. 
 t Henry (Extract from an Address), p. 121. 
 
CXXV111 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 On this double basis the expenditure of the Smithsonian bequest, was for a 
 short time regulated, being modified, however, by the necessity of providing, 
 first of all, an adequate building for the transaction of business and preserva- 
 tion of the Collections. To this last-named purpose — the erection of a build- 
 ing — no part of the capital fund was appropriated. Interest had accrued to no 
 less an amount than £48,400 sterling. This sum was devoted to the structure ; 
 but the trustees determined to keep it invested until a further sum of £30,000 
 had accrued, in the expectation that the two sums would both cover the entire 
 expenditure on this head, and leave a sufficient balance to be invested as a 
 permanent “ fabric-fund ” to keep the building in repair. The main structure 
 was completed in 1855, and its total cost was £59,882 (299,414 dollars). The 
 aggregate amount of accumulated interest up to the same date, was about 
 £87,000. So that, in the words of the Ninth Annual Report, “the fund ori- 
 ginally bequeathed by Smithson remains undiminished in the Treasury of the 
 United States, and there is now on hand nearly 140,000 dollars (£28,000) to 
 be added to the principal.” 
 
 At the very outset of the Institution two w'idely different views as to the 
 relative importance of the several spheres of action, specified in the Act of 
 Congress, and in the Programme of Organization, obtained, as well within the 
 Board of Regents as without it. The one party regarded the formation and 
 efficient maintenance of a great Library, with its subsidiary collections, as beyond 
 all question the most valuable result which the Smithson bequest could yield. 
 Their opponents esteemed the institution and encouragement of scientific 
 researches, on the one hand, and, on the other, the widest possible dissemina- 
 tion of the fruits of such researches, by means of the press, to be far more 
 valuable than any conceivable gathering of books, or of the other appliances 
 of learning. The former alleged that to amass a splendid Library was at once 
 to lay a broad foundation both for the increase and the diffusion of human 
 knowledge, and to secure a tangible and enduring return, visible to all eyes, 
 for the money expended. The latter relied on the vagueness and univer- 
 sality of the testator’s few words of direction — “the increase and diffusion of 
 knowledge among men,” — as, of themselves, constituting a clear proof that no 
 plan of expenditure, the fruits of which were wholly or chiefly local, could 
 honestly carry out his purpose. 
 
 There is so much of undeniable truth in each of these statements, taken 
 singly, and each of them is so far from embodying the whole truth of the 
 question in hand, that a fair distribution of the funds between the two great 
 objects of (1) gathering the tools of knowledge, and (2) of teaching men how 
 rightly to use them, may well appear to be rather the wise solution of a diffi- 
 cult problem than a mere compromise between conflicting opinions. And with 
 a little more of patience and mutual forbearance on the part of those who had 
 to work ont the plan, it would, we think, have been found practicable enough. 
 An income of £6000 or £7000 a-year would not, indeed, have always sufficed 
 to carry on simultaneously the formation of a great Library, and the production 
 and diffusion of a series of scientific investigations of a high order. But it 
 required no memory of uncommon retentiveness to call to mind the names of 
 Brown and Peabody, of Bates and Astor ; and no logical faculty, unusually 
 acute, to make the right deduction from the reminiscence. A systematic 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CXX1X 
 
 well-chosen, and preeminently scientific library at Washington would have 
 been, at every step of its progress, increasingly useful even in the direct 
 furtherance of the “active operations” of the Smithsonian Institution. No 
 such library ever was, or ever will be, formed by a mere system of “exchanges,” 
 although such a system is an admirable aid and auxiliary. Honest and per- 
 severing effort for the obtaimnent of such a library, if made side by side with 
 an energetic furtherance of the scheme of publication, would have gathered 
 support from all quarters ; whilst a contrary course has divided the friends of 
 the Smithsonian Institution into two jealous and even hostile camps. In the 
 lives of institutions, as in those of individuals, there are occasions when bold 
 enterprise and unquestioning faith show themselves to be qualities as prudent 
 as they are powerful. 
 
 For the present, however, the Library portion of the Smithsonian scheme 
 has sustained a check. But a foundation has been laid, which, at some day or 
 other, will assuredly be worthily built upon. About 19,000 volumes have been 
 collected. Of this number about 9350 have been purchased ; upwards of 
 8000 have been obtained by donation and exchange ; about 4300 have been 
 delivered under the Copyright Act ; 873 volumes are stated in the Reports to 
 have come “ by deposit.” Of the extent of the collection in the several classes 
 of literature no adequate statement has appeared. In appropriating the funds 
 available for book-buying, Mr. Jewett very judiciously recommended the col- 
 lection, in the first instance, of works of bibliography, and a considerable pro- 
 portion of the purchases have accordingly been in this department. Of the 
 books presented the majority are Periodicals and Transactions of learned So- 
 cieties.* The Reading-Room, it is stated (in the “ Eighth Annual Report”), 
 “ has continued to be a place of great resort for citizens and strangers. The 
 list of periodicals is extensive, and comprises many of the best scientific and 
 literary journals of this country and of Europe.” f 
 Of the other operations of the Smithsonian Institution we can speak with 
 unmixed satisfaction. It has already published nine volumes of “ Contributions 
 to Knowledge ; ” besides several minor but useful works, as, for instance, a 
 good “Report on recent Improvements in Chemical Arts.” Of the contents 
 of the former, a complete list is subjoined in its appropriate place. They are, 
 it will be seen, very comprehensive. In addition to the entire range of the 
 Natural Sciences, they include contributions of real value in History and in 
 Philology. 
 
 It has also erected a Magnetic Observatory at Washington ; has in various 
 ways promoted astronomical pursuits ; and has established a valuable system 
 of meteorological investigation throughout the whole extent of the Union. 
 And, finally, it has organized and has successfully carried into practical work- 
 ing a comprehensive scheme of scientific and literary correspondence and 
 exchanges throughout the world, the probable ultimate advantages of which 
 are not easily calculable. That an institution, which in eleven years has 
 accomplished so much, may surmount all temporary difficulties, and prosecute 
 
 * The first part of a list of works of this kind has been published by way of 
 Appendix to the Seventh Volume of the Smithsonian Contributions. 
 f Eighth Report , p. 30 (1854. 8vo). 
 
 I I. e. in the body of Bibliography under Sciences generally. 
 
 k 
 
cxxx 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 its career with ever increasing activity and success, must be the ardent desire 
 of all lovers of knowledge, whether they be Americans or Europeans. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 OF PUBLIC SCHOOL AND DISTRICT LIBRARIES. 
 
 In addition to the various classes of Libraries which have been already 
 enumerated, many of the States have School and District Libraries, more or 
 less completely organized, but in most cases having a direct connection with 
 the Common School legislation of the State to which they belong. 
 
 Public School the Twelfth Report of the Secretary of the Board of 
 
 Libraries of Education of Massachusetts (November, 1848), it is stated that 
 setts SaChU " the then number of volumes in the Public School Libraries of 
 that State was 91,539 ; and their estimated value 42,707 dol- 
 lars (£8540), “It would be difficult,” it is added, “to mention any way in 
 which a million of dollars could be more beneficially expended than in supply- 
 ing the requisite apparatus and libraries for our Common Schools.” 
 
