USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Metropolitan Boston; a modern history; Volume III > Part 17
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
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The branch system has a long and honorable history beginning with the opening of the East Boston branch in 1871, the first branch to be established by any public library. Since then branches have been estab- lished in response to local call until now there is hardly a locality within Boston's limits that lacks one of these local libraries. Many of the branches have buildings built especially for their use. In detail, this system consists of the Central Library in Copley Square; seventeen major branches with independent collections of books; and fourteen minor libraries. Charles F. D. Belden is the director of the library ; with him are about 600 employees. Besides the branch libraries, books are regularly supplied to 199 public and parochial schools, 42 institutions and 58 fire companies. The total number of volumes circulated in 1925 was 1,333,264, and of newspapers and periodicals about 3,000. Books issued for all uses numbered 3,132,194. Figures issued February I, 1895, show the following facts: The Central Library, Copley Square, had lending and reference volumes, 986,401, periodical room, 1,495 peri- odicals, newspaper reading room, 276 current newspapers, patent library, 17,55I volumes.
Branch Libraries-The seventeen major branches with details con- cerning them are :
Brighton Branch, 18,320 volumes; reading room, 54 periodicals. Holton Library Building, Academy Hill Road.
Charlestown Branch, 14,356 volumes; reading room, 57 periodicals. Monument Square, corner Monument Avenue.
Codman Square Branch, 9,119 volumes ; reading room, 52 periodicals. Washington, corner Norfolk Street.
Dorchester Branch, 14,251 volumes; reading room, 56 periodicals. Arcadia, corner Adams Street.
East Boston Branch, 21,074 volumes; reading room, 61 periodicals. 276-282 Meridian Street.
Hyde Park Branch, 33,447 volumes; reading room, 56 periodicals. Harvard Avenue, corner Winthrop Street.
Jamaica Plain Branch, 17,589 volumes ; reading room, 50 periodicals. Sedgwick, corner South Street.
Mt. Bowdoin Branch, 8,670 volumes; 42 periodicals. Washington, corner Eldon Street.
North End Branch, 10,449 volumes; reading room, 43 periodicals. 3A North Bennet Street.
Roslindale Branch, 10,752 volumes; 46 periodicals. Washington, near Ashland Street.
Met. Bos .- 56
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Fellowes Athenæum Branch, 36,370 volumes; reading room, 74 peri- odicals. No. 46 Millmont Street.
South Boston Branch, 18,739 volumes; reading room, 63 periodicals. No. 372 West Broadway.
South End Branch, 13,955 volumes; reading room, 49 periodicals. West Brookline Street, corner Shawmut Avenue.
Upham's Corner Branch, 13,063 volumes; reading room, 53 periodic- als. Columbia Road, corner Bird Street.
Warren Street Branch, 9,454 volumes ; 48 periodicals. No. 392 War- ren Street.
West End Branch, 20,102 volumes; reading room, 64 periodicals. Cambridge Street, corner Lynde Street.
West Roxbury Branch, 13,892 volumes ; reading room, 54 periodicals. Centre, near Mt, Vernon Street.
The fourteen minor branches, mostly located in the outlying districts, are open on week days from 2 to 9 p. m. Most of them are open on Sundays for the same hours from November to April. They contain 2,200 to 7,200 volumes and 23 to 38 periodicals.
