History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 76

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992

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" JOS. BaEINTNALL, " Secretary.

" PHILADELPHIA, 8th November, 1731."

Upon the organization of the Library Company of Philadelphia, the price of a share was fixed at forty shillings. Ten persons paid their subscriptions at the first meeting. By March, 1732, more than twenty- five subscribers had paid in their money, and it was resolved to send to England for some books immedi- ately. James Logan, having heard of the plan, prof- fered his assistance in suggesting to the members of the society such books as it would be judicious for them to select. He being esteemed a gentleman of universal learning, and "the best judge of books in these parts," the generous offer was accepted. Under

the advice of Mr. Logan, forty-five pounds sterling was remitted to London, and the books ordered were obtained by Thomas Hopkinson, who was then on a visit to England. l'eter Collinson, of London, who purchased the books, sent over on his own account, as a present to the library, a copy of Sir Isaac New-

HÆEC

VIRTUS

MAJORUM

ARMS USED BY HON. JAMES LOGAN.

ton's "Philosophy" and Peter Miller's "Gardener's Dictionary."

In October, 1732, the first importation of books was received and taken "to Robert Grace's chamber, at his house in Jones' Alley." The proprietor of the house Franklin characterizes as "a young gentleman of some fortune, generous, lively, aud witty, a lover of punning and of his friends." Robert Grace's house, which was pulled down in 1850, stood on the site of No. 131 Market Street and Nos. 120 and 122 Church Street, formerly Jones' Alley. Mr. Poulson, in 1806 ( Minutes, vol. iv. p. 209), says, "Jones' Alley is now called Pewter Platter Alley, and the building in which the library was kept was afterward occupied by David Hall as a printing-office. It was back of the house in which Mr. Horner has his iron-mongery store." This house in Jones' Alley was rented by Louis Timottiée (spelled also Timothee), the first librarian, from Robert Grace. It was the librarian's duty to attend at the library on Wednesdays, from two or three o'clock in the afternoon, and on Saturdays from ten to four. Ile occupied Grace's house, and re- ceived a small salary. By the rules, he was allowed to permit "any civil gentleman to peruse the books of the library in the library-room, but not to lend to or suffer to be taken out of the library by any person who is not a subscribing member, any of the said books, Mr. James Logau only excepted."

On the first occasion of the transfer of a share, December, 1732, the secretary records that "the di- rectors have made inquiry concerning the said Evans,

1 The author Is greatly indebted to Lloyd P'. Smith, the distloguished librarian of the Library Company of Philadelphia, for the facts contained In the sketch of this library.

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LIBRARIES AND HISTORICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

who was a stranger to most of them, and having heard that he is honest and industrious, and regardful of books, they agree to take him into partnership."

At a meeting held Dec: 10, 1733, Benjamin Frank- lin mentioned Mr. Timothee's having been service- able to him, and that he was willing to officiate for bim as librarian until his current year should be expired.

On Aug. 11, 1735, a verbal order was granted to the treasurer to buy gold at twenty per cent, to remit to Peter Collinson, because a good bill for eight pounds could not be had.

At the meeting of Oct. 15, 1735, the directors de- clined to admit a less number of new members than five at a time.

On May 8, 1737, the directors, librarian, treasurer, and secretary, with a few others, dined together "at Mr. Mullan's, and enjoyed a facetious, agreeable conversation."

On May 1, 1738, the directors returned thanks to the Hon. Thomas Penn for a valuable and well-situ- ated lot of ground "he has been pleased to bestow upon the company to build a library upon."

The minutes of the meeting of Aug. 16, 1738, con- tain this memorandum : " Jos. Breintnall, secretary, writes to Peter Collinson that Dr. Thos. Bond is the bearer of this, who (if he be asked) will give a sur- prising account of a new discovered phenomenon of a dog's breeding suakes in his liver after having been bit by snakes, and recovered."

On Oct. 16, 1738, it is recorded Walter Sydserp, of Antigua, gave the library £34 68. 5d. sterling, writing that "if hereby others are prevailed on to lend a hand to promote so great a good, and so uncommon a virtue, your infant colony will, in a few ages, be | retary, who gave a ticket to the surveyor-general to

ranked the first in the Kalendar of the American settlements."