 The School districts throughout the State of New York are 
 York. furnished with libraries out of funds annually appropriated 
 (since 1838) by law to that purpose. The number of volumes 
 in these libraries was, in 1844, 1,145,250; in 1845, 1,203,139; in 1846, 
 1,310,986 ; and in 1847, 1,338,848 volumes. “ Selections for the District Libra- 
 ries are made from the whole range of literature and science, with the exception 
 of controversial books, political or religious. History, Biography, Poetry, 
 Philosophy, Eiction, indeed every department of human knowledge contributes 
 
 its share to ‘ the District School Library ’ These libraries are not so 
 
 much for the benefit of children attending school as for those who have com- 
 pleted their Common School education. Its main design was to throw into 
 school districts, and to place within the reach of all the inhabitants, a collec- 
 tion of good works on subjects calculated to enlarge their understandings, and 
 store their minds with useful knowledge.”* The Report of the Board of Edu- 
 cation of New York City, presented in 1855, recommends the extension of 
 this plan to the Grammar Schools of the City.f 
 
 There are also, in the State of New York, 172 libraries attached to Academies 
 and Seminaries, under the general supervision of the Regents of the Univer- 
 sity, who annually report to the Legislature inter alia the number of volumes, 
 and the estimated value of the books in each Academy. These 172 libraries 
 contained, in 1855, 91,296 volumes, and their estimated value was 88,432 dol- 
 lars (or £18,259 sterling). J The following is a comparative view of these 
 Academy Libraries in the years 1848, 1850, and 1855, respectively: — 
 
 * Reports of 1836 and of 1849, quoted by Jewett in Notices, &c., p. 105. 
 t Thirteenth Annual Report of Board of Education of the City and County of 
 New York, 1855, p. 68. 
 
 i Sixty-eighth Annual Report of the Regents of the University of the State of 
 New York, March, 1855, pp. 173 -225. 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CXXX1 
 
 Year. 
 
 No. of Libraries. 
 
 Aggregate No. of Volumes. 
 
 1848 
 
 153 
 
 63,365 
 
 1850 
 
 154 
 
 65,524 
 
 1855 
 
 172 
 
 91,296 
 
 In Rhode Island, within the four years 1846—1849, public Digtrict Li _ 
 libraries were established in every town of the State with only braries of 
 four exceptions, and mainly by the exertions of the enlightened Rll ° ( lelsland. 
 and energetic Commissioner of Public Schools, Mr. Henry Barnard. These 
 libraries are small, but are composed of well-selected books, and are accessible 
 to the whole population. Another public-spirited man, Mr. Amasa Manton, 
 of Rhode Island, has been the chief founder of ten libraries in as many villages 
 of that State, which now contain in the aggregate upwards of 5000 good 
 books.* 
 
 Even in the newer States — such as Indiana and Michigan — -progress is being 
 made in a similar direction, and by express legislative enactment. Indiana 
 provided, in the law which laid out the State into counties, for the appropria- 
 tion of a piece of land in each county to the establishment of a public library. 
 In Michigan “ the law has for several years made it the duty of the supervisor 
 to assess a half mill tax upon each dollar of the taxable property of his town- 
 ship for the purchase of a Township Library The constitution of the 
 
 State provides that ‘the clear proceeds of all lines assessed in the several 
 counties for any breach of the penal laws shall be exclusively applied to the 
 support of said libraries.’ ‘ Although,’ it is added, ‘ according to the returns 
 there are [1847] but 300 Township Libraries in the 425 townships of the State, 
 from which reports have been received, still there is a very gratifying increase 
 in the number of these libraries, and the extent of their circulation. There 
 are 30 more such libraries reported this year than last, containing in all 42,926 
 volumes, which is 6938 more than they contained, according to the reports re- 
 ceived, in the year 1846. These libraries circulate through 1349 districts, 
 which shows an increase of 268 over any former year. Communications re- 
 ceived from several counties alford very gratifying evidence of their increased 
 usefulness.’ ”f 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE TUBLIC LIBRARIES OF THE 
 UNITED STATES. 
 
 In the Smithsonian “ Report on Public Libraries ” of 1849, Mr. Jewett 
 stated their total number, in all the States collectively, at 10,199, and their 
 aggregate contents at 3,753,964. According to the Census Returns, com- 
 menced in 1850, but not completed until 1853, the total number of libraries, 
 * Jewett, Notices, &c., p. 63. f Ibid. p. 185. 
 
 k 2 
 
cxxxn 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 more or less accessible to the public, was 15,615, and the aggregate number 
 of volumes therein contained, 4,636,411. 
 
 Mr. Jewett’s classification was seven-fold, namely : I. State Libraries ; II. 
 Social Libraries ; III. College Libraries ; IV. Students' Libraries ; V. Li- 
 braries of Academies and Professional Schools ; VI. Libraries of Scientific 
 and Historical Societies ; VII. Public School Libraries. The Census classifi- 
 cation was five-fold, namely : I. Public Libraries (in the usual sense of that 
 term as applied in the United States) ; II. School Libraries ; III. Sunday 
 School Libraries ; IV. College Libraries : V. Church Libraries. The classi- 
 fication employed in these pages differs from both. In presenting the reader 
 with a brief and general Summary of the results, it will therefore be expedient 
 first to state them separately, and then to place side by side such of the 
 several items as admit of comparison. Mr. Jewett’s Summary will stand thus : — - 
 
 Summary of 
 Li braries in 
 1849, accord- 
 ing to Mr. 
 Jewett. 
 
 If the same results be classified according to the several States, ranking 
 t hese in the order of t he relative number of volumes publicly accessible in each 
 State, they will read thus : 
 
 
 Name of State. 
 
 Population of 
 State in 1850. 
 
 No. of Libraries 
 in 1849. 
 
 Aggregate No. 
 of vols. in 1849. 
 
 1. 
 
 New York 
 
 3,097,394 
 
 8284 
 
 1,756,254 
 
 2. 
 
 Massachusetts . . 
 
 994,514 
 
 762 
 
 415,658 
 
 3. 
 
 Pennsylvania . . 
 
 2,311,786 
 
 80 
 
 287,519 
 
 4. 
 
 District of Columbia . . 
 
 51,687 
 
 20 
 
 14S,673 
 
 5. 
 
 Ohio 
 
 1,980,427 
 
 48 
 
 104,634 
 
 6. 
 
 Connecticut 
 
 370,792 
 
 19 
 
 98,638 
 
 7. 
 
 Virginia 
 
 1,426,661 
 
 30 
 
 89,180 
 
 8. 
 
 Maryland 
 
 583,034 
 
 46 
 
 84,565 
 
 9. 
 
 Rhode Island . . 
 
 147,545 
 
 45 
 
 79,341 
 
 10. 
 
 Michigan 
 
 397,654 
 
 381 
 
 65,235 
 
 11 . 
 
 Kentucky 
 
 982,405 
 
 27 
 
 63,440 
 
 12. 
 
 South Carolina . . 
 
 668,507 
 
 14 
 
 59,914 
 
 13. 
 
 New Hampshire . . 
 
 317,976 
 
 50 
 
 57,178 
 
 14. 
 
 Maine 
 
 583,169 
 
 31 
 
 56,856 
 
 15. 
 
 Tennessee 
 
 1,002,614 
 
 21 
 
 47,356 
 
 16. 
 
 New Jersey 
 
 489,555 
 
 17 
 
 46,305 
 
 17- 
 
 Iudiana 
 
 988,416 
 
 16 
 
 40,000 
 
 18. 
 
 Missouri 
 
 682,044 
 
 19 
 
 37,506 
 
 19. 
 
 Georgia 
 
 906,185 
 
 24 
 
 35,632 
 
 
 No. of 
 Libraries. 
 
 Aggregate 
 No. of vols. 
 
 1. “ State ” Libraries 
 
 39 
 
 288,937 
 
 2. “Social” Libraries 
 
 126 
 
 611,334 
 
 3. “ College ” Libraries 
 
 126 
 
 586,912 
 
 4. “ Students’ ” Libraries . . 
 
 142 
 
 254,639 
 
 5. “ Libraries of Academies,” &c. 
 
 227 
 
 320,909 
 
 6. “ Libraries of Scientific and Histori- 
 
 
 
 cal Societies ” 
 
 34 
 
 138,901 
 
 7. “Public School” Libraries 
 
 9505 
 
 1,552,332 
 
 Total 
 
 10,199 
 
 3,753,964 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CXXXU1 
 
 
 Name of State. 
 
 Population of 
 State in 1850. 
 
