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List of catalogues, pamphlets, broadsides, maga-
zine articles, etc., relating to or illustrating the his- tory of the Library Company of Philadelphia :
" Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin," v.p., v.d. This volume, as is well known, contains Dr. Franklin's own graphic account of the origin of the hbrary.
The original articles of association. Philadelphia, 1731. Printed in 1869.
" A Catalogue of Books belonging to the Library Company of Phila- delphia." Philadelphia (Franklin), 1741. The only copy known to exist of this catalogue is now under glass at the Ridgway Braoch. It is a small duodecimo of 56 pp. The last page gives a short account of the library, concluding that " Tho' 'tis compos'd of so many persona of dif- ferent Secte, Parties, and Ways of Thinking, yet no differences relating to the affairs of the Library have ariseo amongst na." This volume was preceded, as appears by the following minutes, by several other catalogues, all of which were probably hroadsides. None of them seem tu have come down to the present time.
" The Charter of the Library Company of Philadelphia." Philadel- phia (Franklin), 1746. This tract (12mo), contains, in addition to the charter, a list of books added since 1741, the rules of the company, and an advertisement that "such as incline to be admitted are desired to leave their names with the librarian, who attends every Saturday from 4 to 8."
" A Catalogue of Books belonging to the Union Library Company of Philadelphia, to which is prefixed the articles of the company, with the names of the present members, and rules ohserved by the clerk in letting out books, etc." Philadelphia: printed by James Chattio, 1754. (Small 12mo, pp. 53.)
"Catalogus Bibliotheca Loganianæ: being a choice collection of books, as well in the Oriental, Greek, and Latin as in the English, Italian, Spanish, French, und other languages, given by the late James Logan, Esq., of Philadelphia, for the use of the Publick. Numbered as they now stand in the Library built by him in Sixth Street, over against the State-Honse Square." Philadelphia: printed by Peter Miller, 1760.
"The Charter, Lawa, and Catalogue of Books of the Library Com- pany of Philadelphia." Printed by Franklin & Hall. Philadelphia, 1764.
" Catalogue of Books belonging to the Association Library." Phila- delphia, 1765.
"The Charter, Laws, and Catalogue of Books of the Library Company of Philadelphia; with a short acconot of the Library prefixed." Phil- adelphia, 1770.
"Statementa concerning a Hall for the Library Company" (brnadside). Philadelphia, 1771.
"A Catalogue of the Books belonging to the Library Company of Philadelphia ; to which is prefixed a short account of the institution, with the charter, laws, and regulations." Philadelphia (Poulson), 1789. " Catalogue of the Loganian Library." Philadelphia (Poulson), 1795. "Catalogue." Philadelphia, 1807.
"Catalogue of the Loganian Library." 2 vole. Philadelphia (J. Doh- son), 1828. In vol. ii. are described the books bequeathed to the Logavian Library by William Mackenzie, to which is prefixed a sketch of his life.
" Why and Because : being the reasone produced in 1832 for and against keeping the Philadelphia Library open in the morning. Collected from the public prints, and arranged in the order in which they appeared, by John Jay Smith." Philadelphia, 1832.
"Papers (signed ' Franklin') iu regard to opening the Library in the morning." Philadelphia, 1832.
"Remarks on opening the Library all day." Philadelphia, 1832.
" Catalogne." 2 vols. Philadelphia, 1835. These volumes contain a short account of the library, the charter and its supplements, the by- laws, the rules, the state of the library, a table showing the number of shares issued, forfeited, and remaining, a list of the members, and the names of the anccessive librarians.
" Library Company of Philadelphia, in trust for the use of the Loganiau Library, versus Samuel D. Ingham. Writ of error, etc." Philadelphia, 1836. Relates to the Bucks County lands.
"Catalogue of the Books belonging to the Leganian Library; to which is prefixed a short account of the Institution, with the law for annexing the said Library to that belonging to the Library Company of Philadelphia." Philadelphia, 1837. This catalogue, like that of 1835, was prepared by George Campbell, formerly librarian.
" Notes for a History of the Library Company of Philadelphia." By John Jay Smith, librarian. Philadelphia, 1837. 8 pp., Svo. Reprinted from Waldie's Portfolio.