On Nov. 12, 1739, at a meeting at the house of the widow of John Roberts, it was determined to remove the books from the residence of William Parsons, the librarian, where they had been kept for some time, to the State-House, the use of which had lately been granted the company by the Assembly, upon a peti- tion of the directors drawn by Benjamin Franklin. It was not, however, until April 7, 1740, that the books were removed. They were placed in the upper room of the westernmost office of the State-House.

On the 9th of June, 1740, Franklin was ordered to print a complete catalogue, and on the 11th of August a committee of directors was ordered to prepare such a catalogue. The work of preparing and printing this catalogue was prosecuted at once, and on Aug. 10, 1741, it was agreed that each member of the Pro- vincial Assembly have a catalogue given him, and that one be sent to John Penn, Esq., and one to Peter Collinson.

May 3, 1742, the charter granted by the proprietary was accepted by the members signing a paper to that effect.

On May 10, 1742, " the directors then went to the Widow Roberts' to sup, where they remembered their benefactors."

At the meeting of April 28, 1743, it was ordered that, " As Mr. John Bartram was a deserving man, he should have free access to the library, and be per- mitted to read and borrow the books." .

The minutes of the meeting of Nov. 12, 1744, con- tain this memorandum : " Proposed that Mr. Frauk- lin speak to his companions, who were, before the grant of our patent, nominated trustees to receive a conveyance from the proprietor, in behalf of the company, for a lot he gave them to build a library- house upon, on the south side of Chestnut Street, and that they obtain a deed for it without delay." 1

On Nov. 11, 1745, the directors met at Joseph Breintnall's, all previous meetings having been at the Widow Roberts'.

On April 14, 1746, the directors met at the Widow Breintnall's, and presented her with fifteen pounds in consideration of her husband's services.

On May 12, 1746, it was ordered that the charter be printed by Benjamin Franklin.

At the meeting of July 14, 1746, John Lober and Lynford Lardner were appointed to prepare a cata- logue of all the books added to the library since the last catalogue was printed, and deliver the same to Benjamin Franklin, who was directed to print it.

On Jan. 12, 1747, John Lober was instructed to confer with Secretary Peters to know whether leave might be obtained to fence in an additional piece of the proprietor's ground with the library lot during the pleasure of the proprietor, and on Feb. 9, 1747, Mr. Lober reported that he had spoken with the sec- inspect the contiguous ground and return it by metes and bounds, that a proper entry might be made of the application, and a memorandum drawn to be signed by the Governor as commissioner of reports.

On July 13, 1747, Franklin presented to the board a letter from the proprietor Thomas Penn, Esq., with an electrical apparatus, in replying to which the committee say, "Some of our members who employ themselves in such researches may, by its assistance, show that this fresh mark of your favor has been judiciously as well as generously bestowed upon your most obliged," etc.

On Sept. 10, 1750, it was ordered that the books in the library "be new numbered, beginning No. 1 in the folios and likewise in quartos, octavos, and 12mos. Mr. Greenway [the librarian] undertook to do it, and is to be paid for doing it and for making a new cata- logue."

On May 11, 1752, it was ordered that application be made to the secretary for a patent for the com- pany's lot.

1 This lot was ou the south side of Chestnut Street, about half way between Eighth and Ninth.

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

At the meeting of Jan. 8, 1753, it was resolved "that R. Peters and B. Franklin wait upon John Penn, Esq., with the compliments of the directors, and request him to do them the honor of accepting the privilege, now unanimously voted, of the free use of the library during his residence in this country."

Franklin acted as secretary from 1746 to 1757, but many of his minutes are lost. In 1757 he went to England, and Mr. Allison, at the request of the com- pany, consented to keep the minutes of the directors for the current year.

It was ordered, at the meeting of Jan. 14, 1760, that bound catalogues of the books belonging to the library be presented to the following gentlemen, viz .. six copies to the honorable the proprietaries, Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, one to Mr. Gray, of Colchester, one to P. Collinson, and twelve to Mr. Franklin, to be distributed among gentlemen of his acquaintance.

April 12, 1762, the secretary received from Mr. Broekden the proprietor's patent for a lot of ground, recorded iu Patent Book, vol. xix. p. 545.

The following minute was adopted at the meeting of May 10, 1762: "Whereas, the fine of one shilling is found iusufficient to engage the attendance of the directors at their monthly meetings, it was put to the vote and carried in the affirmative, that the fine for absences shall for the future be two shillings, for the benefit of the house where said directors shall keep their meetings."

