USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1882 > Part 2
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WILLIAM A. JOHNSON, MAYOR,
ex-officio.
WILLARD J. HALE, President of Common Council EDWARD S. MOSELEY, Trustee of Building Fund
SAMUEL J. SPALDING, 66
..
DANIEL T. FISKE,
HENRY M. CROSS, .
Term of office expires,
1883
OLIVER B. MERRILL,
1884
EDWARD P. HURD,
66
66 1886
JOHN J. CURRIER, WILLIAM H. HUSE.
1888
BENJAMIN HALE,
66
66
66
1889
TRUSTEES OF THE PEABODY FUND,
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, WILLIAM H. SWASEY, DANIEL T. FISKE,
EBEN F. STONE,
JOHN J. CURRIER.
LIBRARIAN, HIRAM A. TENNEY.
SUPERINTENDENT OF READING ROOM, MARTHA P. LUNT.
1885
JAMES PARTON,
1887
ORGANIZATION
OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY,
FOR 1883.
President, WILLIAM A. JOHNSON.
Librarian and Secretary, H. A. TENNEY.
Superintendent of the Reading Room, MISS MARTHA P. LUNT.
Committee on Library,
SAMUEL J. SPALDING, BENJANIN HALE, JAMES PARTON
Committee on Librarian, HENRY M. CROSS, EDWARD P. HURD, JOHN J. CURRIER.
Committee on Library Room, EDWARD S. MOSELEY, SAMUEL J. SPALDING, DANIEL T. FISKE.
Committee on Reading Room, EDWARD S. MOSELEY, OLIVER B. MERRILL, WILLIAM H. HUSE
Committee on Finance and Accounts, WILLARD J. HALE, JOHN J. CURRIER, BENJAMIN HALE.
Committee on Bradbury Fund,
JOHN J. CURRIER,
HENRY M. CROSS, WILLARD J. HALF.
٢
DIRECTORS' REPORT.
The twenty-seventh annual report of the directors of the Newburyport public library, submitted to the city council, December 1882.
The report of last year closed with the Simpson Annex in the process of erection. It was finished early in the spring of the present year, and dedicated with appropriate exercises in the City Hall, Friday evening, April 28. A pamphlet containing an account of the exercises has been published, and distributed among the friends of the library.
As soon as the Simpson Annex was ready for oc- cupancy, about two thousand volumes, consisting very largely of public documents, and miscellaneous books and papers, were arranged upon the shelves, labelled, numbered, and entered upon the alcove catalogues. This involved an outlay for additional assistance, but it has made accessible a large and important portion of our books.
With these additions, and those made by purchase and gifts the past year, the library now numbers 21,466 volumes. In addition to all these, we have now, in duplicates and in parts of sets, 2,145 volumes : thus making the entire number of books in the library
36
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
23,611 volumes, not taking into the account our large number of pamphlets. It is very desirable that these should be classified and arranged, and so made ac_ cessible for reference. Having additional room, we can now arrange our broken sets on shelves, and wait for their partners to come in, by gift or purchase. The past year we have thus completed several desir- able sets of books, and placed them on the shelves of alcoves.
Special efforts have been made to have every part of the building, from the attic to the cellar, kept in a neat and orderly manner. To secure this very desir- able end, additional compensation has been paid the janitor, and we are to have a much larger portion of his time.
The trustees of the Building Fund had in contem- plation the removal of the coat of mastic and the outer course of brick on the old library building, and putting up another course of pressed brick to corres- pond with the Simpson Annex. The condition of the roof which was leaking badly, and the cracking of the mastic, both of which required immediate attention and outlay, led them to decide to make the desired im- provement at once. The work was put into the hands of Messrs Rufus Sargent and John A. Greeley, who have completed the contract to the entire satisfaction of the trustees of the Building Fund, and greatly to the improvement of the whole building.
The library has been carefully examined, and the books on the shelves compared with the registry in the alcove catalogues. In the whole library there are forty-six alcoves; twenty-six in the old building, and
37
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
twenty in the Simpson Annex; and there are some books in all but six of these. In S. B. No. 673; in in G. No. 711; in F. No. 678; in L. No. 1,080; and in A. Nos. 342, 438, were missing, and two of the numbers were without any trace of their whereabouts. It is a question whether some additional conditions should not be imposed upon persons who come to the city, and remain here but a few months, and leave, without returning their books to the library.