The Boston Atheneum on Beacon Street is probably the best known private library in New England. It is the second largest library in Boston, having between 250,000 and 300,000 volumes on its shelves, many unique collections, both literary and art, although the most of the art objects have been deposited with the Museum of Fine Arts. The Athenæum originated in a literary club of 1804, called the Anthology Club, which in 1806 established a reading room, and a year later incor- porated under the present title. After having establishments on a num- ber of sites in Boston, the present one was chosen in 1849 and the build- ing, of which the lower story still remains, was erected. In 1814, the building was enlarged by the addition of two more stories, but care was taken to preserve the style of the old, particularly of the interior, so that with all the newness of the present fine structure, the continuity with the old, so rich in historic associations, has not been broken. A large fund places this institution on a firm basis, there being means to make heavy yearly purchases of books or other objects desired. The Athenæum has, almost from its beginning, been a shareholder corporation, the intention being to serve only the holders of shares. But like many institutions founded on this basis, the rule is honored in the breaking. Liberal pro- vision is made to aid the student or anyone having special need of that which is on the Atheneum shelves, while visitors are always welcome and books placed at their disposal for use within the Athenæum.
Special Libraries-One might name and describe all the public, insti- tutional and private libraries in Boston, and there still would be nearly
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seventy-five libraries unmentioned. These may be given the title "Spe- cial Libraries" in that they have been formed, for the most part, by commercial and social organizations and have been collected for some definite purpose and cover special fields. Many of these have been established for the use of a company or society, but the most of these libraries are open to anyone to whom they can be of benefit. In 1917, Ralph L. Powers, librarian of the college and curator of the museum of the College of Business Administration, Boston University, spent some time in the study of the special libraries of Boston. He embodied the result of his labors in a series of articles in the "Boston University News," the "Library Journal" and in a book. His list enumerated sixty- six, the most of which are still in existence; since then others have been formed. To Dr. Powers, the writer is indebted for much of what fol- lows concerning these special collections, references to which must be brief because of their number. Lacking a better classification, these libraries will be grouped as society, state and commercial, the latter in- cluding more than half of the institutions.
Many of the libraries in the city were established by social organiza- tions, so that it is natural that there are many society collections which have never been deposited in any public library, and are maintained prin- cipally for the members of the society. Considered alphabetically, the first is the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Library, which, un- til 1912, was housed in the Athenæum Building, but is now at No. 28 Newbury Street. The academy, which is to this country what such soci- eties are to their respective lands, is the second oldest scientific society in America, founded in 1780, a library having been begun with its estab- lishment. The collection consists principally of mathematical and nat- ural science works, additions being made through its own publications, by gifts, purchases, and exchanges with other like societies. Memoirs and the proceedings of scientific organizations from all over the world make up the main part of the books; there are files of many foreign and native publications ; and more than fifty magazines in its own fields are received regularly. The library is for the use of the Fellows and mem- bers of the academy and those introduced by them.
The Appalachian Mountain Club Library, at No. 5 Joy Street, has an interesting collection devoted to exploration, mountain climbing, dis- covery, and allied subjects and sciences. The club was formed in 1876, has been collecting suitable material ever since, and publishes an occa- sional book of great value to those caring for mountaineering or hiking. Its "Guide to the Paths in the White Mountains and Adjacent Regions" is still very much used by frequenters of this part of New Hampshire.
The Boston Medical Library, at No. 8 Fenway, is the only medical library in the United States that is independent of any society or organ-
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ization. In it are deposited the collections of nearly all the medical soci- eties in Greater Boston, making it the accessible center for this class of literature in eastern Massachusetts. The Boston Medical is at present the fourth largest medical library in this country, and is visited annually by ten thousand readers. The general public is welcome to the use of the collections, but books are circulated among members only. The following libraries have deposited their medical works with the Boston Medical: Boston Society for Medical Observation, 1875 (the date of the founding of the library) ; Boston Dispensary, 1876; Boston Society for Medical Improvement, 1876; Gynecological Society of Boston, 1878; Roxbury Athenæum, at its close in 1880; Harvard Medical School, 1883; Boston Athenæum, 1898 and 1905; Harvard University, 1902; Cam- bridge Public Library, 1903; Tufts College Medical School, 1906; Wal- tham Public Library, 1906; Boston Public Library, 1906, 1908, and later. The real beginning of this library was co-incident with that of the Mas- sachusetts Medical Society in 1782, and was in existence ninety years (1872) when most of its books were given to the Boston Public Library. Dissatisfaction with the disposal of the Massachusetts Medical Library led to the getting together of Dr. James Read Chadwick and Dr. H. I. Bowditch, who were the fathers of the present library organized in 1875. In later years, the public library not only placed with the new organization the most of the works that had been deposited with it, but also the majority of all the medical books that come to it. These the public may take out upon the presentation of a public library card. Ed- win Howard Brigham, after thirty-eight years of service as librarian, was chosen librarian emeritus in 1922.