On Nov. 8, 1762, the directors unanimously agreed that Dr. B. Franklin who had just returned from Englaud be elected a director in the room of ' Franklin, in London, to be distributed as he shall Samuel Shoemaker, who declined serviug.

On June 13, 1763, the directors agreed to meet at the Indian Queen.

The board agreed, on Nov. 14, 1763, that it would be highly proper for them to address the Hon. John Penn, Esq., upon his appointment to this government and safe arrival here. Dr. Franklin, Thomas Cad- walader, and Samuel Rhoads were appointed a com- mittee to prepare such an address, which was pre- sented on the 21st of November, by the directors in person, receiving the thanks of Mr. Penn.

On March 12, 1764, it was unanimously resolved that there should be a new and complete catalogue of the books, curiosities, laws, rules, etc., belonging to the library, printed for the use of the company, the former catalogue being rendered incomplete by the great additions to the library, and by the loss of

numbers of other books from the library since the printing of the said catalogue some years previously.

It was represented to the directors that several members of the company were much displeased at certain new regulations in the library, adopted Dec. 12, 1763, by which every person except the librarian was excluded from entering the library and taking down the books there, but was to apply to the libra- rian for any book he might choose to peruse. Be- cause of these complaints it was resolved that the librarian should prepare a bond which should be tendered to every member who should desire the privilege of entering the library and examining the books there at the hours of attendance on Saturday, by which he should bind himself to be answerable for his proportional part of the loss that might arise from any books being lost or stolen out of the li- brary.

The minute of the meeting of Nov. 2, 1764, con- On October 3, 1760, it was ordered, "That the sec- tains this unique memorandum : " Mr. Bymes com- retary wait on Mr. Brockden and receive from him plaining that he had provided supper for the last the patent for the lot given by the proprietaries to the library." meeting and nobody came but the secretary, it was agreed that for the future every absentee should pay This memorandum is found on the minutes of the meeting of Feb. 20, 1761 : " B. Franklin writes from London, to the treasurer, ' . . . My best respects to the directors, my old friends, whom I long onee more to see.' " a fine of one shilling, which should go to the house as a recompense for providing a supper for a larger company than should happen to attend, and that the secretary should pay Mr. Bymes 78. 6d. for his last disappointment out of the money in his hands col- lected by former fines."

Dr. Franklin having gone to England, Joseph Sims was chosen a director in his place. On March 11, 1765, the secretary having reported that the new edition of the catalogue of books, etc., belonging to the library was completed, it was ordered that a copy of the same, neatly bound, should be presented to each of the following gentlemen, viz .: "To the honorable the proprietors of the province, to Mr. Peter Collinson, to Mr. Jackson, the agent of the province, to Mr. Gray, of Colchester, to Dr. Noth- ergill, to Mr. Lagrant, to Mr. Mildred, to Mr. Roberts, to Mr. John Struttle, and six copies to Dr. Benjamin think proper; to the Governor, the Speaker of the honorable House of Assembly, and to Col. Bouquet, in this city."

On Nov. 11, 1765, it was " Resolved, That Mr. James Bymes be desired to provide suppers for six members on the second Monday in every month, and that every absentee be for the future charged with 28. 6d. in discharge of the reckoning."

At a meeting of the library company. Feb. 20, 1768, the price of a share was lowered from twenty- one pounds to ten pounds Pennsylvania currency (twenty-six dollars and sixty-seven cents).

On April 24, 1769, the secretary reported that a committee from the Union Library Company, into which the Amicable and Association Libraries had previously merged, had delivered to him a deed of conveyance of all their estate to this company, duly

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LIBRARIES AND HISTORICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

executed, and had received from him certificates for the admission of their members.1

May 2, 1769, Ludowic Sprogle and John De Mau- regnault were appointed to take charge of the library, the former to take charge of the books at the State- House, and the latter those at the house on Third Street, between Walnut and Spruce, used by the Union Library.

May 16, 1769, a committee appointed to prepare a petition to the House of Representatives for leave to build a library-house on the State-House Square laid the same before the board, at a meeting held May 16, 1769.

It was ordered, Sept. 25, 1769, that the library should be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 5 to 9 P.M. in summer, and from 4 to 8 P.M. in winter.

The following letter from Dr. Franklin was laid before the board at the meeting held Nov. 29, 1769 :

" LONDON, July 7th, 1769.

