USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the end of the century : a history, Volume 2 > Part 65
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In consequence of this recommendation, the City Council appro- priated to this library $3,500, July 8, 1889, and $7,500, Deeem- ber 7, 1889. The sum of $7,500 was appropriated the next year, 1890, and thereafter for the next four years, ineluding 1894. In 1895 this annual sum was inereased to $10,000, a sum which was appropriated in each sueeessive year until 1899. In 1900, after the oeeupation of the new building, the sum was again inereased, making it $20,000.
The sums received from the eity of Providence have, from the start, been regarded as "for the general purposes of the library", and not for the ereetion of a library building. The question of receiving eity aid for the latter purpose was not unnaturally several times under consideration, and the proposition at one time was urged with the
1Mayor Barker's "Inaugural address", 1889, p. 14-15. Mayor Barker's ser- vice lasted from 1889 to 1891. He died March 17, 1901.
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THE GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY.
strong recommendation of the city officials; yet, as a matter of fact, the building was finally completed and occupied by the library without the expenditure of a dollar by the city for that purpose.
Growth of the Library .- The number of volumes in the library after two years, in 1880 (the year in which the removal was made from the Butler Exchange to the Snow street quarters), was 18,029, of which only about one-third had been purchased. In subsequent years this large percentage of gifts has been maintained, forming, in the report for the year 1900, two-thirds of the total.
Not only has this phase of the library's increase stood for a share of the whole which is proportionally large, but the nature of the acces- sions made to the library, either in the form of gifts, absolutely, or in some analogous manner, has been most noteworthy, from the very beginning. Of the various separate libraries in Providence several have been absorbed in the public library's collections,1 including that of the Providence Association of Mechanics and Manufacturers,2 and that of the Franklin Lyceum,3 while that of the Rhode Island Soldiers' and Sailors' Historical Society,+ though preserved as a distinct "col- lection", has also become the property of the Providence Public Library, by gift from the society. Four others have been deposited within the walls of the Providence Public Library, thus adding to its resources for reference, while still remaining the property of the societies which deposited them, including those of the Rhode Island Medical Society," the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Institute of Architects,6 the Rhode Island Horticultural Society, and the Barnard Club,8 (an educational collection ).º Equally noteworthy have been the "collections" developed by private ownership, or in some
1Beside those below mentioned, the larger part of the Woonasquatucket Library, one of the free libraries of the city, on being discontinued in 1889, was transferred to this library, (more than 600 volumes), as a gift from the Richmond Manufacturing Company.
2Six thousand, two hundred and twenty-two volumes, received in 1877. 3Three thousand and eighteen purchased in 1890. ("Records", June 6, 1890.)
'Six hundred and nine volumes, transferred to the custody of this library in June, 1900.
5More than fourteen thousand volumes, transferred to the library building in July, 1900. The first negotiations in regard to this transfer date from May 9, 1890; and the final papers were signed June 2, 1900.
"About seventy-five volumes, transferred to the library building in March, 1901.
"One hundred and forty-eight volumes, transferred to the library building in July, 1900.
Sixty-eight volumes, transferred to the library building in November, 1900. With them is placed the library's own collection of works on education, bring- ing the total up to considerably more than one thousand volumes.
Three other collections which are placed "on deposit" in the library build- ing are "The George H. Smith collection of scrap-books relating to the Ameri- can Civil War" (29 vols.) received in June, 1900, and still remaining the prop-
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
way representing private collecting, which have become the property of this library.