With the enlargement of the building, a new, con- venient, well-lighted and well-warmed reading-room was provided for the city. The addition to our in- come so generously made by Mr. William C. Todd enabled us to enlarge greatly our number of news- papers and periodicals when we entered the new room on Saturday, April 29, 1882. The old rooms had done a noble work in making the experiment a complete success, and the new room an actuality. We are assured that, for all the best requisites for a reading-room, there are few superior to it, even in our large cities, and none equal to it in any city of our population. It has in combination newspapers and magazines, and so is made attractive to the business man and to the student. It is well patronized by ladies and by gentlemen, and is gaining daily in pop- ularity, especially with our young men. The little room set apart for conversation, and in which are placed some books of reference, is much appreciated. We need greatly additional books of reference.
The details of the several funds, and the general facts in regard to the library, may be learned from the reports and from the statements of the librarian which
5
38
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
are herewith appended. We would call especial at- tention to that portion of the Librarian's report re- lating to the Antiquarian alcove; and would earnestly solicit contributions from our citizens to a department which, in a historical old town like ours, should be particularly rich, and which will constantly gain in value.
BENJAMIN HALE,
WILLARD J. HALE EDWARD S. MOSELEY, SAMUEL J. SPALDING, DANIEL T. FISKE, ALBERT CURRIER,
HENRY M. CROSS
OLIVER B. MERRILL,
EDWARD P. HURD, JAMES PARTON, JOHN JAMES CURRIER, WILLIAM H. HUSE.
DIRECTORS
OF THE
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
To the Committee on Library :
GENTLEMEN :- The season has again arrived when it becomes my duty under the requirements of the rules and regulations of the public library, to pre- pare, and present for your consideration, a detailed and circumstantial account of its condition and in- crease for another year that has just closed.
ITS CONDITION.
In its circulating department the library continues to sustain the same merited reputation which it has hitherto held in reference to the preservation of the books. These, with some rare exceptions, save amongst the popular class of fiction, are now in ex- cellent preservation. This is the case generally with those books which have been in circulation many years, and have during that time served a lively pop- ular demand; they are now found to be for the most part, entirely free from serious injuries; while the books of reference, and those which from their large size, or costiliness, it is deemed to be inexpedient to
40
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
put in circulation, are, notwithstanding the frequent use to which they are subjected in the library, still substantially as good as new. From this statement relative to the condition of the books in the library, the inference may fairly be drawn, that they have re- ceived a due share of careful usage at the hands of those to whom they have been entrusted. Such a conclusion, it is confidently believed, will be accorded by the committee in forming their judgment thereon, with all the facts before them.
Notably the largest proportion of the wear of the books falls on the department of fiction. £ The books in this department have increased from year to year until they now number more than fifteen hundred volumes. At the same time a very considerable por tion of them are so much worn and shattered in their bindings as to be almost worthless, presenting an ex- ceedingly dilapidated appearance. Yet, the demand for this class of books is so great that they are kept in circulation, and contribute as best they may to the wants of readers. Numbers of them are discarded each year, in consequence of their condition, and their places supplied with new copies.
During the past five years two hundred and thirty- eight volumes of fiction have been purchased, and one hundred and forty-three volumes of that number were for the purpose of supplying the places of the worn out and discarded volumes.
Fifty-eight volumes of this class were withdrawn from the shelves, for the same reason, at the late ex- amination.
41
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.
There has been added during the past year 651 books, and from the following sources, viz:
From the Peabody Fund, 373 volumes.
וי Sawyer יי
-
-
- 107
Bradbury -
-
47
Frothingham -
14 66
Todd
62
66
Donations
48
66
A rough classification of these books shows the following result:
History,
97
Biography,
73
Travel,
47
Poetry, including Essays, Magazines, Reviews, etc.
229
Moral, Philosophical and Political - 46 -
Fiction,
- 50
Religious, -
23
Science, including Abstract, Mental and Natural ;
also the Fine Arts, etc. - 86
The record of last year shows that the number of books then on the lists of the library was 18,927 vol- umes. This estimate did not include a large collec- tion of government documents of various sorts, to- gether with many other miscellaneous books, which in all amounting to more than two thousand volumes, -although belonging to the library-had not then been arranged and located in appropriate places on the shelves, for the want of suitable accommodation therefor. This inconvenience has now been removed, and the books referred to have been placed perma- mently on the shelves, and their titles entered in the appropriate alcove lists.
-
42
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
A thorough count having been made by the person employed to make the annual examination of the li- brary, the result shows that the library now contains 21,466 volumes, including bound volumes of news- papers, atlases, etc.
ADDITIONAL BUILDING, ETC.
The past year has been a remarkable one in the history of the library, as showing that it has received valuable benefactions to an almost larger extent than in any preceding year since its establishment.