The Boston Museum of Fine Arts Library was established in 1876 when the museum was founded. Through the generosity of Mrs. H. N. Slater, the collections of books, pamphlets and photographs, which bear mainly upon the collections in the museum, are now wonderfully well housed in what is called the William Morris Hunt Memorial Library. It is used by the students of the School of Art and all others interested in this subject. The collections of photographs are unusually large and comprehensive.
The Boston Society of Engineers, founded in 1848, or prior to the national organization, is the oldest engineering society in the United States. It maintains a library in Tremont Temple, mainly technical in character, for circulation among its members. All classes of engineers are eligible to membership, and some individual societies keep up sep- arate collections. How complete are some of the collections, particularly the one known as the Clemens Herschel, containing a large number of biographies, may be realized when such names as Herbert Spencer and
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Leonardo Da Vinci are included. Spencer was a railroad engineer and Da Vinci a civil, mechanical and military engineer.
The Boston Society of Natural History maintains, in the Natural History Building, the most complete library of its kind in New England. Since 1830, the museum has specialized on works having principally to do with zoology, mineralogy, botany and geology, including the pub- lications of like societies from all over the world. Many of its pamph- lets and magazines are both rare and valuable. Access is given to the collection to every one, but circulation is confined to members.
The College of Business Administration at Boston University, under the direction of Ralph L. Power, has built up an exceedingly valuable library of business literature which is practically the laboratory of the school and the centre for reference on business matters for the city at large. Not only is there a collection of the regular books, pamphlets and magazines on business subjects, but the endeavor is made to com- plete lists of subsidiary informative works. The material of the library is not circulated, but every help is given those who have a real need of information along business and related lines, not only by the use of what is on the shelves, but by outlining what can be found in the library.
Rather different from the average library is the Congregational Li- brary at No. 14 Beacon Street, which is devoted largely to religion and religious history, particularly that of the New England States. The Congregational Library Association was established in 1853, and in 1864 it became a department of the American Congregational Association. There are in the library about 100,000 books and a like number of pamphlets including, not only works on the Christian religion, but on many of the others. The American history department consists of local, sectional and national material. A number of subjects kindred to relig- ion are included. The library is open to the public for reference use.
The Franklin Union, an account of which is given elsewhere, has a library organized in 1907 and maintained by the Benjamin Franklin and Andrew Carnegie funds. The library, which is open to all, specializes in works on steam, electrical, chemical, gasoline, and civil engineering.
The Massachusetts Historical Society, the oldest historical society in America, started the collecting of manuscripts at the second meeting after its organization in January, 1791. The object of the society has been to collect, preserve and diffuse the materials for American history, and the continued accretions to the collection begun so early are not only housed in the society's splendid quarters on Fenway, but have been pub- lished in more than a half hundred volumes of the "Proceedings" cover- ing a record of its meetings for 146 years, in volumes of "Collections," of which there are 75; and in editions of works such as Hubbard's "His-
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tory of New England" and Bradford's "History of Plymouth." The photostat has been greatly used in the last few years for reproductions of ancient material. The society, wishing to encourage historical re- search, places the library at the command of those interested in this, although it was founded and is maintained primarily for the use of its members.