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LIBRARIES AND HISTORICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.
" Appeal [drawn up hy Henry J. Williame, Esq.] for & fund to erect & fire-proof building for the Library Company, with a list of subscribere ; together with a final statement by the treasurer of receipts and ex- penditures." Philadelphia, 1855-80. This volume, although in manu- script, can be consulted at the Locust Street building.
"Catalogue." Vol. iii. Philadelphia, 1856. Contains a preface point- ing ont some of the rarities in the library, a state of the library, a list of the directors, treasurers, secretaries, librariane, and London agente of the board, and a list of portraits in oil belonging to the company.
" Balletins of the Library Company." Philadelphia, 1856-84. These eemi-auunal bulletins give the titles of the more important books added to the library since the publication of the third volume of the cata- logue, together with various bibliographical and other matter, for the use of the membere.
"Library Company of Philadelphia vs. Andrew J. Beaumont et al. Brief of argument for plaintiffe, anewer of defendants, and decree of the Court of Nisi Prius." Philadelphis, 1>61. These paper-books relate to the re-valuation of the Loganiau lands in Bucks County.
" Will of Joseph Fisher, deceased." Philadelphia, 1864.
" Report of William L. Dennis, examiner, concerning the will of Joseph Fisher, deceased." Philadelphia, 1866.
" First Supplement to the Catalogue of Books belonging to the Lo- ganian Library ; to which is prefixed the Deed of Trust constituting the Foundation of the Library," etc. Philadelphia, 1867.
Atlantic Monthly. Vol. xxi. Boston, 1867. Containe an article on the old Philadelphis Library by Gen. J. Meredith Read, Jr.
"Circulars to stockholders, resolutions, and powers of attorney. Printed on the occasion of & vote of the members being taken upon the question of the acceptance of the Rush legacy." Philadelphia, 1869.
Legal pamphlets-twenty-three in number-growing out of the bills in equity filed after the decease of Dr. James Rush, and relating to hie devise to the Library Company. Philadelphia, 1871 to 1880.
Plau showing the residences of members of the Library Company. Philadelphia, 1872.
"Memorial of Thomas Potts, Jr. By Mrs. Thomas Potte James." Pri- vately printed. Cambridge, 1874. Iu this volume, pp. 375-391, occurs a life of Robert Grace, and a description of the house where, as Mrs. James thinke, the library was first kept.
" Public Libraries in the United States. A Special Report of the Bu- rean of Education." Washington, 1876. Contains (pp. 952-977) ao ac- count by Lloyd P. Smith of the public libraries of Philadelphia, includ- ing a history of the Library Company.
"Old Landmarks in Philadelphia." [Containing an account of the library.] New York, 1876. In Scribner's Monthly, vol. xii. p. 145.
"The Philadelphia Library." By Thompson Westcott, Jr.
" Historic Maneione of Philadelphia." Philadelphia, 1877.
"The Old Philadelphia Library." By Louise Stockton. Philadelphia, 1882. In Our Continent, vol. ii. No. 15.
"The Philadelphia Library." By Bunford Samuel, assistant at the Ridgway Branch. New York, 1882. In The Century.
The librarians have been Lewis Timothee, in 1732; Benjamin Franklin, William Parsons, Francis Hop- kinson, 1764-65; Zachariah Poulson, 1785-1806; George Campbell, 1806-29; John Jay Smith, 1829- 51. He was succeeded by his son, Lloyd P. Smith, the present librarian, a gentleman having a great fund of literary, scientific, and classical information, and a thorough knowledge of books and the manage- ment of public libraries.
The Library of Friends .- The Library of Friends of Philadelphia, now in possession of that branch of Quakers popularly known as "Orthodox," owes its origin to a bequest made by a worthy Friend, Thomas Chalkley, as appears by the following extract from his will, bearing date the 19th of Second Month, 1741, as follows :
" Having epeat most of my days and etreugth in the work and service of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and having been joined as a member of the Monthly Meeting of Friende of Philadelphia for above these forty years, to them, as a token of my love, I give my small library of booke."