The first to be named is the "Simpson Annex," so called in honor of the liberal hearted gentle- man whose name stands the most conspicuous on the list of contributors therefor, Michael Hodge Simpson, of Boston, a native of Newburyport The addition of this beautiful structure to the library building, calls for especial gratulatory notice, inasmuch as it serves to render the capacity of the library nearly double in extent beyond that which existed previ- ously, besides affording through its means one of the largest, and in its entire appointments, one of the best public reading-rooms to be found in the state. This has been provided, as was the main portion of the building, by the liberality and cordial good feel- ing of the friends of the library, as a free gift to the city, for which the community owes them, each and all, a deep debt of gratitude.
An addition of two thousand five hundred dollars has been made to the fund for the support of the reading-room, making it now amount to the muni-
43
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
ficent sum of seven thousand five hundred dollars, by William C. Todd, the generous contributor of the whole amount, which will be known as the "Todd Fund."
A bequest to the library of two thousand dollars, has been made by the will of the late Miss Sarah A. Green, the income of which, by the terms of the will, will be devoted to the purchase of books relating to American history and kindred topics.
Other benefactions have also been received, which merit especial mention, as the following instances will show: A series of ten numbers (with two additional numbers yet to come) of the "Art Treasures of America," produced as photogravures, illustrating many of the choicest specimens of the painter's art in the country, the gift of Samuel A. Caldwell of Philadelphia, a native of our city. A fine marine view, representing the island of Grand Menan, painted in oil, by Alfred T. Bricher of New York, an artist of rising fame, whose early years were spent in our city. The picture is presented to the library by the artist as a memento of his regard for his early home, and is valued by him at $850. A valuable copy of Stewart's portrait of Washington, painted by Jane Stewart, the artist's daughter, has been received, and with the painting of Bricher, adorns the walls of the new portion of the library. The portrait is the gift of Hon. Charles S. Bradley, a native of this city, but now of Providence, R. I. A portrait of the late John Merrill Bradbury, the devisor of the Bradbury fund, has also been hung in the library, being a pres- ent from the widow of the deceased. The gift to the
44
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
library of a well preserved copy of the History of England, by M. Paul de Thoyras Rapin, translated from the French by Nicholas Tindal, second edition. two volumes, folio, London 1732-1733, from Mrs. Joseph C. Hoyt, and also a finely illustrated copy in three royal octavo volumes, of the History of the War with Russia, by Henry Tyrrell, presented by the late Richard Welch, are each of especial conse- quence and value to the library, and their accession, as donations, is deserving of especial mention. The same ought also to be said of the receipt of two finely mounted globes, celestial and terrestrial, the gift of John A. Bagley, of Brooklyn, N. Y.
AN ANTIQUARIAN ALCOVE.
It may well be presumed that a community which fosters a just pride in its welfare and prosperity as does ours at the present time, cannot be insensible to the value of preserving the evidences of its past suc- cess, or of rescuing from the waste of time such records as may exist of the achievements of those who have preceeded them, illustrative of the charac- ter and habits of a people whose stern virtues and integrity still shine as a mark of emulation, not only for those at home, but also to their many decendants in various parts of the world. 'Therefore, in order to facilitate an object at once so desirable and at the same time so feasible, an alcove in the library has been especially set apart and will be devoted to this express purpose, viz: that of collecting and preserv- ing all such books, pamphlets, sermons, and other papers, with maps, engravings, title deeds or anything
45
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
relating to, or emanating from, and illustrative of the growth and progress of this immediate locality or its vicinity.
Relatively speaking, nothing can be deemed unim- portant which tends in any manner to throw light up- on some shade of the past. And, rightly considered, every old book and document carries in some sort a portion of history in the many contingencies of its preservation, the theme which it presents, or in its record of events that induced its publication, these all serve in some manner to elucidate points, which, without such helps, might not be known. These books when rescued from their hiding places in old attics, with their worn pages bearing the finger marks of former owners, impressively illustrate the habits of thought and the culture of other days. They may therefore be justly regarded, whatever their lit- erary merits, or their subjects, as truly a portion of the social life of the times, and as such, held as a precious trust. They could be imitated and printed in fac simile, if they were of sufficient value, but they could never be exactly reproduced, therefore as pre- cious historical documents they should be preserved with great care.
It was found at the late examination of the shelves, that eight volumes were missing, and these were re- garded as lost during the past year, two of them however have since been returned, which reduces the number to six.
A supplementary catalogue of the additions to the library during the year is prepared and ready for the printer.
6
46
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
The names of 364 new subscribers to the rules and regulations, who thereby ask for the privileges of the library, have been added during the past year. Respectfully submitted, H. A. TENNEY, Librarian.
