History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 83

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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At the close of 1871 the conchological department contained, with one or two exceptions, every work on conchology published up to that date. It then numbered eight hundred and seven titles. The per- fection of this collection is due to the generosity of Mr. George W. Tryon, Jr., who gave to it his own valuable library on this subject.

There is also a very valuable collection of works on Roman, Greek, and French antiquities, among which are all those of Piranesi.

This special library of the natural sciences now attracts students from distant points to consult works

which are not contained in any other library in the United States. It is maintained for reference only. It is opened from ten o'clock A.M. till ten o'clock P.M. daily, Sunday excepted.

Only members and correspondents of the academy have free access to the library. Other persons may obtain permission to consult it at any time through the introduction of a member, or upon application to the librarian, while such member or the librarian is present ; but minors under sixteen years of age are not permitted to examine any work, except under the immediate supervision of the librarian or of a member.

While for many years after the academy's founda- tion the library's growth was due almost entirely to the donation of books by members and friends of the institution, yet recently the society has become pos- sessed of quite a substantial library fund by endow- ment and otherwise. Dr. Thomas B. Wilson be- queathed to the academy ten thousand dollars, and directed that three hundred dollars of the annual income therefrom should be contributed towards the payment of the salary of a librarian, and that the balance should be expended in the purchase and binding of books. This bequest, after deducting tax, realized nine thousand five hundred dollars. It is called the Wilson fund.

In February, 1875, I. V. Williamson presented to the academy twenty-five thousand dollars in ground- rents, the income from which is to be expended in the purchase of scientific books, and for no other purpose. This donation is known as the Williamson fund.

The library is now in a splendid condition, contain- ing, as it does, some thirty-two thousand bound vol- umes, in addition to an immense number of pamphlets.

The publications of the academy have ever been a feature of considerable interest. The Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences, as has been previously stated, was established in 1817. At irregular intervals it was issued until 1842. The publications during this period are known as the "first series." The " second series" was begun December, 1847, and is still con- tinued.

The publication of the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences was beguu March, 1841, and is still carried on.

At the present time the affairs of the academy rest upon a very satisfactory basis. The financial condi- tion of the institution is eminently prosperous. That such is the case is evidenced by a recent amendment to the charter of the academy, which, as originally phrased, vested in the organization, among other powers, that of "purchasing, taking, holding, and conveying any estate, real or personal, for the use of said corporation : provided, that the annual income of such estate shall not exceed in value eight thou- sand dollars, nor be applied to any other purposes than those for which this corporation is formed."

In the early part of the present year |1884) the

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Court of Common Pleas of this county decreed an amendment to the charter, whereby the academy is empowered to receive an increased annual income from its estate.

As previously stated, the academy's first president was Dr. Gerard Troost, who occupied the office in question from the date of organization, in 1812, until 1817. His successors have been as follows :

William Maclure, from 1817 to 1840; William Hembel, from 1840 to 1849; Samuel George Morton, M.D., from 1849 to 1851; George Ord, from 1851 to 1858 ; Isaac Lea, LL.D., from 1858 to 1863; Thomas B. Wil- son, M.D., from 1863 to 1864 ; Robert Bridges, M.D, from 1864 to 1865; Isaac Hays, M.D., from 1865 to 1869; W. S. W. Ruschenberger, M.D., from 1869 to 1881 ; Joseph Leidy, from 1881 to 1884.

The Athenaeum .- About the close of 1813 a number of gentlemen assembled for the purpose of establishing a reading-room in Philadelphia. Their first and immediate object was the collection, in some central place, of American and foreign periodical publications of politics, literature, and science, maps, dictionaries, and other works of reference, to which access might be had at all hours of the day. Besides the purchase of all new books of merit, they con- templated the gradual acquisition of such as might lay the foundation of a large and useful public library, and of such manuscripts, medals, and coins as might be valuable for their curiosity or as tending to illus- trate the history of this country. They looked for- ward also to the establishment of lectureships on sci- ence; and, as accessory to this desirable object, it was intended to commence the collection of mineral, botanical, and other specimens illustrative of natural history.