 No. of Libraries 
 in 1849. 
 
 Aggregate No. 
 of vols. in 1849. 
 
 20. 
 
 Vermont 
 
 314,120 
 
 23 
 
 34,299 
 
 21. 
 
 Louisiana 
 
 517,762 
 
 6 
 
 30,000 
 
 22. 
 
 North Carolina. . 
 
 869,039 
 
 8 
 
 24,247 
 
 23. 
 
 Illinois . . 
 
 851,470 
 
 27 
 
 19,916 
 
 24. 
 
 Alabama 
 
 771,671 
 
 37 
 
 18,077 
 
 25. 
 
 Delaware 
 
 91,532 
 
 5 
 
 16,700 
 
 26. 
 
 Mississippi 
 
 606,526 
 
 108 
 
 15,650 
 
 27. 
 
 Wisconsin 
 
 305,391 
 
 35 
 
 7163 
 
 28. 
 
 Florida 
 
 87,444 
 
 4 
 
 ' 5537 
 
 29. 
 
 Minnesota 
 
 6,077 
 
 2 
 
 3200 
 
 30. 
 
 Iowa 
 
 192,214 
 
 5 
 
 2660 
 
 31. 
 
 Texas 
 
 212,592 
 
 4 
 
 1631 
 
 32. 
 
 33. 
 
 Arkansas 
 
 California 
 
 209,897 
 
 92,597 
 
 1 
 
 1000 
 
 
 Total . . 
 
 23,197,995 
 
 10,199 
 
 3,753,964 
 
 According to the Census Returns of 1850 the then number 
 of Libraries, other than “ private ” (of which, also, the Census 
 took an account), ran thus : — 
 
 Summary of 
 Libraries in 
 1850, accord- 
 ing to the 
 Census lie- 
 turns. 
 
 1 
 
 No. of 
 Libraries. 
 
 Aggregate No. of 
 Volumes. 
 
 1. “Public” Libraries 
 
 1217 
 
 1,446,015 
 
 2. “ School” Libraries 
 
 12,067 
 
 1,647,404 
 
 3. “ Sunday School ” Libraries . . 
 
 1988 
 
 542,321 
 
 4. “ College ” Libraries 
 
 213 
 
 942,321 
 
 5. “Church ” Libraries 
 
 130 
 
 58,350 
 
 Total . . 
 
 15,615 
 
 4,636,411 
 
 i 
 
 In the following “ Statistical Table of the Public Libraries g ummar y ot 
 of the United States,” with which we conclude this branch of Libraries in 
 our subject, the returns of 1849, as stated by Mr. Jewett, are, 1856 > as enu- 
 for the purpose ot comparison, given side by side with those ot the following 
 1856, so far as we have been able to ascertain them from the “ 8 ^ l c tl , s , tlcal 
 latest Reports, or from other and personal information. Where 
 these are lacking, the estimated contents, in 1856, of the Library in question 
 is based on the average accessions of preceding years, as officially reported. 
 A summary of the general results of this table will be found on its last page : — 
 
CXXX1Y 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 STATISTICAL TABLE OE THE LI BE ABIES OF THE 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
 I. STATE OF MAINE. 
 
 Name of City or 
 Town. 
 
 Name of Library. 
 
 When 
 
 founded. 
 
 No. of 
 Vols. 
 in 
 
 1849. 
 
 Average 
 
 annual 
 
 increase. 
 
 Estimated 
 
 No. of Vols. 
 
 in 1856. 
 
 1 Augusta 
 
 State 
 
 1836 
 
 9000 
 
 500 
 
 12500 
 
 2 Bangor 
 
 Theological Seminary . . 
 
 1832 
 
 7500 
 
 400 
 
 10300 
 
 3 Brunswick . . 
 
 Bowdoin College . . 
 
 1802 
 
 24750 
 
 530 
 
 28460 
 
 4 Houlton 
 
 Porest Club 
 
 1849 
 
 200 
 
 
 
 5 Portland 
 
 Athenaeum 
 
 1827 
 
 6170 
 
 
 
 6 Waterville . . 
 
 Waterville College 
 
 1820 
 
 8484 
 
 50 
 
 8834 
 
 IT. STATE OE NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
 
 
 
 1 Concord 
 
 (1.) New Hampshire His- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 torieal Society 
 
 1823 
 
 1500 
 
 
 
 
 (2.) Methodist Biblical In- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 stitute 
 
 1846 
 
 1000 
 
 250 
 
 2750 
 
 
 (3.) State . . 
 
 1850 
 
 4700 
 
 120 
 
 5540 
 
 2 Dublin 
 
 (1.) Union 
 
 1793 
 
 438 
 
 
 
 
 (2.) Ladies’ 
 
 1799 
 
 161 
 
 
 
 
 (3.) Juvenile 
 
 1822 
 
 1500? 
 
 
 
 3 Exeter 
 
 Phillips’ Academy . . 
 
 1783 
 
 2200 
 
 
 
 4 Gilmanton . . 
 
 Theological Seminary 
 
 1835 
 
 4300 
 
 
 
 5 Great Palls 
 
 Manufacturers’ and Village 
 
 
 2200 
 
 
 
 6 Hanover C'. . 
 
 (1.) Dartmouth College . . 
 
 1769 
 
 20600 
 
 
 
 
 (2.) Northern Academy of 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Arts and Sciences . . 
 
 1841 
 
 1500 
 
 
 
 7 Meridan Vil- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 LAGE 
 
 Kimball Union Academy 
 
 1814 
 
 2000 
 
 140 
 
 2980 
 
 8 New Hampton 
 
 Theological Seminary 
 
 1821 
 
 2200 
 
 
 
 9 Northfield . . 
 
 New Hampshire Conference 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Seminary. . 
 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CXXXV 
 
 Name of City or 
 Town. 
 
 Name of Library. 
 
 When 
 
 founded. 
 
 No. of 
 Vols. 
 
 in 
 
 1849. 
 
 Average 
 
 annual 
 
 increase. 
 
 10 Portsmouth. . 
 
 (1.) Athenaeum 
 
 (2.) St. John’s Church . . 
 
 (3.) Unitarian Church . . 
 
 1817 
 
 7284 
 
 500 
 
 678 
 
 200 
 
 11 Sanbornton . . 
 
 Public 
 
 
 300 
 
 
 12 Wakefield . . 
 
 Wakefield and Brookfield 
 Union 
 
 1797 
 
 500 
 
 
 
 III. STATE OP VERMONT. 
 
 
 
 1 Burlington . . 
 
 University of Vermont . . 
 
 1800 
 
 12250 
 
 200 
 
 2 Middlebury. . 
 
 Middlebury College 
 
 1800 
 
 8417 
 
 
 3 Montpelier . . 
 
 (1.) State . . 
 
 (2.) Historical and Antiqua- 
 rian Society . . 
 
 1838 
 
 3500 
 
 
 4 Norwich 
 
 Norwich University 
 
 1843 
 
 1032 
 
 200 
 
 IV. STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 1 Amherst 
 
 Amherst College 
 
 1821 
 
 13700 
 
 120 
 
 2 Andover 
 
 (1.) Theological Seminary 
 
 1808 
 
 20249 
 
 500 
 
 
 (2.) Phillips’ Academy . . 
 (3.) English High School 
 
 
 1000 
 
 
 *Vjg 
 
 
 800 
 
 
 3 Boston 
 
 (1.) Prince, or South Church 
 (2.) Library of the American 
 
 1758 
 
 1800 
 
 
 
 Academy of Aids and 
 Sciences 
 
 1780 
 
 8000 
 
 150 
 
 
 (3.) Library of the Massa- 
 
 
 
 
 
 chusetts Historical 
 Society 
 
 1791 
 
 7000 
 
 100 
 
 
 (4.) Boston 
 
 1794 
 
 12150 
 
 250 
 
 
 (5.) Boston Athenaeum . . 
 