One of the earliest additions to the library, on any very large scale, was from the Cooke library. In 1883, this library, with several others, availed itself of the provisions of the will of the late Mr. Joseph J. Cooke,1 in bidding, at auction sales, on the books from his private library, to the amount of $5,000, thus securing an accession of 2,596 volumes. In 1884 another of the choice private libraries described in Judge Rogers's volume was sold at auction, namely, that of Mr. Alex- ander Farnum, an eminent member of the Board of Trustees of this library from 1875 until his death in 1884. From this sale 244 volumes were secured, representing, with scarcely an exception, the choicest editions2 of the works purchased. In 1884, also, another of the choice libraries described by Judge Rogers was broken up, namely, that of Mr. Caleb Fiske Harris. Mr. Harris's collecting propensity led him in two different directions, each of them noteworthy. Within the limits of Providence is still preserved his unique collection of "Ameri- can poetry", on the shelves of the Brown University Library. Within the same city is also preserved his invaluable collection on "Slavery and the Civil War", on the shelves of the Providence Public Library. This accession to the library, in 1884, is properly spoken of as a pur- chase, and yet when it is considered that out of the entire sum paid for it ($2,000) the sum of $1,909 was offered to the trustees as a gift3 for the express purpose of securing this collection, thus leaving only $91 to be directly appropriated for it from the funds of the library, it almost requires to be classed as a gift. Of the various "collections" secured by the library during its first twenty-three years, this "Harris collection" still stands as, on the whole, the most noteworthy and most valuable. It is numbered among the eight libraries in the country which are richest in this department of history, the others being the Boston Public Library, the Boston Athenaeum Library, the Massachu-
erty of Mr. Smith's heirs; the duplicate set of the Providence Journal (in part), comprising 139 volumes (the property of the Providence Journal Com- pany ), and the duplicate set of "Records of the North Burial Ground" (5 vols. ), the property of the City of Providence.
1Mr. Cooke, who died July 8, 1881, at the age of 68, was a book-collector of wide experience, as well as a man of prominence in public life.
2Notable instances are cited in the 7th annual report of the library, p. 4, foot-note b. Some of these sets are now on the shelves of the "Standard Library."
"As actually paid over, it amounted to $2,221.47.
The circumstances of this gift are explained at p. 5 of the 7th annual re- port of the library, the money having accumulated from the "Hospital Li- brary" fund at Portsmouth Grove, undertaken during the American Civil War, in 1862. As early as 1871, the proposition to transfer this fund to the public library had been discussed ("Records", Nov. 14, 1871), but no decisive action was taken until 1884. The papers relating to the fund are deposited in the archives of the library.
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THE GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY.
setts Historical Society Library, the Harvard College Library at Cam- bridge, the Cornell University Library at Ithaca, N. Y., the Oberlin College Library at Oberlin, O., and the Howard University Library at Washington, D. C. On the principle that "to him that hath shall be given", important additions have been made to this invaluable nucleus, including several hundred rare volumes and pamphlets on the subject from the heirs of the late Sullivan Dorr, in 1884; newspapers and periodicals from Mr. Henry G. Russell, in 1886, and the 609 volumes already mentioned, from the library of the Rhode Island Soldiers' and Sailors' Historical Society, in 1900, and still others from the heirs of Alphonso R. Janes in 1900. When, as las at least once been the case, all of the library's volumes (so far as practicable) on the same subjects have been brought in from the stack and placed with these collections, there is found to be a total of more than 11,500 volumes on this partic- ular department of history. The departments of statistics and gov- ernmental administration were strengthened, in 1884, by a bequest of 1,323 volumes from Hon. Henry B. Anthony, United States senator from Rhode Island from 1859 to 1884; by 35 volumes from Miss M. J. Blackwood in 1887, and by about 1,800 volumes from the library of Dr. Edwin Miller Snow,1 received from his widow in 1889; also by many volumes from Hon. Oscar Lapham in 1896. Another note- worthy gift is that of 670 volumes from Mr. Albert J. Jones,2 a former citizen of Providence, who died at Florence, in Italy, in 1887, having, however, previously announced his intention of making this gift. The Jones library may be characterized as an Italian collection, all but about twenty-five of the books being in the Italian language, and most of the standard Italian authors being represented. In 1887 also were received from the Perkins Institution for the Blind, in South Boston, twenty-four volumes, printed in raised letters, for the blind, as the nucleus for the library's collection of these works, now numbering 138, which have carried pleasure to the minds of so many readers to whom the gift of sight is denied.3 In 1888 were received nine volumes, all of exceptional value, in the field of architectural study, presented to the library as a memorial of Paul D. Allen. In 1891 were received
1Twelfth annual report, p. 8. Dr. Snow, who died Dec. 22, 1888, was a graduate from Brown University in the class of 1845, and served as Superin- tendent of Health, of Providence, from 1856 to 1884.
