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The Astor Library Opens in New York

Page history last edited by PBworks 15 years, 10 months ago

 

 

In the mid-nineteenth century, talk circulated in towns like Boston and Philadelphia about the need for a public library.  New York began to discuss the options too.  It had just surpassed Paris in population and was close to London’s.  It also quickly established itself as a world recognized center of culture. 

The opportunity came in 1848 to fund the project when the world’s wealthiest man passed away.  John Jacob Astor left $400,000 of his empire in order to establish a library open to the public.  His published will stated his intent was:  “To contribute to the advancement of useful knowledge and the general good of society… The Trustees… may extend such surplus in procuring public lectures, to be delivered in connection with the library, upon useful subjects of literature, philosophy, science, history, and the fine arts.”  With that statement, the intent to provide a public library, as well as the purpose that library would provide started in New York.

 

The library opened in 1849 at Lafayette-Place with Dr. Joseph Cogswell serving as its first librarian.  It took even longer to be opened to the general public.  In January, 1854 Cogswell himself wrote to a letter to be published in the Home Journal describing the library noting that it would open to the public in a few days.  He wrote that once all of the $120,000 appropriated for books was spent, the library would hold a collection of close to 100,000 books.  He noted that it would then nearly fill the newly built space.  He also explained the delay in opening the library to the general public since it was taking time to purchase, classify and catalog this amount of books.  His desire to apologize was perhaps in response to the numerous letters to the editor that can be found in the New York Daily Times archives for these years.   He also addressed the rumors that the library had been built in extravagance noting that upon entrance to the library, if you believe the accounts of grandeur you will be disappointed but if you enter without these preconceptions you will be pleased.  He told the reader that book could be found for a reader in about five minutes since the library was arranged in alphabetical order; he states “it is as convenient and easy to be used as a common dictionary.”  The rest of the article is devoted to a description of the collection as well as the statement that the library will open on January 9th.

 

His letter did not quell criticism.  Letters in the New York Times continued to contemplate how a public library should be since the library hours were limited to a few hours in the morning, children were not allowed and the materials could not be circulated.  The many reasons cited as a need for the public library in the mid-nineteenth century were not met by the Astor Library.  New Yorkers wanted to see a successful public library like the new one in Boston.  They desired a place where urban workers could access books, keeping them out of saloons. Some were even radical enough to suggest a space for children and young adults.

 

Eventually the Astor library began to face financial problems.  By 1895 the library joined a project to combine with the other library in New York, the Lenox Library, as well as the first official New York Public Library.  Today, the building is now the Joseph Papp Public Theater.

 

 

Sources:

 

THE ASTOR LIBRARY. New York Daily Times (1851-1857); Jan 6, 1854; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2004) pg. 3

 

NYPL History Page - NYPL History

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