 1806 
 
 50000 
 
 
 
 (6.) Apprentices’ 
 
 1820 
 
 4000 
 
 175 
 
 
 (7.) Library of the American 
 Board of Foreign 
 
 
 
 
 
 Missions 
 
 1822 
 
 3500 
 
 150 
 
 
 
 about 
 
 
 
 
 (8.) Social Law 
 
 1822? 
 
 3000 
 
 
 
 (9.) General Court, or State 
 (10.) Library of the Boston 
 
 1826 
 
 7400 
 
 425 
 
 
 Society of Natural 
 History 
 
 1830 
 
 3500 
 
 100 
 
 
 (11.) American Statistical 
 
 
 
 
 
 Association. . 
 
 1839 
 
 2000 
 
 
 
 (12.) New England Genealo- 
 
 
 
 
 
 gical Association . . 
 
 1845 
 
 1500 
 
 
 8684 
 
 13650 
 
 2432 
 
 14540 
 
 23749 
 
 9050 
 
 7700 
 
 13900 
 
 5225 
 
 4550 
 
 10400 
 
 4200 
 
CXXXV1 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 Name of City or 
 Town. 
 
 Name of Library. 
 
 | When 
 
 [founded. 
 
 No. of 
 Vols. 
 in 
 
 1849. 
 
 Average 
 
 annual 
 
 income. 
 
 Estimated 
 
 No. ofVols. 
 
 in 1856. 
 
 Boston [ continued ] 
 
 (13.) Mercantile 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 [incorporated 
 
 1845] 
 
 7059 
 
 400 
 
 9859 
 
 
 (14.) Bowditch 
 
 1846 
 
 
 
 
 
 (15.)Libraryof the American 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Oriental Society . . 
 
 1849? 
 
 400 
 
 
 
 
 (16.) Free City 
 
 1852 
 
 
 
 
 4 Cambridge . . 
 
 Harvard College . . 
 
 1764 
 
 86200 
 
 400? 
 
 89000 
 
 5 Cambridge- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 port 
 
 Parish 
 
 1849 
 
 500 
 
 
 
 6 Groton 
 
 Lawrence Academy . . 
 
 1827 
 
 2650 
 
 
 
 7 Lawrence '. . 
 
 Franklin 
 
 1847 
 
 850 
 
 
 
 8 Lowell 
 
 Library of the Middlesex 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Mechanics’ Association 
 
 1825 
 
 5386 
 
 
 
 
 City School 
 
 1844 
 
 7492 
 
 
 
 9 Nantucket . . 
 
 Athenaeum . . founded 
 
 1836 
 
 2552 
 
 
 
 
 restored 
 
 1847 
 
 
 
 
 10 New Bedford 
 
 Free City 
 
 1852 
 
 
 
 
 11 Newton !f . 
 
 Theological Seminary 
 
 1825 
 
 6000 
 
 
 
 12 Roxbury 
 
 Athenaeum . . 
 
 1848 
 
 5330 
 
 175? 
 
 6550 
 
 13 Salem 
 
 (1.) Library of Essex Medi- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 cal Society . . 
 
 1805 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
 
 (2.) Athenaeum 
 
 1S10 
 
 11000 
 
 250 
 
 12750 
 
 
 [Social Library founded 1760.] 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 (3.) Library of the Essex 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Agricultural Society 
 
 1818 
 
 650 
 
 
 
 
 (4.) Salem Evangelical 
 
 
 1400 
 
 
 
 
 (5.) Library of the Essex 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Institute 
 
 1848 
 
 2522 
 
 250 
 
 4272 
 
 
 (6.)[Mechanics’ Institute . . 
 
 
 3000 
 
 
 
 
 (7.) E. India Marine Society 
 
 
 300 
 
 
 
 14 WlLLIAMSTOWN 
 
 William’s College . . 
 
 1793 
 
 10599 
 
 188 
 
 11915 
 
 15 Worcester . . 
 
 (1.) Library of the American 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Antiquarian Society 
 
 1812 
 
 18000 
 
 490 
 
 21430 
 
 
 (2.) High School . . 
 
 1832 
 
 500 
 
 
 
 
 (3.) Library of the College 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 of the Holy Cross . . 
 
 1843 
 
 4220 
 
 
 
 
 (4.) Library of Mechanics’ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Institute and Lyceum 
 
 1843 
 
 2300 
 
 
 
 1 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CXXXV11 
 
 V. STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 Name of City or 
 Town. 
 
 Name of Library. 
 
 When 
 
 fouuded. 
 
 ' 
 
 No. of 
 Yols. 
 in 
 
 1849. 
 
 1 Average 
 
 annual 
 
 | increase. 
 
 Estimated 
 
 No. of Vols. 
 
 in 1856. 
 
 1 Newport 
 
 (1.) Redwood 
 
 1730 
 
 4000 
 
 
 
 
 (2.) Mechanics’ 
 
 1828 
 
 1100 
 
 45 
 
 1415 
 
 2 Providence . . 
 
 (1.) Brown University . . 
 (2.) Mechanics’ Association 
 (3.) Library of the Rhode 
 Island Historical So- 
 ciety . . 
 
 (4.) Library of the Franklin 
 Society 
 
 1768 
 
 1820? 
 
 1822 
 
 1823 
 
 31600 
 
 3300 
 
 2500 
 
 500 
 
 1600 
 
 42900 
 
 
 (5.) Athenaeum 
 [Providence Library founded 
 in 1753.] 
 
 (6.) Friends’ Boarding- 
 
 School 
 
 1831 
 
 15204 
 
 1500 
 
 800 
 
 20804 
 
 VI. STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 
 
 1 East Windsor 
 
 Library of the Theological 
 
 
 
 
 
 Institute . . 
 
 1833 
 
 3500 
 
 
 2 Hartford . . 
 
 ( 1 . ) Trinity College . . 
 
 (2.) Library of the Histori- 
 
 1823 
 
 9000 
 
 
 
 cal Society of Con- 
 
 
 
 
 
 necticut 
 
 1825 
 
 7000 
 
 
 
 (3.) Library of the Young 
 
 
 
 
 
 Men’s Institute . . 
 
 1838 
 
 10000 
 
 500 
 
 
 (4.) State 
 
 1850 
 
 3000 
 
 
 3 Middletown 
 
 Wesleyan University 
 
 1831 
 
 11123 
 
 100 
 
 4 New Haven . . 
 
 (1.) Yale College . 
 
 (2.) Library of Young Men’s 
 
 1700 
 
 50481 
 
 
 
 Institute 
 
 
 3800 
 
 
 5 Norwich 
 
 Otis 
 
 
 5000 
 
 
 13500 
 
 11800 
 
 60000 
 
 8000 
 
 VII. STATE OF NEW YORK. 
 
 1 Albany 
 
 (1.) State 
 
 1818 
 
 23274 
 
 
 (2.) Assembly 
 
 
 7000 
 
 
 
 (3.) Albany Institute 
 
 1828 
 
 3323 
 
 
 
 (4.) New York State Agri- 
 
 
 
 
 
 cultural Society . . 
 
 1832 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 (5.) Library of the Young 
 
 
 
 
 
 Men’s Association . . 
 
 1833 
 
 4500 
 
 320 
 
 
 (6.) Library of the State 
 
 
 
 
 
 Normal School 
 
 
 6858 
 
 
 
 (7.) Albany Medical College 
 
 
 2212 
 
 
CXXXVU1 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 Name of City or 
 Town. 
 
 Name of Library. 
 
 When 
 
 founded. 
 
 No. of 
 Yols. 
 in 
 
 1849. 
 
 I Average 
 annual 
 increase. 
 
 2 Auburn 
 
 Theological Seminary . . 
 
 1821 
 
 6000 
 
 
 3 Brooklyn 
 
 (1.) Youths’ Free Library of 
 the Brooklyn Institute 
 (2.) Library of the United 
 States Naval Lyceum 
 (3.) City [Subscription] . . 
 