A transcript from the will was presented to the Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia, held the 30th of Second Month, 1742, and Robert Jordan, a member and an eminent minister of that meeting, offering his services as librarian, the books, being three in number, were delivered into his possession, with a catalogue of their titles. Not long after this, however, Robert Jordan died, and it was found neces- sary to select a new librarian. Anthony Benezet was requested by the Monthly Meeting to take charge of the library, which he did, and it was accordingly re- moved to his house. Here it remained until the erection of the meeting-house adjoining the school- house at the southeast corner of Fourth and Chest- nut Streets, to which latter place the collection was removed.
In 1804 the new meeting-house at the southeast corner of Fourth and Mulberry (now Arch ) Streets was erected, and the old property, two squares below, was abandoned to commercial purposes. Not long after this date the library was transferred to the new meeting-house of the Friends. In 1844, however, the collection of hooks had attained such a size as warranted the erection of a separate building. Ac- cordingly, a modest structure was built on the eastern end of the lot belonging to the Monthly Meeting of Friends, fronting on Arch Street, now numbered 304. This building comprises the present quarters of the library in the second story, the first story being occupied by Friends' book-store.
The small collection left by Thomas Chalkley was gradually increased by purchases and donations of benevolent individuals, among whom may be noted Dr. John Fothergill, Peter Collinson, David Barclay, of London, grandson of the Apologist, and James Bright. Little attention, however, seems to have been given to the library, and books having been loaned without a systematic record of the persons who borrowed them, many volumes were irrecover- ably lost.
In 1765 the attention of the Monthly Meeting seems to have been awakened to the importance of pre- serving a collection of the writings of early Friends and other suitable books for the perusal of its mem- bers, and a committee was appointed to devise some method of rendering the library more useful, to col- lect the books which had been loaned out, to purchase others, and report the names of suitable persons to have charge of them. This committee recovered some of the missing volumes, repaired those which were mutilated, and made a new catalogue of the whole. John Todd, then a teacher under "the over- seers of the public school founded by charter in the town and county of Philadelphia," was engaged as the librarian.
The first attempt at anything like a system for con- ducting the library appears to have been made at this period. The following rules, among others, adopted at this time are of interest as showing the scrupulous
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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.
care and precision with which it was sought to conduct the affairs of the library, namely,-
" The librarian to give attendance on Seventh Day of every week, in the afternoon, from four to six o'clock, in order to lend out and receive the books, and shall keep a book, columnwise, in which shall be noted the title of the book, the name of the borrower, the time for which the book is lent, the sum for which the note was given, the day when the book shall be returned, and the forfeitures arising from all defaults.
"Each borrower shall give a promissory note to the librarian for the sum set in the written catalogue against the book be borrows, con- ditioned for returning the same book within the time mentioned in the Said catalogne, at the expiration of which time, if the borrower inclines to keep the book longer, he must ronew his note."
The improvement which took place in the library at the time alluded to, although considerable, still left it in a very imperfect state. The number of books was small, and those chiefly related to the his- tory and doctrines of the Society of Friends. A very material gain, however, was made by John Pember- ton's bequest to the library of a large number of books. His will, dated Ist of Fourth Month, 1794, contained the following clause :
" I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid friends, John Field and Wil- liam Wilson, and the survivors of them, after the decease of my wife, one- half of my library of books, in trust, for the use and benefit and perusal of Friends of the three Monthly Meetings in this city ; and to be placed in the library for that purpose ; wishing the beloved youth were more will- ing to read and to become acquainted with the trials, sufferings, and re- ligions experience of our worthy ancients."
In 1817 the library was placed in the hands of a committee, consisting of one Friend from each Monthly Meeting in the city.
The library has continued to grow steadily, but has never attained to very extensive proportions. It contained in 1884 eight thousand five hundred volumes. The library is free to any Friend, living in or near this city, who will sign an agreement to re- place or pay for volumes that may be lost or injured. Thereafter any member of bis or her family can take them out without charge, subject to the rules of the library. The books comprise works of history, biog- raphy, science, and most other subjects usually found in well-selected libraries, works of fiction being ex- cluded. The collection of biographies and other writings of early Friends is probably unequaled in any other collection of books in this country.