47
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
Peabody Fund.
Mr. George Peabody in his liberal donation of fifteen thousand dollars for the benefit of the public library of the city, which he confided to five trus. tees whom he designated, and to whom he gave the power to fill any vacancy in their number, accompanied the gift with the requirement, that a public statement should be annually made of the condition of the fund.
In conformity therewith, the treasurer in their behalf makes known, that the principal remains in the Institution for Savings, where it was originally deposited, and from which it can only be withdrawn by the order of a major- ity of the trustees.
At the close of the last fiscal year, a balance of three hundred and forty- three dollars remained unexpended, awaiting the completion of the new accommodations.
The income during the present year has been six hundred dollars, making an aggregate of nine hundred and forty-three dollars, all of which has been expended (with the exception of one hundred thirty-six dollars and eight cents) in three hundred and seventy-three standard works to the public library, some of which were of high cost, and the issue being small, will increase in value.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, Treasurer. EDWARD S. MOSELEY, ) EBEN F. STONE, WILLIAM H. SWASEY, DANIEL T. FISKE, JOHN J. CURRIER,
TRUSTEES.
48
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
Building Fund.
TO THE DIRECTORS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY :
The excess of five thousand dollars which remained over and above the purchase and expense of preparation of the library building, on its presenta- tion to the city, was placed by the subscribers to the gift in the hands of three trustees, to whom was given the authority to fill any vacancy which might arise in their number.
In recognition of the donation the city council enacted that the persons elected and their successors should be permanent directors of the library.
The trustees by their treasurer in accordance with the terms of the trust, which requires an annual report to be made to their associate directors, would respectfully represent to them, that the original five thousand dollars was deposited in the Institution for Savings in Newburyport, where it has ever since remained, subject to withdrawal only upon the written order of all the members of the trust, with authority to expend the interest, or if in their judgment expedient, the principal in necessary repairs or desirable improve- ments on the building.
The trustees have had this money in charge for nearly seventeen years, and as a striking illustration of what may be ascomplished on a comparatively small capital by regular accretions of interest even at a low rate, it may be stated that the building has been kept in repair during the period, the grounds adjoining in order, an iron fence with the basement erected, the roof in part re-slated, a superior furnace put in, and finally an improvement, which the trustees have long had in view successfully carried out, viz: the removal of the mastic, and the outer course of brick on the main building, and new pressed brick substituted to compare with the Simpson annex, and in a man- ner which adds greatly to the beauty of the structure, and reflects credit upon the contractor.
The bills are not as yet all paid, but it is expected that the principal, of the five thousand dollars, will remain nearly intact, notwithstanding that the expenditures during the above named period will amount in the aggregate to nearly the sum of six thousand dollars.
Reference is made to a monograph published by the authority of the city government for a statement in detail of the subscribers to the Simpson annex and the expenditure connected therewith, and also the account of the im- pressive exercises at the City Hall in commemoration of its completion.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, Treas.
EDWARD S. MOSELEY, ) SAMUEL J. SPALDING, Trustees. DANIEL T. FISKE.
Newburyport, Nov. 27, 1882.
49
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
Todd Fund.
Balance from last year -
$224 15
Received from Mr. W. C. Todd,
375 00
Total receipts
$599 15
Expended for newspapers and periodicals
333 91
Balance on hand
$265 24
It has been arranged that the subscriptions of nearly all our publications should expire in January and July. Nearly the entire balance on hand will go forward to pay for our January subscriptions.
S. J. SPALDING, Treasurer.
50
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
Receipts and Expenditures.
Appropriation
$1,200 00
CREDITS.
From town of Newbury.
$207 67
Dog licenses. 389 70
Librarian for fines
14 60- 611 97
1,811 97
EXPENDITURES.
H. A. Tenney, librarian's salary and incidentals. $1,022 98
Miss M. P. Lunt, superintendant of reading room 279 96
George E. Donnell, janitor
187 50
Wm. H. Huse & Co., printing.
193 00
M. C. Teel & Son, printing
3 00
Est. H. T. Crofoot, binding books
28 19
Gillett & Co., express.
29 55
D. T. Colby & Co., printing
4 00
Plummer & Fogg, express
9 55
Alanson Ordway, repairing books
3 60
E. S. Thurston, services in library
39 87
William E. Chase, insurance.
193 00
Charles H. Johnson, record books
26 26
Harriet E. Jones. arranging books
42 37
Charles J. Brockway, examining library
20 00
Patrick Niland, shovelling snow
8 25
Albert Currier, cash paid for cleaning library
8 12
Lovett's Express, expressing.