"GENTLEMEN,-I received your favour of the 3d of May, and shall send you the books you write for ? Capt. Falconer. Seeing some time since that other libraries were about to be united with yours, I did for that reason forbear buying any Books but 'Rohioson's History,' till I should have further orders, lest I should purchase Duplicates, I think we should have, in some of our public Libraries, all the Transactions of every Philosophical Society in Europe, viz., The Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences at Paris; those of Petersburg; of Haerlem, in Holland ; of Bononia [Bologna], in Italy, &c., with the Continuations as they come out yearly, and also the French Encyclopedia. They would he extremely useful to us oo mapy accounts, and are rather too heavy for private col- lections. But as they are in different Languages, and the Majority of our Members are only acquainted with English, I have not veotured to buy them without orders, and in general I wish to have express Directions, and that as little as possible may be left to my judgment in laying out the Company's Money.

" With great Esteem, I am, "Gentlemen, " Your most obedient, " Humble servant, " B. FRANKLIN.

" MESSRS. THOMSON & MIFFLIN."

Oct. 20, 1770, Josiah Henry reported that he had let out the old Union Library, on Third Street, to Robert Bell.2

At a general meeting of the company held Oct. 5, 1771, it was resolved that, the books being crowded together, it was expedient to built a new library- room, and the directors were empowered to apply to the Assembly for part of the State-House Square. From the minutes of the meeting of April 4, 1772, it appears that the Assembly had declined granting the company liberty of erecting a library on State- House Square. On the 29th of June, 1772, the com- pany having been offered a room by the Carpenters' Company, on the second floor of their hall, at twenty pounds per annum, the directors agreed to take it at that rate ; and on Oct. 26, 1772, it was agreed to lease the whole of the second floor at thirty-six pounds per annum.

On Dec. 28, 1772, the directors "agree to allow the Librarian five pounds per annum, in considera- tion of which he is to provide an assistant at his own cost !"

It was agreed on May 10, 1773, that the library should be opened every day from two o'clock until seven P.M., as soon as the books were removed from the State-House to the new rooms. The minutes of the meeting held Oct. 25, 1773, contain this mournful record : "The library being entered by some thief last night (as supposed), he carried off all the coins and tokens, together with some change which was left in the drawer."

On Dec. 28, 1773, the committee sent a list of books to be bought in London by Dr. Franklin, and added : "Since our last the library has been removed to a new building called the Carpenters' Hall, in the centre of the Square in which Friends' school stands. The books (inclosed within wire lattices) are kept in one large room, and in another handsome apartment the apparatus is deposited and the directors meet."

On Ang. 31, 1774, it was ordered, "That the librarian furnish the gentlemen who are to meet in Congress in this city with the use of such books as they may have occasion for during their sitting, taking a receipt from them ;" and the same privileges were continued to the Continental Congress while in Philadelphia.

Jan. 10, 1775, the following letter, addressed to Dr. Franklin, was read: "Sir,-we are directed to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 9th April and 25th July, with the books sent for the use of the company, which fresh instance of your constant kind concern for us is very obliging. . . . The direc- tors are preparing an order for books, but from the present unhappy situation of public affairs it must be postponed. Wishing for days more propitions to the growth of science in America," etc. On the same date John Wesley presented four books to the com- pany. On May 7, 1776, the board directed the fol- lowing advertisement to be inserted in the Pennsyl- vania Gazette, Journal, Packet, Ledger, and Evening Post : "The members of the Library Company of Philadelphia are requested to attend at the library- room on Thursday, the 30th day of May, inst., at two o'clock in the afternoon, in order to consider the pro- priety of empowering the directors to remove the books and effects of the company, and determine on the place where they shall be deposited in case any future event should render that measure necessary, and that printed notices of the meeting be left at the house of each member on the morning of that day."

