Providence Athenaeum catalogs (Arch-005)

Historical Note

The Providence Athenæum (1836- )

The Providence Athenæum is an independent, member-supported library and cultural center located in Providence, Rhode Island.

Founded originally as "The Athenæum" in 1836, its progenitors were two earlier libraries: The Providence Library Company, founded in 1753, and the Providence Athenaeum, founded in 1831. When they could not agree on terms for a merger, both organizations dissolved and a new library was formed, which purchased a selection of books and periodicals from the two earlier institutions. Housed originally in the Arcade on Weybosset Street in downtown Providence, the Athenæum moved to its new building at 251 Benefit Street in July, 1838. In 1850, “The Athenæum” was renamed “The Providence Athenæum" by amendment to its charter.

Providence Athenaeum catalog:

Between 1836 and 1861, the Providence Athenaeum published four catalogs, and two supplements. Annual additions were written by hand into the published catalogs. Lists of new book purchases were published in each annual report beginning 1862.

Prior to 1883, the records of the library's holdings were kept in manuscript form and new additions were entered by date. In 1883, a card catalog was introduced; Mary Angell started cataloging all new books acquired, plus the existing collection of 3,000 volumes. In October 1895, Librarian Joseph LeRoy Harrison hired the Athenaeum's first professionally-trained cataloger, Grace Leonard. Between 1895 and 1908 Leonard reclassified the library's entire holdings (56,000 works) according to the Dewey Decimal system. Many of her handwritten cards remained in the card catalog into the 1900s.

In 1998, the Rhode Island School of Design and Providence Athenaeum shared online catalog was created.

Sources:

• Lancaster, Jane. Inquire Within: A Social History of the Providence Athenaeum since 1753, pages 129-131, 183-184. Providence, R.I. : Providence Athenaeum, 2003.
• "Providence Athenaeum Raven Tour" leaflet, published September, 2015.
• Providence Athenæum website and Wikipedia article viewed online June 28, 2018.