The proposals for an athenæum were made public, and met with greater success than there had been reason to expect. The first meeting of the sub- seribers was held in January, 1814, when an address, stating the nature and objects of the institution, was agreed upon. On the 9th of February articles of asso- ciation were adopted, which provided that the direc- tion of affairs should be vested in a president, a vice- president, a treasurer, and twelve managers, who were to be chosen on the first Monday of February in each year. The number of subscribers at this time amounted to about two hundred, and their annual payment in the way of dues was fixed at five dollars. At the same meeting the following officers were chosen : President, William Tilghman, LL.D .; Vice- President, Dr. James Mease; Treasurer, Roberts Vaux; Managers, James Gibson, Samuel Ewing, Robert H. Smith, Richard C. Wood, Thomas I. Wharton, Alexander S. Coxe, Benjamin Chew, Jr., Nicholas Biddle, Daniel W. Coxe, William H. Dil- lingham, John C. Lowber, and Jonah Thompson. Robert H. Smith was elected secretary to the board of managers.

The reading-room of this society was established in the second story of the building occupied by Mathew Carey's book-store, at the southeast corner of Fourth and Chestnut Streets. The association was

incorporated " for the promotion of literature," April 5, 1815. From this place the rooms of the Atheneum were removed, on the 1st of May, 1817, to No. 118 Chestnut Street, southwest corner of Carpenter's Court, Dufief's building, second story. Subsequently the first story of the hall of the American Philosoph- ical Society was acquired by lease, and the library, which had grown considerably, was removed to that building in April, 1818, and occupied the north room of the first story on Fifth Street. Subsequently the southern portion of the hall was obtained. There were three apartments, one of which was devoted to the literary and scientific journals issued period- ically ; another room was furnished with newspapers, and the third was used for conversation. In 1824 the library consisted of about three thousand three hun- dred volumes. All the leading magazines and reviews of the time-American, French, and English ; liter- ary, scientific, and historical-were obtained. Fifty- five newspapers were regularly received and filed. The maps and charts were considered, in the fullness of the collection, the best in the United States. The rooms were open daily, except Sundays, from eight o'clock A.M. until ten o'clock P.M. The number of stockholders was about four hundred, who, under the original charter, paid twenty-five dollars principal upon each share of stock, and three dollars per annum. There were about one hundred and twenty-five sub- scribers, who paid five dollars per year for the privi- lege of the library and reading-room. Subsequently the amounts were increased, and in 1819 the directors were empowered to raise the price of each share of stock to fifty dollars.

One of the most enterprising, liberal-minded, and liberal-hearted of the earlier members of the Athe- næum was William Lehman, who became a member of the board of directors in February, 1817. Although an energetic and successful man of business, he man- aged to find sufficient spare time to devote to literary and philosophical studies. Mr. Lehman died March 29, 1829, having first executed his last will and testa- ment, bearing date July 26, 1827, which contained the following provision : "I give and bequeath to the Athenaum of Philadelphia the sum of ten thousand dollars for the construction of a suitable building."

Immediate steps toward building a library hall for the use of the society were not taken ; but Mr. Leh- man's generous bequest was safely invested. On the 1st of January, 1847, the entire principal with accu- mulated interest had reached the sum of $24,845.45.

Finally, however, the society set about inaugu- rating measures looking toward a removal from the quarters which it had occupied nearly thirty years. On Nov. 1, 1845, was laid the corner-stone of a new building, upon a Jot on South Sixth Street, below Walnut, at the southeast corner of Adelphi Street. Interesting services were held, including a brief his- torical sketch by the president, Samuel Breck. In less than two years the building was ready for occupancy.

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On the 18th of October, 1847, exercises were held upon the occasion of the formal opening of the new hall. The chief feature of the celebration was a rich and valuable address by Thomas I. Wharton, the vice- president of the association, outlining many of the interesting phases of its history from its institution in 1814.

The structure, as erected in 1847, is fifty feet in front on Sixth Street, and one hundred and twenty- five feet in depth on Adelphi Street, and has a height of fifty- eight feet. It is an excellent specimen of the Italian style of architecture, tasteful and rather attractive in appearance, al- though simple in design. There is a considerable garden space at the east end of the lot, valu- able for light and air, and avail- able for building purposes here- after.