At a general meeting held May 30, 1776, in answer to the above call, the number of members present not being competent to the passing of a law, adjourned to June 6th, when the same thing occurred. At the regular meeting, July 9, 1776, only two directors were present. These were momentous times. At a meet- ing held March 11, 1777, Messrs. Allison, Jones, and

1 The building of the Union Library Company was at the southeast corner of Third and Pear Streets.

2 Bell was a bookseller and publisher, and held "the book auction" there at stated times.

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

Hewes were appointed a committee to wait on Gen. Gates, commanding officer in this city, in order to procure, if possible, an order for the removal of the sick soldiers from the library ; and the secretary was ordered to insert the following advertisement in the Gazette, Packet, and Post :

" The members of the Library Company of Philadelphia are hereby notified that books may be procured from the said library by application at the house of the librarian, on the south side of Market Street, four doors below Fourth Street, between the hours of five and seven in the afternoon, and leaving n signed note for such books as they may respec- tively want. The lower part of the library being at present used as an Infirmary for the sick soldiery, renders it inconvenient for the librarian to attend at the library-room as usual."

An extract from the will of the Hon. William Logan, Esq., was laid before the board at the meeting held Aug. 12, 1777, by which it appeared he had be- queathed to the Library Company a very considerable collection of ancient authors, which had been accord- ingly delivered to the librarian.

On Nov. 12, 1778, the directors, taking into consid- eration the high prices of fire-wood, candles, etc., agreed that the library be opened during the winter season only upon Wednesdays and Saturdays from two o'clock to 8 P.M.

March 9, 1779, a number of members, anxious for the safety of the library, having mentioned their apprehensions of its danger from the combustibles kept in the hall below, the board, on the 9th of March, 1779, appointed William Hewes to apply to the gentlemen who had the management of those affairs to procure its removal, if possible, in the event of there being any real danger.

On Nov. 9, 1779, an order was drawn on the treas- urer for six pounds specie and six pounds Continen- tal money for the secretary's salary for two years. Munificent compensation !

April 11, 1780, a committee consisting of Messrs. Hewes and Stansbury was appointed to apply to the proper persons or powers for a safe passport for sun- dry books intended for the company, and then lying at New York. The committee for a passport reported, April 27, 1780, that they had received from Timothy Matlack, secretary, an extract from the minutes of the Supreme Executive Council, as follows : " On con- sideration that there is now in force a law of the State against importing any goods, wares, or mer- chandise the growth or manufacture of Great Britain, and, considering the character of the persons employed in New York in obtaining the said books, Agreed, that this council cannot give any advice or assistance in a business so circumstanced."

On May 4, 1781, the directors agreed that thirty shillings State money be received in lieu of a bushel of wheat, by which the annual payments were last year directed to be made, if paid immediately.

May 14, 1783, a bill of exchange for two hundred pounds sterling was remitted to Joseph Woods and William Dillwyn for the purchase of books. The let- ter addressed to them says, "We have not received

any new books since 1774, except those contained in the list herewith |twenty volumes] ; we, therefore, shall confide entirely to your judgment to procure for ns such modern publications as will be proper for a public library, and though we would wish to mix the ntile with the dulce, we should not think it expe- dient to add to our present stock anything in the novel way."

March 12, 1784, a joint committee of the American Philosophical Society and the Library Company peti- tioned the General Assembly to this effect :

"That a design hath been conceived and is already in a promising state of forwardness, to unite to the City Library that learned and executive collection of books known by the name of the ' Loganian Library ;' but in such manner that, although it be kept in the same building, it shall ever remain distinct from the library with which it may be united, and retain its name in honor of the liberal citizen who collected and intended it for public use.

" That the Philosophical Society also find it abso- lutely necessary . . . that they should be accommo- dated with a suitable building . . .

" That your petitioners have turned their attention to the east and west lines of the State-House Square. . . . and, therefore, humbly pray your honorable House to grant . . . to the Philosophical Society a lot of ground eighty feet in front upon Sixth Street, and forty feet deep upon said square, midway between Walnut and Chestnut Streets, and to the said Library Company a like space of ground upon Fifth Street and directly opposite."

On Feb. 3, 1785, a petition was presented to the Assembly reciting that the former application for lots on the State-House Square had been ineffectual, and adding that " the directors and Philosophical Society proposed renewing their application, and a petition for that purpose was produced by the said Philo- sophical Society, but in which they had transferred the prayer of the petition, jointly presented to the last House; and placed the library on the west instead of the east side of the square, and, as they declined uniting with the library company on the plan which had been agreed to, your petitioners thought it a duty they owed to their constituents, to refuse signing the said petition. . . . Before the Revolution the library was opened six times a week, and, though it is at present opened but three times a week on account of our funds being diverted to the importation of books published during the war, we hope the stock will very soon afford a daily attendance.

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 76

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 992

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992