 1828 
 
 1833 
 
 1839 
 
 3028 
 
 2971 
 
 3000 
 
 
 4 Buffalo 
 
 (1.) Library of the Young 
 Men’s Association . . 
 (2.) Library of the Medical 
 Department of the 
 Buffalo University . . 
 
 1837 
 
 6500 
 
 519 
 
 
 5 Clinton 
 
 Hamilton College . . 
 
 1812 
 
 10300 
 
 
 6 East Hampton 
 
 Library Company . . . . 
 
 1803 
 
 563 
 
 
 7 Flushing 
 
 St. Paul’s College 
 
 
 2800 
 
 
 8 Fordham 
 
 (1.) St. John’s College 
 (2.) St. Joseph’s Seminary 
 
 1840 
 
 1840 
 
 5500 
 
 4000 
 
 
 9 Geneva 
 
 College Libraries . . 
 
 1825 
 
 6429 
 
 
 10 Hamilton 
 
 Madison University 
 
 1820 
 
 7000 
 
 
 11 Hartwick . . 
 
 Theological Seminary . . 
 
 1815 
 
 1000 
 
 
 12 Hudson 
 
 Franklin 
 
 1838 
 
 1058 
 
 
 13 Newburg 
 
 Theological Seminary 
 
 1802 
 
 3230 
 
 
 14 New York 
 City 
 
 (1.) New York Society . . 
 (2.) Library of the Columbia 
 College 
 
 (3.) Library of the New 
 York Hospital 
 (4.) Library of the New 
 York Historical So- 
 ciety . . 
 
 (5.) Library of the Episcopal 
 Theological Institute 
 (6.) Mercantile Association 
 (7.) Apprentices’ . . 
 
 (8.) Library of the Lyceum 
 of Natural History . . 
 (9.) Printers’ Reading-Boom 
 (10.) Library of the Ameri- 
 can Institute . . 
 
 (11.) Library of the New 
 York Law Institute 
 
 1754 
 
 1757 
 
 1770 
 
 1804 
 
 1817 
 1820 
 1820 
 
 1818 
 1823 
 
 1828 
 
 1830 
 
 35000 
 
 12740 
 
 6000 
 
 17000 
 
 10000 
 
 31674 
 
 14000 
 
 2500 
 
 6000 
 
 4424 | 
 
 
 Estimated 
 
 No. ofVols. 
 
 in 1856. 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. CXXXix 
 
 Name of City or 
 Town. 
 
 Name of Library. 
 
 When 
 
 founded. 
 
 No. of 
 Vols. 
 in 
 
 1849. 
 
 Average 
 
 annual 
 
 increase. 
 
 Estimated 
 N o. o'fVols. 
 in 1856. 
 
 New York 
 City. 
 
 \continued~\ 
 
 (12.) Library of the Me- 
 chanics’ Institute . . 
 
 (13.) Library of the Univer- 
 sity of New York . . 
 
 (14.) Library of the Union 
 Theological Semi- 
 nary 
 
 (15.) Astor 
 
 (16.) Library of the Ameri- 
 can and Foreign 
 Bible Society 
 
 (17.) Library of the College 
 of Physicians and 
 Surgeons . . 
 
 (18.) Library of the Ameri- 
 can Ethnological So- 
 ciety 
 
 (19.) Library of the Free 
 Academy . . 
 
 1830 
 
 1831 
 
 1838 
 
 1839 
 
 1851 
 
 3000 
 
 4000 
 
 17000 
 
 20000 
 
 1576 
 
 1200 
 
 
 500? 
 
 15 Poughkeepsie 
 
 (1.) Library of the Lyceum 
 of Literature, Sci- 
 ence, &c 
 
 (2.) Public 
 
 1838 
 
 650 
 
 3000 
 
 80 
 
 1100? 
 
 16 Rochester . . 
 
 (1.) Athenaeum 
 (2.) Library of the Court of 
 Appeals 
 
 1832 
 
 5050 
 
 3400 
 
 
 
 17 Schenectady 
 
 (1.) Union College 
 (2.) Library of the Young 
 Men’s Association . . 
 
 1795 
 
 14256 
 
 3200 
 
 
 
 18 Somers 
 
 Public 
 
 
 210 
 
 
 
 19 Troy . . 
 
 Library of the Young Men’s 
 Association 
 
 1835 
 
 4000 
 
 180 
 
 5260? 
 
 20 Utica . . 
 
 Library of the Young Men’s 
 Association 
 
 
 2200 
 
 
 
 21 West Point . . 
 
 Library of the United States 
 Military Academy 
 
 1812 
 
 15000 
 
 192 
 
 16330? 
 
 VIII. STATE OF NEW JERSEY. 
 
 1 Burlington . . 
 
 College 
 
 1846 
 
 1000 
 
 
 2 Newark 
 
 (1.) Library of the New 
 
 
 
 
 
 Jersey Historical So- 
 ciety . . 
 
 1845 
 
 825 
 
 
 
 (2.) Institution 
 
 
 3000 
 
 
cxl 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 Name of City or 
 Town. 
 
 Name of Library. 
 
 When 
 
 founded. 
 
 No. of 
 Vols. 
 in 
 
 1849. 
 
 Average 
 
 annual 
 
 increase. 
 
 Estimated 
 
 No. of Vols. 
 
 i in 1856. 
 
 3 New Bruns- 
 wick 
 
 Rutger’s College Library . . 
 
 1807 
 
 8000 
 
 
 
 4 Orange 
 
 Lyceum 
 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
 5 Princeton . . 
 
 (1.) Libraries of the College 
 of New Jersey 
 (2.) Library of the Theolo- 
 gical Seminary 
 
 1755 
 
 1812 
 
 16000 
 
 9000 
 
 
 
 6 Trenton 
 
 (1.) State 
 
 (2.)Philomathean . . 
 
 1824 
 
 5000 
 
 300 
 
 
 
 IX. STATE OE PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 1 Alleghany . . 
 
 Theological Seminary 
 
 1827 
 
 5000 
 
 ! 
 
 
 2 Canonsburg . . 
 
 (1.) Jeffersou College 
 (2.) Theological Seminary 
 
 1802 
 
 1831 
 
 10000 
 
 2000 
 
 
 
 3 Carlisle 
 
 Dickenson College . . 
 
 1782 
 
 14550 
 
 150 
 
 15500 
 
 4 Chester 
 
 Athenaeum 
 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
 5 Easton 
 
 (1.) Easton 
 
 (2.) Lafayette College . . 
 
 1811 
 
 1833 
 
 3751 
 
 5402 
 
 
 
 6 Erie . . 
 
 Irving Literary Institute . . 
 
 1839 
 
 1015 
 
 
 
 7 Eallsington 
 
 Eallsington Library Com- 
 pany 
 
 1802 
 
 1650 
 
 
 
 8 Gettysburg . . 
 
 (1.) Theological Seminary 
 (2.) Pennsylvania College 
 
 1825 
 
 1832 
 
 8500 
 
 6373 
 
 80 
 
 9000 
 
 9 Harrisburg . . 
 
 State 
 
 1816 
 
 10000 
 
 
 
 10 Hatborough 
 
 Union 
 
 1755 
 
 3430 
 
 100 
 
 4100 
 
 11 Jonestown . . 
 
 Library of the Swatara 
 Literary Association 
 
 1850 
 
 
 
 
 12 Lancaster . . 
 
 (1.) Mechanics’ Institute . . 
 (2.) Franklin College 
 
 
 2000 
 
 750 
 
 
 
 13 Lewisburg . . 
 
 University 
 
 1849 
 
 600 
 
 
 
 14 Meadville . . 
 
 (1.) Alleghany College 
 (2.) Library of the Mead- 
 ville Theological 
 
 School . . . . | 
 
 1815 
 
 1844 
 
 8000 
 
 5300 
 
 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 cxli 
 
 Name of City or 
 Town. 
 