The Philosophical Society .- In 1743, Benjamin Franklin, who did so much to excite and promote the love of literature, science, and human progress in the mind of conservative Philadelphia, was the originator of the American Philosophical Society. Being impressed with the importance of establishing a national institution for the cultivation of science, he, on the 14th of May, 1743 (old style), correspond- ing in the Gregorian calendar to the 25th, issued and distributed a proposal for this purpose in the form of a printed circular. This circular is entitled " A Pro- posal for Promoting Useful Knowledge among the British Plantations in America."
After speaking of the great extent of the colonial possessions, this paper says,-
" The first drudgery of settling new colonies, which confines the at- tention of people to mere necessaries, is now pretty well over : and there are many in every province in circumstances that set them at ease, and afford leisure to cultivate the finer arts and improve the common stock of knowledge. To such of these who are men of speculation many hints must from time to time arise, many observations occur, which, if well examined, pursued, and improved, might produce discoveries to the advantage of some or all of the British plantations, or to the benefit of mankind in general. But as, from the extent of the country, such per- sons are widely separated, and seldom can see and converse or be ac- quainted with each other, so that many useful particulars remain uncom- munichted, die with the discoverers, and are lost to mankind, it is, to remedy this inconvenience for the future, proposed,-
"That one society be formed of virtuosi, or ingenious men, residing in the several colonies, to be called The American Philosophical Society, who are to maintain constant correspondance.
" That Philadelphia, being the city nearest to the centre of the conti- nent colonies, communicating with all of them northward and south- ward by post, and with all the islands by sea, and having the advantages of a good growing library, be the centre of the society.
"That at Philadelphia there be always at least seven members, viz., a physician, a botanist, n mathematician, a chemist, a mechanician, a geographer, and a general natural philosopher, besides a president, treasurer, and secretary.
"That these members meet once a month, or oftener, at their own ex- pense, to communicate to each other their observations and experi- ments; to receive, rend, and consider such letters, communications, or queries as shall be sent from distant members; to direct the dispersing of the copies of such communications as are valuable to other distant members, in order to procure their sentiments thereupon."
Then follows in detail an enumeration of the sub- jects which it was proposed that the society should consider and investigate, including researches in botany, medicine, mineralogy and mining, mathe- matics, chemistry, mechanics, arts, trades, manufac- turers, geography, topography, agriculture, etc.
There seems to be some doubt as to the precise date of the actual organization of the society. That it was formed and in active working order in the year in question (1743) is altogether probable, for as early as April 5, 1744, Dr. Franklin, in a letter to Cadwallader Colden, states "that the society, so far as relates to Philadelphia, was actually formed, and has had sev- eral meetings to mutual satisfaction."
In this letter the following list is presented of the original members: Dr. Thomas Bond, as physician ; John Bartram, as botanist; Thomas Godfrey, as mathematician ; Samuel Rhoads, as mechanician ; William Parsons, as geographer ; Dr. Thomas Bond, as general natural philosopher ; Thomas Hopkinson, president ; William Coleman, treasurer; and Benja- min Franklin, secretary. But a glance is sufficient to attract one's attention to the eminence of the names embraced in this list.
The minutes of the early proceedings of the Philo- sophical Society are not preserved, and one is left in the dark, not only as to the nature and scope of its labors, but also as to the period that it remained in activity. It is only from indirect evidence that it is to be inferred that it did not continue its meetings for more than ten years, when it went into a state of sus- pended animation, from which it was destined to re- vive at a future day, and to flourish with greater vigor than had characterized the earlier days of its exist- ence.
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The temporary collapse of the society was probably due to the fact that, at the time of its foundation, in 1743, the colonies were not prepared to appreciate and sustain so comprehensive a scientific organiza- tion. In fact, it seems to be generally conceded that Franklin was somewhat radically in advance of his age, in attempting to establish such an institution, particularly upon so elaborate a scale. The society did not remain in abeyance very long, however, for less than twenty years had elapsed before the sur- viving members of the old society, reduced to six in number, thought (to use the expression of one of them) that " they saw their way clear for its revival," and measures were accordingly taken looking toward this end. The date at which they reassembled for the first time is not known definitely ; but it appears from the minutes that in November, 1767, the society elected four new members, and in January of the fol- lowing year forty-four additional names were placed upon the roll.