The Massachusetts Horticultural Society Library is said to have the finest collection of horticultural works in the world. The society, which is nearly a century old, having been organized in 1829, had given to it dur- ing the first year, by Robert Manning, one of the founders, a few books, which gift was soon followed by others. Isaac Cox Barnett, United States Consul, was one of the society's agents in Paris for the purchase of books, as was Colonel Thomas Aspinwall in London. These laid the foundation of its foreign material. In 1869, Jonah Stickney bequeathed $12,000 for the use of the library and to this fund have been added many other donations and bequests. The library has a most remarkable col- lection of natural science, including all its various phases, to which the public has access.
The New England Conservatory of Music, which came to Boston from Providence, Rhode Island, in 1856, was the first organization to introduce, through its founder, Dr. Eben Tourjée, the conservatory system of musical instruction. In the pursuit of its work in some twenty departments, the need of a library was felt, which has been sup- plied in a most complete way. Rare and valuable works are numerous, including complete editions of most of the famous musicians. Biog- raphy is well cared for, technical works many, and there are many mounted portraits. While maintained for the conservatory, the library is open to the public.
The Social Service Library, housed in the building of the Simmons College School for Social Workers at No. 18 Somerset Street, near the courthouse, is a library started more than a quarter of a century ago by the Children's Aid Society, coming into the keeping of the college in 1912. The students are the principal users of the collections, although others may do so. The social departments of the large hospitals and the social workers in the city find the library very valuable. Among the material, now consisting of nearly 100,000 parts, are works on all the various movements, educational, medical, philanthropic and economic, which is broadly classed under the head of social service. There is also much to be found under the many allied subjects.
The Town Room Library at No. 2 Joy Street is a unique place where one may go and find the latest thing in what is termed sociology. It started with the Twentieth Century Club, and is still maintained by that
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club and the Massachusetts Civic League, coming to its present pleasant quarters in 1906. If one is interested in city, town or village improve- ments, here he will find the newest developments. Or is some other sub- ject of sociology, such as psychology, ethics, morals, economics, charity, criminology, house, home and town planning, city improvements, civic betterment, the one having the attention, then it is to this unique library that it is wise to come. A small fee permits one to borrow its books and reap the many other benefits of its service.
The Wells Memorial Workingmen's Club and Library, at 985 Wash- ington Street, was founded in 1879 as a "Christian charity in memory of the late Rev. E. M. P. Wells . . to promote the welfare of work- ing men by the furnishing of reading rooms, libraries and whatever else may contribute to their physical and moral well being." The Rev. Mr. Wells had been, for thirty years, a missionary of the City Episcopal Mis- sion, and had given the best part of his life to service among the less favored classes of Boston. The library is the result of a desire to keep alive the memory of this good man so long known among the poor as "Father Wells." The library has a small number of volumes selected for the use of the neighboring working people.
The Women's Educational and Industrial Union Library is suppos- edly one of the only two of its kind in the United States. Many of the large libraries in this country have special collections of a like nature to that of this organization, but the library is probably unique in its material on women's vocations and women in industry, in that it is con- sidered as something vital rather than simply historical, and is kept up to the last fact and publication securable. There are few phases of women's work and interests that have not their record in the library, to which not only the reading public have access, but information is given when asked to public institutions or bodies, such as the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate through the Legislative Depart- ment.
The Harvard Musical Association was founded in 1837 and the library six years later. It now contains more than 10,000 volumes of music and literature relating to music and the kindred arts.
