Providence Athenaeum

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The Providence Athenaeum, founded in 1753 in Providence, Rhode Island, is the fourth oldest subscription library in the United States. Only the Library Company of Philadelphia, founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin, Newport's Redwood Library and Athenaeum, founded in 1747, and the Charleston Library Society, founded in 1748, are older. The Providence Athenaeum predates the New York Society Library, founded in 1754, and the Boston Athenaeum, founded in 1807.

[edit] History

In 1753 a group of private citizens started the library to gain access to a collection of books that they could not afford individually. Members paid a small subscription fee to the library to purchase books which all members could share. Stephen Hopkins, signatory of the Declaration of Independence, was a leading member of the early organization. Many of the early books had to be purchased from England. In 1758, a fire destroyed the first collection of books, which were then housed at the Providence court house. Shortly after Brown University moved to Providence in 1770, the library offered students the use of its books. In 1836 the library merged with the Providence Atheneum (founded in 1831), and the merged organization became known as the Providence Athenaeum. In 1838 a new Greek Revival building was completed on Benefit Street by the Philadelphia architect, William Strickland.

[edit] References and external links

• Edward Field, State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the End of the Century: A History (Mason Pub. Co, 1902) p.640, (accessed on google book search)
• Providence Athenaeum official website

List of Athenaeums in the United States Philadelphia | Boston | La Jolla | Minneapolis | Portsmouth, NH | Providence, RI | Newport, RI | Salem, MA | Saint Johnsbury, VT | Columbia, TN | Pittsfield, MA