 Name of Library. 
 
 When 
 
 founded. 
 
 No. of 
 Yols. 
 in 
 
 1849. 
 
 Average 
 
 annual 
 
 increase. 
 
 Estimated 
 
 No. ofVols. 
 
 in 1856. 
 
 15 Mercersburg 
 
 (1.) Library of the German 
 Reformed Theological 
 Seminary 
 
 (2.) Marshall College* 
 
 1820 
 
 6000 
 
 7000 
 
 50 
 
 6300 
 
 1C Morristown 
 
 Library Company . . 
 
 1796 
 
 2515 
 
 
 
 17 Philadelphia 
 
 (1 .) Library Company and 
 Loganian 
 
 (2.) Library of the American 
 Philosophical Society 
 (3.) Library of the Pennsyl- 
 vania Hospital . . 
 
 (4.) Libraries of the Univer- 
 sity of Pennsylvania 
 (5.) Library of the Law As- 
 sociation 
 
 (6.) Library of the Academy 
 of Natural Sciences 
 (7.) Athenaium 
 (8.) Apprentices’ . . 
 
 (9.) Mercantile 
 (10.) Libraries of the Histori- 
 cal Society of Penn- 
 sylvania 
 
 (11.) Library of the Frank- 
 lin Institute . . 
 
 (12.) Libraries of the Ame- 
 rican Baptist Pub- 
 lication Society 
 (13.) Libraries of the German 
 Society 
 
 1731 
 
 1742 
 
 1750 
 
 1750 
 
 1802 
 
 1812 
 
 1813 
 
 1821 
 
 1823 
 
 1825 
 
 1830 
 
 60000 
 
 20000 
 
 10000 
 
 9250 
 
 5100 
 
 12000 
 
 10000 
 
 11700 
 
 12232 
 
 1728 
 
 4300 
 
 1032 
 
 18000 
 
 600 
 
 600 
 
 15900 
 
 16400 
 
 18 Pittsburg . . 
 
 (1.) Theological Seminary 
 (2.) Washington College 
 (3.) Young Men’s Mercan- 
 tile 
 
 1828 
 
 1847 
 
 1500 
 
 3300 
 
 1188 
 
 
 
 19 Westchester 
 
 (1.) Library of the Cabinet 
 of Natural Sciences 
 (2 ) Library of the Chester 
 County Atkenffium 
 
 1826 
 
 1827 
 
 450 
 
 1431 
 
 130 
 
 500 
 
 2300 
 
 
 X. STATE OF DELAWARE. 
 
 
 
 
 1 Dover 
 
 State and Law 
 
 1837 
 
 4000 
 
 
 
 2 Newark 
 
 Delaware College . . 
 
 1S33 
 
 8700 
 
 
 
 3 Newcastle . . 
 
 Public 
 
 1812 
 
 4000 
 
 
 
 * It is proposed to unite this College and its Library with Franklin College, 
 Lancaster. 
 
cxlli PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 XI. STATE OF MARYLAND. 
 
 
 
 
 No. of 
 
 
 ® to 
 
 Name of City or 
 Town. 
 
 Name of Library. 
 
 | When 
 
 founde 
 
 Vols. 
 
 in 
 
 1849. 
 
 1 Averag 
 annua] 
 increase 
 
 8 Ota 
 
 to 6.2 
 
 1 Annapolis . . 
 
 (1.) State 
 
 1827 
 
 15059 
 
 580 
 
 19100 
 
 
 (2.) St. John’s College 
 
 1784 
 
 3292 
 
 
 4000 
 
 2 Baltimore . . 
 
 (1.) Collection of the Li- 
 brary Company 
 (2. St. Mary’s College 
 
 1796 
 
 15005 
 
 
 16500 
 
 
 1809 
 
 12000 
 
 500 
 
 15000 
 
 
 (3.) Mercantile 
 
 (4.) Library of the Histori- 
 
 1839 
 
 9000 
 
 700 
 
 13500 
 
 
 cal Society . . 
 
 1843 
 
 1770 
 
 
 
 
 (5.) Odd Fellows’ Lodge . . 
 
 1849 
 
 3541 
 
 
 
 
 (6.) Female College 
 
 1850 
 
 2800 
 
 
 
 
 (7.) Mechanics’ Institute . . 
 
 1849 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
 3 Chestertown 
 
 Washington College 
 
 1783 
 
 1100 
 
 
 
 4 Emmetsburg 
 
 Mount St. Mary’s College 
 
 
 4000 
 
 
 
 5 Hagerstown 
 
 St. James’s College . . 
 
 
 3500 
 
 
 
 XII. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
 
 1 Georgetown 
 
 2 Washington 
 
 College 
 
 (1.) Congress 
 [Since destroyed by fire, but 
 restored.] 
 
 (2.) House of Representa- 
 tives’ 
 
 (3.) Library of the State 
 Department 
 
 [Includes the Collection of 
 Books deposited by Copy- 
 right Law ] 
 
 (4.) Library of the War De- 
 partment . . 
 
 (5.) Libraries of Treasury 
 and Engineer De- 
 partments . . 
 
 (6.) Columbian College . . 
 
 (7.) Patent Office . . 
 
 (8.) Smithsonian . . 
 
 (9.) Collection of the Li- 
 brary Company 
 
 (10.) National Institute . . 
 
 (11.) Apprentices’ . . 
 
 (12.) Observatory . . . . | 
 
 1792 
 
 26100 
 
 300? 
 
 28000 
 
 1800 
 
 50000 
 
 
 60000 
 
 
 12000 
 
 400 
 
 14000 
 
 1781 
 
 17000 
 
 450 
 
 20000 
 
 1832 
 
 7000 
 
 600? 
 
 11000 
 
 
 3700 
 
 200? 
 
 5000 
 
 1821 
 
 6200 
 
 
 
 
 6000 
 
 
 
 1846 
 
 6000 
 
 
 19000 
 
 1814 
 
 5000 
 
 50 
 
 5350 
 
 1840 
 
 3000 
 
 
 
 
 2000 
 
 
 
 1842 
 
 500 
 
 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 cxliii 
 
 XIII. STATE OF VIRGINIA. 
 
 Name of City or 
 Town. 
 
 Name of Library. 
 
 When 
 
 founded. 
 
 No. of 
 
 Vols. 
 
 in 
 
 1849. 
 
 Average 
 
 annual 
 
 increase. 
 
 Estimated 
 
 No. of Vols. 
 
 in 1856. 
 
 1 Berryville . . 
 
 Academy 
 
 1830? 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
 2 Bethany 
 
 College 
 
 1840 
 
 2280 
 
 
 
 3 Boydtown . . 
 
 Randolph Macon College . . 
 
 1832 
 
 6000 
 
 
 
 4 Charlottes- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ville 
 
 Virginia University 
 
 1825 
 
 18378 
 
 413 
 
 21300 
 
 5 Emory 
 
 Libraries of the Emory and 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Henry College . . 
 
 1839 
 
 8000 
 
 250 
 
 9750 
 
 6 Fairfax 
 
 Theological Seminary 
 
 
 4955 
 
 50? 
 
 5300 
 
 7 Lexington . . 
 
 (1.) Washington College . . 
 
 1776 
 
 4997 
 
 40 
 
 5200 
 
 
 (2.) Military Institute 
 
 1841 
 
 2500 
 
 250 
 
 4250 
 
 8 Prince Ed- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ward County 
 
 (1.) Theological Seminary. . 
 
 1828 
 
 4306 
 
 50? 
 
 4650 
 
 
 (2.) Hampden-Sidney 
 
 1835 
 
 8000 
 
 
 
 9 Pruntytown 
 
 College 
 
 1840 
 
 2000 
 
 
 
 10 Richmond . . 
 
 fl.) State . . 
 
 1828 
 
 14000 
 
 500? 
 