Soon after the completion of the building the large hall on the lower floor was rented to the controllers of the public schools, while the Historical Society of Pennsylvania leased a portion of the third story. In fact, the Athenæum almost immediately established an annual rent-roll of two thousand dollars, from the rental of portions of the building for which the society had no use. At present the large hall on the first floor is used as the library-room of the Law Association of Philadel- phia, while the front portion of this floor is rented for private offices. The Historical Society removed from the building in 1872.

The second story was appro- priated by the Athenæum en- tirely to its own use. It is di- vided into a news-room, library, and chess-room. The news-room is on the Sixth Street front, and its dimensions are thirty-seven by forty-seven feet, with a height of twenty-four feet. It is finished in pilasters, with an enriched cornice and cove to the ceiling. The library is thirty-seven feet wide, sixty-five feet long, and twenty-four feet high. It is furnished with a columnar ordinance of the Corinthian order, advanced from the sides of the room, forming a centre cell or nave and aisles. The chess-room is eighteen feet square.

While the building was erected largely with the liberal bequest made by Mr. Lehman, yet the society

I had also, previous to 1847, been remembered in the wills of John L. Harris, Chief Justice William Tilgh- man, John Savage, Roberts Vaux, Peter S. Du Pon- ceau, and Nathan Dunn.

Since its foundation, in 1814, the Atheneum has had only six presidents, as follows: from 1814 to 1827, William Tilghman ; from 1827 to 1844, Peter S. Du Ponceau ; from 1844 to 1862, Samuel Breck ; from 1863 to 1865, Samuel Norris; from 1865 to 1867,

ATHENEUM LIBRARY BUILDING.

Joshua Francis Fisher; from 1867 to the present time, Edward E. Law; all of them being gentlemen of high standing in literary, professional, and com- mercial circles.

As previously indicated, it has not been so much the purpose of the managers of the Athenaeum to supply its members with all current literary works as they came fresh from the press. This feature of lit- erary material has largely been left to be supplied by other and more "popular" institutions. The main

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characteristic of the Atheneum has chiefly lain in the very complete collection of periodical literature which it possesses; from the daily journal, through the various weeklies, monthlies, and quarterlies to the annual registers. Thomas I. Wharton, in 1847, at that time the vice-president, in his admirable address upon the opening of the new hall, testified to having heard Jeffrey, the famous editor of the Edinburgh Review, say that he found at the Atheneum literary and scientific journals of his own country that he had never seen in Europe. Within the last few years, however, a new policy has been inaugurated, and now the current literature of the day is found upon the shelves of the Atheneum ; and brightly-bound works of fiction are found closely contiguous to musty vol- umes of magazine literature many decades old.

Among the curiosities of literature in the rooms of the society is a large collection of bound pamphlets which belonged to Dr. Franklin, some of them con- taining his manuscript notes and marginal remarks, and a regular series of the Journal de Paris, bound in volumes, and continued during the whole of the eventful period of the French Revolution. There is also a large collection of bound pamphlets, once be- longing to Mathew Carey, which contain many scarce and valuable publications.

In addition to the persons previously mentioned as having made bequests to the Atheneum, prior to the date of the opening of the new hall, in 1847, the follow- ing-named gentlemen have also left legacies, of vari- ous amounts, to the institution : Richard S. Thomas, Jacob L. Sharp, John Perot Downing, Richard Bull, Isaac Barton, Edward Perot, Charles Perot, Perot Lardner, Arthur G. Coffin, and John Livezey. The bequest of the last-named gentleman, which came into the possession of the Athenaeum in the latter part of 1880, like that made in the infancy of the society by William Lehman, amounted to ten thousand dollars. This sum is now safely invested, the annual interest therefrom being expended for the purchase of current books, fresh from the publishers. A brass plate on one of the book-cases in the library- room commemorates this generous patron of the insti- tution, while upon a mural tablet on the west wall of the same room is this inscription, in honor and in memory of that other liberal donor, already men- tioned, Mr. Lehman (or, more properly, Dr. Lehman, for he had taken his degree, although he did not practice ), as follows :

" The Atheneum of Phila., Instituted 1814. To William Lehman, M.D., One of the cutliest Directors, tu whose liberal bequest is mainly due the erection of this edifice. Completed MDCCCXLVII."