2The treasures of the Jones library are described by the librarian, in the Providence Journal, July 27, 1887. See also the 10th annual report of the library, p. 4-5. Mr. Jones, who died May 25, 1887, left also to this library, by will, two book-funds, of $1,000.00 each, the incomes of which should be used respectively for Italian books, and books on art. Mr. Jones had also been a generous donor to the Providence Athenaeum.
3By the generosity of a friend of the library (Mr. Robert Grieve), a beau- tifully printed catalogue of these books was published and distributed in 1900 ("List of books in raised type for the blind"). See also the Monthly Bulle- tin, v. 4, p. 89-91.
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
about 150 publications designated by the donor as "The Updike pamphlets", presented by Mr. Daniel Berkeley Updike,1 of Boston. These volumes, representing the accumulations, through five successive generations of a single Rhode Island family, possess a value of no common order, as showing what matters occupied the attention of thinking men in Rhode Island from 1640 to 1820. In 1893 this library received from Mrs. Benjamin F. Thurston,2 the widow of a former member of the Board of Trustees, a gift of $1,000 to be spent outright for "books illustrating modern applications of science."
In 1894 a beginning was made in collecting the library's present collection of trade catalogues, which has become a group of works of exceptional value and utility, all of which, however, with but few exceptions, are gifts to the library. In 1896 the library received, by bequest, the very valuable private library of Mr. Alfred M. Williams.3 Mr. Williams had been a member of the Board of Trustees from 1888 until his death, on the Island of Saint Kitt's, March 9, 1896; and his library, numbering more than 3,000 volumes, was especially rich in folk lore and in Irish, Scotch, and Celtic literature. In 1898 the very useful working library of the late Mr. Robert Bonner was received as a gift from Mr. Bonner's family. This very welcome musical collec- tion comprises about 500 musical scores, and about 150 volumes about music, and supplements in a very desirable manner the collection of several hundred musical scores, etc., which had already been pur- chased by the library in 1895. This collection has been still further supplemented by the large gift of music from Mr. Walter I. French, in 1900, bringing the collection of musical scores up to more than 1,500.+ The above list is far from exhaustive. Welcome gifts, smaller in amounts, but emphatically appreciated, have included the valuable collection of publications, largely bibliographical, presented by Mr. George T. Paine,5 in 1878, and continued to date ; and a bibliographical gift of great value from Mr. Frederick A. Arnold, in 1901, with many another gift of great value and serviceableness from a multitude of different readers. One of the most delightful of the library's ex-
1Mr. Updike, the founder of the Merrymount Press, in Boston, has not only bound these "pamphlets" in a most tasteful manner, but has placed inside each volume an appropriate label descriptive of the collection. See the 14th annual report of the library, p. 5.
2Mr. Thurston was a lawyer of great eminence, and widely known outside of his city and state. He served as a member of this board, from 1883, until his death, March 13, 1890.
3Mr. Williams, who was the editor in chief of the Providence Journal, from 1884 to 1891, also made this library his residuary legatee. See the Monthly Bulletin, v. 2, p. 75; also, R. S. Howland's "Memoir" of Mr. Williams, p. 26-28. 4This includes valuable gifts from Mr. John H. Mason and others.
"Mr. Paine served as one of the members of the "Joint committee," in 1874 representing the Providence Franklin Society. In 1883, the firm of which he is a member (the Akerman Co.), began the practice of an annual gift to this library, which has now amounted to a large sum.
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THE GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY.
periences, since occupying the new building, has been the great number of small gifts made by visitors immediately after visiting the building.
Mention has been made of the two book funds from the bequest of Mr. Albert J. Jones. A third was received in 1895 from Miss Clara A. Hoppin and Miss Elizabeth A. Hoppin, who in the sale of one of the lots on which the library building stands set apart $1,000 as a fund whose income should be used for the purchase of books on art. In 1901 a fund of $3,000 was received from a Providence lady who prefers to remain anonymous, though already one of the library's generous benefactors, the income of which shall be used "for the purchase of books", but without specifying any classes of books.
The New Building .- A detailed account of the library building, completed in 1900, and of the steps leading to it will be found in the pamphlet published in 1901, entitled "The new building of the Provi- dence Public Library".