25
B. F. Van Everen, library supplies
24 00
Reuben Hoyt, reseating chairs
2 75
New England School Supply Co., school supplies
3 25
Estes & Lauriet, binding books. 68 50
3 00
Carr, Brown & Co., binding books.
7 75
Newton Paper Bag Co., paper ..
23 55
S. H. Thurlow, wrench, hammer and saw
2 65
Charles L. Davis, 2 quarts alcohol
1 50
2,240 25
Balance overdrawn
428 28
$1,811 97
ALBERT CURRIER, WILLIAM H HUSE, JOHN J. CURRIER.5 WILLARD J. HALE,
Committee on
Accounts.
Philip H. Blumpey, brushes
2 85
Ward & Gay, 200 envelopes.
51
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
Sawyer Fund.
1882.
RECEIPTS.
By balance from last year's account $ 4 68
Feb. 24. By 6 months' interest on city note. 112 50
July 1. By 6 months' interest on city note
112 50
$229 68
EXPENDITURES.
For books purchased $220 59
Unexpended balance 9 09
$229 68
Bradbury Fund.
1882.
RECEIPTS.
By balance from last year's account $ 2 67
April 28. By interest at Institution for Savings 20 00
Oct. 25. 66 20 00
$42 67
EXPENDITURES.
Paid for books purchased $41 75
Balance unexpended 92
$42 67
Frothingham Fund.
1882. RECEIPTS.
Jan. 30. By interest on city note
.$40 00
EXPENDITURES.
Paid for books purchased $39 90
10
Unexpended balance
$40 00
The several accounts examined and approved,
ALBERT CURRIER, WILLIAM H. HUSE, JOHN J. CURRIER, WILLARD J. HALE. j
1 Committee on
Accounts and Finance
52
PUBLIC LIBRARY REPORTS.
Donations to the Library-1882.
BOOKS.
Aubin, A A. Miss 24
Bannister, W. A 22
Merrill. S .. 2
Bayley, R. A .. 6 Moseley, E. S. 9
Caldwell, S. A. I0
New Jersey State Library 2
Caldwell, W. W
5
Sargent, M. H. 1
Cartland. J.
2
Secretary of Commonwealth. 5
Coffin, E. F. 6 Shepard, M. C. Mrs. (bound news) 11
Coffin, L. Miss
2
Smithsonian Institution
3
Dalton, J. G.
1
Stone, E. F. Hon 19
Danforth, C. H.
1
Todd, W. C ...
9
Davis, B. P.
19
Unitarian Association, American. 1 United States, Chief of Engineers 3
Everett, R. J., M. D 1
Dept. of Interior. ..
3
Garrison, W. P
1
Naval Observatory .. 1 War Department ... 2
Hale, Benj. Hon 18
Hodgkins, J. F
4
Wallace, C. C. Rev 33
Howe, F. A., M. D. 30
Welch, R. .. 2
Brooklyn Mercantile Library 1
Whitmore, S. W. Mrs. 1
Loring, G. B. Hon.
1
Wright, C. D.
1
PAMPHLETS AND OTHER GIFTS.
Bagley, J. A., globes, terrestial and celestial .. 2
Taunton.
1
Woburn.
1
Mass. State.
1
N. Y. Mercantile Associa'n
1
San Francisco
1
Springfield City 1
Lord, C. E. Rev .. 3
Mass. Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children
1
Cornell University
1
Davis, B. P .. 32
Poore, B. P. Maj 6
Garrison, W. P. 1 P. Q. Index . 2
Greeley, A. W. Lieut .. 2
Hale, B. Hon. Pamplets. 5
Library Public, Boston
5
United States, chief of engineers,
pamphlets ...
5
5
Chicago
1
Concord.
1
Fall River
1
Haverhill
1
Lynn.
2
Milford,
1
Monson
1
Newton Free
1
Peabody Institution .. 1
Library Public, Providence.
1
Bartlett, W. S Rev., engravings, antiquarian .. 5
Bayley, R. A., pamphlets 23 charts. 35
Bradbury, J. M. Mrs portrait in oil
Bradley, Hon. C. S., portrait ..
Bricher, A. T., marine painting ..
Butler, G.,
pamphlets
Coffin, L. Miss.
24
Perkins' Institution for the Blind
1
Pike, R. G.
1
Stone, E. F. Hon., Centennial Map of U. S.
Bridgeport. 1
Bpooklyn 1
Depart. of Interior
66
bureau of
Education ..
4
Signal Office
5
Treasury Department 10
Women's Med. College of Penn. 1 Woods, C. W. portrait, antiquarian Woodwell, D. T., MS.
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