Upon either side of this tablet is another plain marble tablet, each containing the names of one-

half of the other gentlemen previously mentioned as having made bequests to the institution.

The Atheneum in 1884 contains about twenty-five thousand bound volumes, besides numerous manu- scripts, pamphlets, maps, etc. New books are being added at the rate of five hundred a year. The annual circulation of books reaches about six thousand. The society is now entirely free from all indebtedness, whether floating or secured. Charles R. Hildeburn, well and favorably known in the literary circles of the city, is the librarian.

The Apprentices' Library .- In 1820 a few benev- olent individuals, believing that it would promote "orderly and virtuous habits, diffuse knowledge and the desire for knowledge, improve the scientific skill of our mechanics and manufacturers, increase the benefits of the system of general education which is now adopted, and advance the prosperity and happi- ness of the community," associated themselves under the title of "The Apprentices' Library Company of Philadelphia," for the purpose of establishing a library for the use of apprentices and other young persons, without charge of any kind for the use of books.

In the following year (1821), under date of April 2d, the company was incorporated, and operations were commenced on a very limited scale, their only resources for a number of years being donations of second-hand books and an annual contribution of two dollars from several hundred worthy citizens who were convinced of the beneficial effects which would result from the establishment of such an institution.

The first officers under the charter were,-

President, Horace Binney ; Vice-President, Roberts Vaux ; Secretary, Daniel B. Smith; Treasurer, James Cresson ; Managers, Clement C. Bid- dle, Thomas F. Leaming, Philip Garrett, Samuel L. Sorber, Benjamin H. Yarnall, Frederick V. Krug, William S. Warder, Robert J. Evans, Samuel B. Morris, Philip F. Mayer, Robert M. Lewis, Richard C. Wood, Benjamin Tucker, Henry Troth, Jacob Gratz, Richard Oakford, Samuel Canby, Anthony Finley, Abraham Miller, Thomas Kimber, Merrit Canby, Lloyd Mifflin. Samuel Sellers, William Price.

The library, when first opened in 1820, was in a second-story room on the south side of Chestnut Street above Third, and contained about fifteen hun- dred volumes, mostly old books, which had been pre- sented to the managers. It was afterward removed to the second story of Carpenters' Hall, then to Jayne Street below Seventh Street, and from there to the old Mint building, in Seventh Street above Market, and finally to the southwest corner of Fifth and Arch Streets, where the trustees of "The Society of Free Quakers" gave the company the use of the upper and lower rooms of their meeting-house, free of rent, for many years.

The very satisfactory and beneficial result of loan- ing books to boys without charge induced the man- agers, in 1841, to commence a separate library for girls, which has also proved a valuable and decided success, there now being nearly twelve hundred or- derly girls and young women reading twenty-five thousand volumes per annum.

LIBRARIES AND HISTORICAL AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

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The number of boys is also about twelve hundred, reading twenty thousand volumes a year; this, be it remembered, is from a library both branches of which combined have never numbered much over twenty thousand volumes.

In 1868 the necessity of more and better accommo- dations induced the managers to apply to " The So- ciety of Free Quakers" for greater privileges. This resulted in a new lease of the entire property for twenty-five years, for three hundred dollars per annum, with liberty to make such alterations in the interior of the building as were necessary for the company's purposes, and also to build on the south side of the lot.

In granting such favorable terms, the trustees of that so- ciety were governed by the same liberal and enlightened spirit that has always marked their intercourse with the li- brary company.