The essential characteristic of the library scheme advocated in the years 1871 to 1875 by Dr. Welcome O. Brown and his associates was the grouping of widely different collections of books under one roof. When it is remembered that, of the separate libraries established in Providence at the time that this library was opened in 1878, three are now a part of this library in its new building, and three others are deposited under its roof, it would at first seem that there had been a return to the "polytechnic" idea. There is, however, this difference, that, while the public library was at first only one feature among half a dozen, it has here been recognized as indisputably the dominant feature, and these others are valuable in so far as they minister to it and facilitate its development.
In this naturally evolved relation of the two, lies the promise of that wider development which is sure to open before a public library like this in the future.1
THE OLNEYVILLE FREE LIBRARY.
This free library, organized in 1875, stood until 1898 within the limits of the town of Johnston, but is now one of the free public libraries of the city of Providence, this part of Johnston having been annexed to the city. It is under the control of the Olneyville Free Library Association.
The reading room and library were first opened to the public
1Owing to need of condensation, the following items in regard to the Provi- dence Public Library are here presented in the briefest possible form: Present officers, President (vacant by death of Judge Durfee) ; Secretary, Edward I. Nickerson ; Treasurer, Samuel H. Tingley; Assistant Treasurer, H. E. Thurston ; Librarian, William E. Foster. Present number of volumes, January 1, 1901, 93,368, of which nearly all are catalogued in print in the " Finding List " and " Author Index," (down to March, 1900). Circulation in 1900, 106,452. Cost of maintenance, 1900, $27,982.02. Location of building, Washington street, corner
PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
7
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THE GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY.
February 20, 1875, the nucleus of the library being fifty volumes given by the Sunday School of Grace Church in Providence. The number of volumes increased slowly. There were 600 in 1877, 1,500 in 1887, and in 1901 there are 8,044. The library was at first opened in the building at No. 12 Hartford avenue, and was afterwards for some time in the Irons Block; but in 1891 the attractive Library Building, an interesting example of medieval Flemish architecture, was erected by the Library Association in a commanding portion of Olneyville square from plans by Stone, Carpenter & Willson, of Providence. The library has since then found a permanent home within its walls, occu- pying a part of the second story, the remainder of the building being rented for offices and other purposes.
The correction of boundary lines, which was effected by the annexa- tion act of 1898, was an exchange of unnatural conditions for natural ones, the former boundary running through a thickly settled territory possessing as much community of interests as is the case with the territory through which passes the former boundary between Boston and Roxbury. In the work of the Providence Public Library the artificial nature of this barrier was recognized from the very first. From time to time suggestions were made for extending the privileges of the registration to this part of Johnston. The case is stated in the " 13th annual report of the Providence Public Library (1890) as follows: "The Olneyville Free Library, situated as it is on the very edge of the city limits, though having no organic connection with this library (the Providence Public Library), performs many of the functions of a branch library. Although the building stands within the limits of the town of Johnston, the greater number of the borrowers-about sixty per cent. - arc residents of Providence. The library is used constantly and largely-as this library is-by the teachers and pupils of those public schools of Providence which are situated nearest the Johnston line" (i. e., the Bridgham Street, Federal Street, and Academy Avenue grammar schools, and since then the Messer Street Grammar School) "in con- nection with their studies. The library acts as a feeder to this library, as a branch to the Boston Public Library does to the main library, and the coming of some reader to this library who says that lic has been referred here from the Olncyville Free Library for works of a more special character than are contained therein, is a matter of frequent occurrence. Repeatedly also references on special subjects posted at this library have been posted there also".1 In this year also (1890)
Greene street. Building occupied March 15, 1900; cost. º460,000; architects, Stone, Carpenter & Willson. The building is open every day in the year; from 10 A. M. to 9 P. M. on ordinary days, and from 2 to 9 P. M. on Sundays and holidays.
1Thirteenth annual report of the Providence Public Library, p. 12.
