Providence Athenaeum
The Providence Athenaeum is an independent, member-supported subscription library in the College Hill neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island. The building is open to the public, but only members can check out items from the collection. The library was established in 1836 as a merger between two earlier subscription libraries: The Providence Library Company, founded in 1753, and the Providence Athenaeum, founded in 1831. It became "The Providence Athenaeum" by amendment to its charter in 1850. History In 1753, a group of private citizens started The Providence Library Company 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 majority of the first collection of books, which were then housed at the Providence court house. 71 of the 345 titles held by the Providence Library Company were in circulation at the time of the fire and survived. The surviving volumes now make up the Founders' Collection. Brown University moved to Providence in 1770, and the library offered students the use of its books. In 1836, the Providence Library Company merged with the Providence Atheneum (founded in 1831), and the merged organization became known as the Providence Athenaeum. On December 23, 1848, Sarah Helen Whitman broke off her relationship with Edgar Allan Poe in the building. Author H. P. Lovecraft was not a member of the library, but he lived nearby on College Street; he frequented the library and wrote about it in his letters and stories. The Building In 1838, the current Greek Revival building was completed on Benefit Street by Philadelphia architect William Strickland. A three-story addition was completed in 1914, designed by architect Norman Isham. This addition housed the Children's Library until 1979, and now holds the Reference Room. In 1979, a second addition was added by architect Warren Platner to house the Sayles Gorham Children's Library. Artwork The building is decorated with artwork including: A large 18th-century copy of Gilbert Stuart's famous Lansdowne portrait of George Washington, painted by an unknown artist A small painting titled The Hours by Edward Malbone A bronze bust of H. P. Lovecraft Marble busts of Athenaeum dignitaries In front of the library is the Richmond Fountain, a Gothic Revival water fountain dating to 1873, designed by Ware & Van Brunt. The inscription on the fountain reads "Come hither every one that thirsteth". After falling into disrepair, the fountain was restored to working order in 2018. Athenaeum today Today, it continues to operate as an independent, member-supported library. It hosts many cultural events for both adults and children, one of the most famous being its salon speaker series which was launched in 2006. Special Collections In addition to the books available for circulation, the Special Collections of the Philbrick