 17500 
 
 
 (2.) Historical Society 
 
 1835 
 
 1200 
 
 
 
 
 (3.) Richmond College 
 
 1843 
 
 1200 
 
 
 
 11 Romney 
 
 Literary Society . . 
 
 1819 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
 12 Williamsburg 
 
 College 
 
 1692? 
 
 5000 
 
 
 
 XIV. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 
 
 1 Chafel Hill 
 
 University 
 
 1795 
 
 11847 
 
 
 
 2 Mecklenburg 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 County 
 
 Davidson College . . 
 
 
 1200 
 
 
 
 3 Raleigh 
 
 State 
 
 
 3000 
 
 
 
 4 Salem 
 
 Fayette Academy . . 
 
 1804 
 
 1500 
 
 
 
 5 Wake Forest 
 
 College 
 
 
 4700 
 
 
 
 XV. STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 
 
 1 Charleston . . 
 
 (1.) Library Society 
 [Destroyed by fire in 1778.] 
 
 OO 
 
 to 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 ISO 
 
 21260 
 
 
 (2.) Apprentices’ , . 
 
 (3.) College 
 
 1824 
 
 1810 
 
 8500 
 
 2000 
 
 500 
 
 12000 
 
cxliv 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 Name of City or 
 Town. 
 
 Name of Library. 
 
 When 
 
 founded. 
 
 No. of 
 Vols. 
 in 
 
 1849. 
 
 1 Average 
 
 annual 
 
 increase. 
 
 Estimated 
 
 No. of Vols. 
 
 in 1856. 
 
 Charleston . . 
 
 [ continued ] 
 
 (4.) Medical Society 
 
 1834 
 
 2450 
 
 100? 
 
 3100 
 
 2 Columbia 
 
 (1.) S. C. College . . 
 
 (2.) Theological Seminary . . 
 
 1802 
 
 1830 
 
 18400 
 
 4754 
 
 500 
 
 22000 
 
 3 Fairfield . . 
 
 Theological Seminary 
 
 1826 
 
 1500 
 
 
 
 4 Lexington . . 
 
 Theological Seminary 
 
 1833 
 
 1560 
 
 
 
 XVI. STATE OF GEORGIA. 
 
 1 Athens 
 
 Franklin College . . 
 
 1831 
 
 10267 
 
 130,11200 
 
 2 Augusta 
 
 Medical College 
 
 1833 
 
 4000 
 
 150 5000 
 
 3 Milledge- 
 
 
 
 
 
 ville 
 
 Oglethorpe College 
 
 1838 
 
 4000 
 
 
 4 Oxford 
 
 Emory College 
 
 1S39 
 
 2700 
 
 
 5 Pennfield . . 
 
 Mercer CoOege 
 
 1838 
 
 3000 
 
 
 6 Savannah . . 
 
 Historical Society . . 
 
 
 7000 
 
 
 XVII. STATE OF ALABAMA. 
 
 1 Lagrange 
 
 College 
 
 
 3000 
 
 
 2 Marion 
 
 Howard College . . 
 
 .842 
 
 1500 
 
 
 3 Mobile 
 
 Franklin Society . . 
 
 1835 
 
 1454 
 
 
 4 Spring Hill 
 
 College 
 
 
 4000 
 
 
 5 Tuscaloosa . . 
 
 Alabama University 
 
 1831 
 
 7123 
 
 150 
 
 XVIII. STATE OF FLORIDA. 
 
 1 Pensacola . . 
 
 Naval Hospital 
 
 1847 
 
 1337 
 
 
 2 St. Augustine 
 
 Judicial 
 
 
 2000 
 
 
 3 Tallahassee 
 
 State 
 
 1845 
 
 2000 
 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 cxlv 
 
 XIX. STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 Name of City or 
 Town. 
 
 Name of Library. 
 
 When 
 
 founded. 
 
 No. of 
 Yols. 
 in 
 
 1849. 
 
 1 Average 
 
 annual 
 
 | increase. 
 
 Estimated 
 No. of Vols. 
 in 1856. 
 
 1 Jackson 
 
 State 
 
 1838 
 
 5000 
 
 300? 
 
 7000 
 
 2 Claiborne 
 County 
 
 Oakland College . . 
 
 1831 
 
 6000 
 
 
 
 3 Oxford 
 
 College 
 
 1848 
 
 1600 
 
 
 
 4 Washington 
 
 College 
 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 XX. STATE OF LOUISIANA. 
 
 
 
 
 1 Baton Rouge 
 
 State 
 
 1838 
 
 7000 
 
 300 
 
 9000 
 
 2 Bringiers . . 
 
 Jefferson College . . 
 
 
 6000 
 
 
 
 3 Jackson 
 
 Lousiana College . . 
 
 
 2000 
 
 
 
 4 New Orleans 
 
 Public School 
 
 
 10000 
 
 
 
 XXI. STATES OF TEXAS AND ARKANSAS. 
 
 
 1 Austin 
 {Texas) 
 
 State 
 
 1837 
 
 1000 
 
 80 
 
 1500 
 
 2 Little Rock 
 {Arkansas) 
 
 Lyceum 
 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
 XXII. STATE OF TENNESSEE. 
 
 1 Columbia 
 
 (1.) Jackson College . . 
 
 1834 
 
 2500 
 
 40 
 
 
 (2.) Female Institute 
 
 1839 
 
 3500 
 
 300? 
 
 2 Greenville . . 
 
 College 
 
 
 3000 
 
 
 3 Knoxville . . 
 
 East Tennessee College . . 
 
 1819 
 
 4500 
 
 
 4 Lebanon 
 
 Cumberland University . . 
 
 1844 
 
 4000 
 
 
 5 Maryville . . 
 
 College 
 
 1821 
 
 3700 
 
 25 
 
 6 Nashville . . 
 
 (1.) State 
 
 
 8000 
 
 
 
 (2.) Nashville University . . 
 
 1824 
 
 9546 
 
 
 
 (3.) Franklin College 
 
 1844 
 
 1200 
 
 100 
 
 7 Washington 
 
 
 
 
 
 County 
 
 College 
 
 
 1000 
 
 
 1 
 
 2700 
 
 5500 
 
 3875 
 
 1900 
 
cxlvi 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 XXIII. STATE OE KENTUCKY. 
 
 Name of City or 
 Town. 
 
 Name of Library. 
 
 When 
 
 founded. 
 
 No. of 
 Vols. 
 in 
 
 1849. 
 
 Average 
 
 annuul 
 
 increase. 
 
 Estimated 
 
 No. of Vols. 
 
 in 1856. 
 
 1 Augusta 
 
 College 
 
 
 2500 
 
 
 
 2 Bardstown , . 
 
 St. Joseph’s College 
 
 1824 
 
 3000 
 
 
 
 3 Covington . . 
 
 Theological Institute 
 
 1845 
 
 2000 
 
 
 
 4 Danville 
 
 College 
 
 1824 
 
 5050 
 
 
 
 5 Frankfort . . 
 
 State 
 
 1834 
 
 8500 
 
 
 
 6 Georgetown 
 
 College 
 
 1837 
 
 7280 
 
 500 
 
 10700 
 
 7 Lexington . . 
 
 Transylvania College 
 
 1798 
 
 14000 
 
 
 
 8 Louisville . . 
 
 (1.) Louisville, &c. 
 
 1847 
 
 5500 
 
 
 
 
 (2.) University Medical . . 
 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
 9 Marion 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 County 
 
 College 
 
 
 5000 
 
 
 
 10 Princeton . . 
 
 Cumberland College . . 
 
 1826 
 
 1210 
 
 
 
 11 Shelbyville 
 
 College 
 
 
 4000 
 
 
 
 
 XXIY. STATE OF OHIO. 
 
 
 
 
 1 Athens 
 
 Ohio University 
 
 1804 
 
 2750 
 
 
 
 2 Cincinnati . . 
 
 (1.) Mercantile 
 
 1835 
 
 10000 
 
 1070 
 
 17000 
 
 
 (2.) Lane Seminary . . 
 