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
about 2,200 volumes received by the Providenee Public Library from the sale of the Franklin Lyeeum Library, being duplicates of works already in this library, were given to the Olneyville Free Library. The community of interests was regarded as in every way very close. Accordingly, in 1891, the Board of Trustees of the Providenee Public Library extended its privileges to all residents within a definitely specified territory on the Johnston side of the line. Registration slips were signed by these residents, and also signed by the librarian of the Olneyville Free Library, and, on being presented at the Providence Publie Library, eards were accordingly issued to the readers.
The Olneyville Free Library was an outgrowth of the peculiar local conditions. The community that it was designed to benefit was dis- tinctively a mill population, and the first founders of the library were philanthropie persons, including the proprietors of the mills them- selves. The library has always been maintained-as the Providence Publie Library has been-by private generosity for the most part, assisted in part by municipal appropriations. During the twenty- three years in which the Olneyville Free Library remained in the town of Johnston it received a municipal appropriation from that town only in the years 1879 to 1895, inelusive.
· The work of the Olneyville Free Library has from the first been of a peculiarly interesting nature. The present librarian, Mrs. Harriet H. Richardson, was appointed in 1887, and brought to the library a rare endowment of sympathetie insight and devotion to the details of a confining but infinitely faseinating work. Sueeessive elasses of boys and girls, and of older readers as well, will remember sueh a guide and friend with affeetion. The use of this eolleetion of books has always been large, proportionally, reaching 20,322 in 1894. In 1900 it was . 13,242.
When the annexation was effeeted, in 1898, the natural and obvious step would have been to make the Olneyville Free Library a definitely recognized branch of the Providenee Public Library. That this has not been done is hardly to be aeeounted for, exeept on the ground of the painful inadequaey of funds by which both institutions are em- barrassed.
The Olneyville Free Library is open daily, from 2 to 9, and also on Sundays.
The librarians, from the beginning. have ineluded the following : Miss F. Wirseh, 1875 to 1885; Albert Rider, 1885 to 1886; Nathan M. Wright, January to November, 1886; Miss Sarah Potter, 1886 to 1887; and Mrs. Harriet H. Richardson, 1887 to the present time (1901). The present trustees are as follows: W. A. H. Grant, president; Dr. A. H. Longfellow, vice-president; Dr. Frank A. Twitchell, treasurer; Frank A. Spratt, secretary. Trustees: James
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THE GROWTH OF THE LIBRARY.
A. Piree, William S. Steere, Edward F. Sibley, John E. Bowen, Miss S. J. Eddy, Jolın T. Collison, Thomas Cloxton, Thomas Wilkinson.
The origin of the institution is largely due to Miss Sarah J. Eddy, and Miss Rosamond R. Leavens, who have also been among the most constant supporters of the library. The selection of the books has been chiefly in the hands of Miss Leavens.
THE UNION FOR CHRISTIAN WORK LIBRARY.
The Union for Christian Work, as its name indieates, is an organiza- tion formed for other purposes than that of a library; and yet a library has from the first been one of its main features. Moreover, although the membership of the organization which supports it has always been chiefly of one form of religious belief, yet its library has always been free to the entire community. This organization (sup- ported by those who are connected with churches of the so-called Liberal faiths) was founded in May, 1868, having evidently been modeled on the analogous institution in Boston, known as the Young Men's Christian Union, which was organized in 1851.
The library plays its part, and a most effective part, in the general seheme of an institution which has comprised a "boys' elub", a "fruit and flower mission", "fresh air outings for invalids and others", and "the distribution of reading to seamen and others", in suburbs remote from libraries.
It has oeeupied quarters, sinee Oetober, 1868, in the second story of the building at 151 Weybosset street (the west corner of Eddy street). The library now numbers 5,362 volumes (December 31, 1900), and is open daily, from 3 to 9 P. M., exeept in July and August, when the work is done on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 4 to 8 P. M. It began the eireulation of books in 1869, and lias sinee continued it. During the year 1900, 11,400 volumes were circulated, the number of different readers drawing then being about 1,500.
The hours of the reading room connected with the library are the same as in the ease of the library, with the addition of Sundays and four of the holidays. The reading room is open on Sundays from 2 to 9 P. M., except in June, July, August, and September. It is to be gratefully remembered that this library opened its reading room on Sunday, October 5, 1884-earlier than any other in Providenee.
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