In the year 1879 the Phila- delphia Library Company be- ing about to vacate their build- ing on South Fifth Street, a gentleman of this city, well known as a generous philan- thropist, prompted by a desire to retain for a use similar to that to which it had so long been devoted that edifice to which so many historic associa- tions are attached, as well as by the interest he felt in the Ap- prentices' Library, called the ROOM attention of the managers to the opportunity of obtaining by its purchase a building better adapted to the purposes of the latter library than is the one now occupied, and offered to assist in the attempt to obtain it by his personal influence and by a liberal subscription. A special meeting of the Appren- tices' Company was held in October, 1879, at which resolutions were adopted authorizing the board of managers to purchase the Philadelphia Library build- ing at a fair price, provided the means to meet the payment were first secured. Under this authority the committee of the managers renewed their effort to obtain from the community aid sufficient to purchase it, without encroaching on the general fund, the in- come of which is indispensable in meeting the regular expenses of the company.

Although the committee found that considerable interest was taken in the project by a number of gen- tlemen who offered liberal contributions to that end, after protracted effort they reluctantly came to the

conclusion that they could not secure subscriptions sufficient in amount to justify them in reporting that the purchase was practicable. On receiving the report of the committee, the board concluded to abandon the attempt. The management of the library still entertain the hope, however, of being able to secure more commodious quarters for the en- largement of the scope of the enterprise. That such is the purpose of the company is evidenced by the following language from a recent annual report of the board of managers, to wit: "The establishment of the library in quarters more perfectly adapted for its uses, so as to allow of a more efficient and eco- nomic administration of its affairs, has been repeat-

APPRENTICE'S LIBRARY

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edly discussed in the meetings of your board, and while no entirely feasible plan has as yet been pre- sented, the desirableness of such a change, if it could be wisely accomplished, is acknowledged, and the subject will continue to have the earnest attention of the management."

Until recently the library was divided into two entirely distinct sections, one for boys and one for girls. This maintenance of two separate library- rooms rendered necessary the purchasing of a large number of duplicate volumes, and caused many other inconveniences. To remedy these unsatisfactory fea- tures in the conduct of the library the board of managers finally recommended that the two sections

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be consolidated, and that a single room be utilized , November, 1821. From this meeting emanated a for both males and females. This recommendation was acted upon, and carried out in 1882.

The library was closed for the purpose of making these alterations June 1, 1882, and was reopened De- cember 2d. The reading-room was also moved from the basement to the light and airy room in the second | chairman, was appointed to prepare and report a story, formerly occupied by the boys' library.

The library, as consolidated, has a convenient en- trance on Fifth Street, while the reading room is reached by a stairway from Arch Street.

Instructive lectures, accompanied by the exhibition of stereopticon views, given in the reading-room, were recently introduced by the board. These lectures are delivered regularly every Friday evening.

The library has been the fortunate recipient of quite a number of liberal bequests and donations, among which have been the following; John Gran- dom, $5400; Dr. Jonas Preston, $1000; Thomas W. Goldtrap, $1000; Elizabeth Greenfield, 86400; Joseph Warner, $1000; Nathan Dunn, $14,900; Joseph Har- rison, Jr., $2000; Josiah Dawson, $1000; S. Morris Waln, $1000; I. V. Williamson, $10,000; Jesse George, 81000; Henry J. Stout, $1000; Lewis D. Belair, $3000; Jolin Livezey, 85000; Walter Smith, $5000; and Henry Seybert, $2000.

The Apprentices' Library can, with a single ex- ception, perhaps, be denominated the only strictly free library in Philadelphia; at least, of any consid- erable size. No charges whatever are exacted of those who are the beneficiaries of the institution, except in the way of fines for books out over time. In order to obtain a book the applicant is required to conform to the following rule: " Applicants must procure a certificate of guarantee for the use and return of the books, signed by a good surety, and witnessed by a person authorized by the board, or by the deposit of one dollar with the librarian they may become their own guarantors."

The Apprentices' Library was instituted, and still is almost entirely controlled, by those belonging to the Society of Friends, consequently the management of the institution has ever been a conservative one. Its aim has always been to supply a class of books to the young men and maidens, who are its principal beneficiaries, which would instruct, rather than afford idle amusement simply. An unfavorable eye has ever been cast upon exciting fiction and sensational literature. The board of managers having always kept steadily in view the intention of the founders in establishing the library, not a volume has found its way to the shelves without being first carefully exam- ined by the Book Committee and then securing the approval of the whole board. At the present time there are about twenty-two thousand bound volumes upon the shelves of the library.

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 83

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