Both the Commonwealth and the city have library organizations along certain limited lines. While the State Library cannot be consid- ered a Boston library except in the sense of being located in the Hub, it is one much used and appreciated by Bostonians. Established by an act of 1826, it has in its hundred years grown to be one of the largest State reference libraries in this country. More than a half million vol- umes and pamphlets are arranged upon its shelves, covering all manner of subjects concerning which our legislators desire information, whether
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it be law, politics, history-that of New England being very complete -; the various phases of government, social and political science, taxation, agriculture, teaching, charities, industries, civic affairs. There is hardly a subject one can name about which there are not many books or papers. In the library is kept the "History of Plimoth Plantation" by Bradford, which after being lost for years, was found and returned to Massachu- setts by the Lord Bishop of London. The novel incidents connected with its finding and return are well worth the looking up, if only for the novelty. A reader chances to see in an English work, material that can only come from the lost diary of Governor Bradford. Investigating, he finds the volume, well preserved, in the Consistorial and Episcopal Court of London. Efforts are made to have it sent back to this country, but without avail, except that a prominent Episcopal clergyman, a friend of America, remarks that were he Bishop of London he would see that the history came to the Commonwealth. A sudden turn of fortune and he becomes the bishop and uses his influence and power to see that we have the first story of the Plymouth colony. This is the outline whose details the reader can find and supply if he wishes. While doing so, he must not overlook the parts played by Thomas F. Bayard, Ambassador to the Court of St. James, to George F. Hoar, United States Senator from Mas- sachusetts, and His Excellency Roger Wolcott, Governor of the State, who received the manuscript May 26, 1897. There are many interesting things, besides books, in the State Library well worth the attention of the most casual visitor.
Some of the State boards or bureaus have their own libraries, such as the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, which started a library in 1852 devoted principally to agricultural literature. While not large, it serves well as a source of information on farming and horticultural sub- jects and reports to both the public and the legislator. The only large agricultural library in the State is that at the Massachusetts Agricul- tural College.
The Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics Library, founded about 1869 when the bureau itself was established, consists mainly of recent pub- lications relative to industrial subjects, including the many official re- ports of the Bureau of Labor and kindred departments in the United States and foreign countries. Nearly 200 newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals are taken and filed. Clippings are found a very impor- tant part of the library's activities, these being taken from all possible sources. The library is conducted primarily for the use of the bureau, but access to its collections may be had by research workers, if what they want is not available elsewhere.
The Library of the Massachusetts Forestry Department, formed in
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1904, specializes on forestry and arboriculture, on which it has about 3,000 works. The public can take books out upon the payment of a deposit which is refunded upon their return.
The Massachusetts Forestry Association Library is not a State affair although it is not far from the State House at No. 4 Joy Street. Its books and pamphlets are collected for the most part from the exchange of publications with other associations, to which are added personal gifts and purchases. Since the purpose of the association is to place before the general public information concerning forestry in general, and to call attention to the vital need of the conservation of American forests, its books and services are at the command of the public. The library was founded in 1898.
The Massachusetts Public Service Commission has a library on Beacon Street, where are kept some ten thousand books and pamphlets on transportation, law, the telegraph and telephone, and other subjects in which the commission is interested. The commission supervises such utilities as the railroads, express companies, steamship and steamboat lines, telephone, telegraph, motor bus and now aeroplane lines. Every- thing of importance on transportation is carefully preserved and may be examined by anyone interested. The Public Service Commission is the successor, since 1913, to the Railroad Commission.
The city of Boston maintains two special libraries, one in connection with the Department of Public Works, the other with the Boston De- partment of Statistics. The latter library, in the city hall, is open to the public where one may go to consult the files for statistics or other materi- als having to do with Boston or other municipalities. The library has been in existence since 1894.
The library of the Department of Public Works is in the city hall annex where material has been collected for the use of city employees, although open to the public. The collections cover engineering, water, streets, sewers, bridges and all sorts of city works. The department is the consolidation of the street, water and engineering departments made in 19II.
In the courthouse is the Social Law Library, the second oldest of its kind and the fourth largest. Its peculiar name is said to have been de- rived from the fact that when the library was formed in 1804, there were so few men of the legal profession who joined hands in the organization that it was deemed advisable to add the name Social. The library was incorporated in 1814, and has been housed in the courthouse since 1893. There are law libraries in connection with the several colleges in and about Boston, but the Social Law Library fits in a place not to be taken by a library formed for the needs of students. This one is for the mature,
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