 1837 
 
 10000 
 
 
 
 
 (3.) St. Xavier College 
 
 1841 
 
 5600 
 
 400 
 
 8000 
 
 
 (4.) Mechanics’ Institute . . 
 
 1829 
 
 3265 
 
 200 
 
 4600 
 
 
 (5.) Historical Society 
 
 1831 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
 
 (6.) Ohio Medical College . . 
 
 1826 
 
 2129 
 
 
 
 
 (7.) Woodward College . . 
 
 
 1400 
 
 
 
 3 Cleveland . . 
 
 Medical College 
 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
 4 Columbus . . 
 
 State . . 
 
 1817 
 
 12500 
 
 500 
 
 16000 
 
 5 Delaware . . 
 
 Wesleyan Institute . . 
 
 1845 
 
 2780 
 
 200 
 
 3100 
 
 6 Gambier 
 
 Kenyon College 
 
 1824 
 
 7550 
 
 
 
 7 Granville . . 
 
 College 
 
 1836 
 
 3000 
 
 
 
 8 Hudson . . 
 
 Western College • . 
 
 1826 
 
 7634 
 
 130 
 
 8600 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 cxlvii 
 
 Name of City or 
 Town. 
 
 Name of Library. 
 
 When 
 
 founded. 
 
 No. of 
 Vols. 
 in 
 
 1849. 
 
 Average] 
 
 annual 
 
 increase. 
 
 Estimated 
 N o. of Vols. 
 in 1856. 
 
 9 Marietta 
 
 (1.) College 
 (2.) Mercantile 
 
 1835 
 
 6400 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
 10 New Athens 
 
 Franklin College . . 
 
 
 2000 
 
 
 
 11 Oberlin 
 
 Institute 
 
 1834 
 
 4000 
 
 
 
 12 Oxford 
 
 Miami University . . 
 
 1824 
 
 6786 
 
 200 
 
 8000 
 
 13 Springfield 
 
 Wittenburg College 
 
 1846 
 
 5265 
 
 1100? 
 
 12000 
 
 14 Zanesville . . 
 
 Athenaeum 
 
 1828 
 
 3580 
 
 100 
 
 4200 
 
 
 XXV. STATE OF INDIANA. 
 
 
 
 
 1 Bloomington 
 
 (1.) University 
 
 (2.) County 
 
 1816 
 
 5000 
 
 4000 
 
 
 
 2 Crawfordville 
 
 Wabash College 
 
 1839 
 
 4300 
 
 
 
 3 Greencastle 
 
 Asbury College 
 
 
 2700 
 
 
 
 4 Hanover 
 
 College 
 
 1840 
 
 4700 
 
 
 
 5 Indianapolis 
 
 State 
 
 1825 
 
 7000 
 
 250 
 
 8700 
 
 G Logansport . . 
 
 Sigourney 
 
 
 3000 
 
 
 
 7 North Bend 
 
 St. Mary’s 
 
 1842 
 
 2000 
 
 
 
 8 Vincennes . . 
 
 Public 
 
 1806 
 
 1700 
 
 
 
 
 XXVI. STATE OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 
 
 
 1 Chicago 
 
 Mechanics’ 
 
 1842 
 
 1000 
 
 
 
 2 Gatesburg . . 
 
 Labour College 
 
 1844 
 
 1400 
 
 
 
 3 Jacksonville 
 
 Illinois College 
 
 1830 
 
 4000 
 
 
 
 4 Lebanon 
 
 College 
 
 1820 
 
 1825 
 
 
 
 5 Springfield 
 
 State 
 
 
 4000 
 
 
 
 6 St. Clair 
 County 
 
 German 
 
 
 1820 
 
 
 
 7 Upper Alton 
 
 Shurtleff College . . 
 
 
 1520 
 
 
 
cxlviii 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES 
 
 XXVII. STATE OE MISSOURI. 
 
 Name of City or 
 Town. 
 
 Name of Library. 
 
 When 
 
 founded. 
 
 No. of 
 Vols. 
 in 
 
 1849. 
 
 | Average 
 
 annual 
 
 increase. 
 
 Estimated 
 N o. of Vols. 
 in 185C. 
 
 1 Cape Gi- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 RARDEAU . . 
 
 St. Mary’s College . . 
 
 
 2400 
 
 
 
 2 Columbia 
 
 Missouri College . . 
 
 1842 
 
 1200 
 
 
 
 3 Jefferson . . 
 
 State 
 
 1829 
 
 4G37 
 
 
 
 4 Palmyra 
 
 Masonic 
 
 
 2500 
 
 
 
 5 St. Louis 
 
 (1.) University 
 
 1S29 
 
 13580 
 
 
 
 
 (2.) Mercantile 
 
 1S46 
 
 4299 
 
 1200? 
 
 12700 
 
 
 (3.) Law 
 
 1840 
 
 1500 
 
 
 
 XXVIII. STATE OE MICHIGAN. 
 
 
 
 1 Ann Arbour 
 
 Michigan University . . 
 
 1837 
 
 5000 
 
 100? 
 
 6000? 
 
 2 Detroit 
 
 (1.) St. Philip’s College . . 
 
 
 3000 
 
 
 
 
 (2.) Society 
 
 1833 
 
 1815 
 
 
 
 3 Lansing 
 
 State 
 
 1S36 
 
 4400 
 
 400? 
 
 7000 
 
 4 Monroe 
 
 Public 
 
 
 1500 
 
 
 
 5 SpringArbour 
 
 College 
 
 
 1600 
 
 
 
 [Township and District Libraries, collectively [374] 47 2 00 J 
 
 XXIX. STATE OE IOWA. 
 
 Iowa City .. | State . ^ .. .. | 1839 | 1600 | 10 | 1670 
 
 
 XXX. STATE OE WISCONSIN. 
 
 
 1 Beloit 
 
 College 
 
 • “I 1 
 
 1000 
 
 2 Madison 
 
 State 
 
 . . 1836 
 
 4000 
 
 3 Milwaukie . . 
 
 Association . . 
 
 . * 
 
 1000 
 
 XXXI. TERRITORY OF MINNESOTA. 
 
 St. Paul . . | Territorial | 1849 | 3000 | 
 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 cxlix 
 
 GENERAL SUMMARY OF THOSE LIBRARIES ONLY WHICH 
 ARE COMPRISED IN THE PRECEDING TABLE. 
 
 ^ Class. 
 
 Character of the 
 Libraries. 
 
 No. of 
 Libraries 
 in each 
 class. 
 
 Estimated No. 
 of Vols. in the 
 Aggregate. 
 
 Average No. of 
 Vols. in each 
 Library of the 
 several classes 
 respectively. 
 
 I. 
 
 Collegiate 
 
 149 
 
 1,083,954 
 
 7274 
 
 II. 
 
 PROPRIETARY . . 
 
 133 
 
 819,594 
 
 6162 
 
 III. 
 
 State and Congressional 
 
 36 
 
 333,321 
 
 9258 
 
 IY. 
 
 Town and Parochial . . 
 
 11 
 
 94,188 
 
 8562 
 
 V. 
 
 School 
 
 12 
 
 40,830 
 
 3402 
 
 
 Total 
 
 341 
 
 2,371,887 
 
 
 Having no information of later date than that contained in the Census of 
 1850 (p. cxxxiii. supra ) respecting the “Public School,” “District,” and 
 “Township” Libraries, I have not included them in this Statistical Table, 
 Many of them are itinerating collections. It is obvious, therefore, that in this 
 case, especially, wear and tear will considerably affect the numbers from time 
 to time, as well as the ordinary contingencies of increase or loss. The careful 
 revision and reprinting of Mr. Jewett’s Report of 1849 has been for several 
 years promised by the Smithsonian functionaries, and is much to be desired. 
 
 EDWARD EDWARDS. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 *■ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBAN* 
 
 3 0112 077497953