From June 19, 1768, minutes of the proceedings were regularly recorded, and are preserved in the archives of the society. These records show that the revived institution began its new career with great advantages. John Penn, the Governor of the prov- ince, consented to become the society's patron. The use of the Council chamber of the State-House was granted for its meetings, and the rooms and appa- ratus of the College of Philadelphia were put at its commands "whenever the members should choose to meet there or have any experiments performed before them."
The following officers were elected by the society, Feb. 9, 1768, to wit: President, Hon. James Hamil- ton ; Vice-Presidents, Drs. William Shipped and Thomas Bond; Treasurer, Philip Syng ; Secretaries, Rev. William Smith, D.D., and John Ewing aud Dr. Charles Moore.
On the 22d of March, 1768, the first scientific com- munication was made to the Philosophical Society, and it now stands as the first paper in the series of Transactions. It is entitled, " A Description of a New Orrery, planned and now nearly finished by David Rittenhouse, A.M." Throughout the year many communications were made, which are to be found in the printed Transactions. But by far the most important proceedings of the society were those which had relation to the transit of Venus over the sun's disc that was to occur on the 3d of June, 1769. At a meeting held June 21, 1768, the society took active measures preparatory to this great event by appointing a committee to make the necessary arrange- ments, and to observe the transit at Norriton ; and another committee to erect an observatory at Phila- delphia and make preparation for ascertaining the latitude and for observing the transit. The observa- tions at Philadelphia and Norriton, and also at Cape Henlopen, were all successful, and the account of them and of the results to which they led is given in
1
full detail in the first volume of the Transactions of the Society.
It was in the early portion of the year 1769 that the two organizations, the American Philosophical Society and the American Society, held at Philadel- phia, for Promoting Useful Knowledge, were merged into a single association. The latter society was an outgrowth of the Junto, which was itself the progeny of the original Junto Club. At a meeting of the club held Dec. 13, 1766, rules had been adopted for the admission of non-residents as corresponding members, so that the bounds of the society could be extended to the utmost limits of the provinces, and even into Europe. By such a step as this the associ- ation lost its character of a club, and accordingly, at the same meeting, it abandoned the name of Junto, which had been used by itself and the parent institu- tion for nearly forty years, and adopted the more ambitious title of "The American Society for Pro- moting and Propagating Useful Knowledge, held at Philadelphia." On the 23d of September, 1768, a new code of laws was adopted by the society, which was now called, by a slight change of the former name, " The American Society, held at Philadelphia, for Promoting Useful Knowledge." On the 4th of the following November, at an election of officers, Benjamin Franklin was chosen president.
To the latter society belongs the honor of making the first overtures looking toward a consolidation with the Philosophical Society.
On the 26th of January, 1768, the question was discussed " whether, since the two societies had the same views, it would not be desirable that they should be united, if this could be done on an equal footing, and on terms equally honorable to both ;" aud it was "voted unanimously that such a union would be desirable, and would conduce to the public good, if it could be effected on these terms, but on no other." Considerable diplomacy was required to con- summate the union which was virtually effected. For a time it looked as though all negotiations would prove futile. Finally, however, on the 15th of No- vember of the same year (1768), the Philosophical Society appointed a committee, consisting of their two vice-presidents, two secretaries, and two members, "to concert measures and prepare the way for a union." Shortly afterward the American Society also appointed a committee of conference, comprising the vice-president, two secretaries, two curators, and a member, with instructions to insure perfect equality between the contracting parties. The negotiations were conducted with a degree of diplomatic formality which shows the importance attached to the measure on both sides. Finally, on the 20th of December, both societies being in session, the terms on which a union should take place were mutually agreed upon. A perusal of them shows how cautiously they were framed, with a view to the perfect equality in the claims of the two parties to the treaty. The terms of
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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.
consolidation provided, inter alia, that the united society should hear the following name, composed of the former two, viz., "The American Philosoph- ical Society, held at Philadelphia, for Promoting Useful Knowledge," and that the first joint meeting should be held at the college on Monday, Jan. 2, 1769. The ratification of this treaty was the last great act of the two rival societies, and at the close of the year 1768, a few days afterward, their existence as separate hodies came to an end.
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