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| History of Darby Library |
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Past | Present | Future
On the tenth day of March 1743, a group of Quaker
farmers and merchants residing in ‘the village of Darby, Province
of Pennsylvania", met to organize
the area’s first cultural institution. This institution was named the Darby
Library Company. On that day, twenty-nine townsmen signed an article of
agreement founding one of America’s first public libraries. An
unrecorded amount of money was subscribed by the organizers for the purchase of
books and forty-five volumes at a cost of 11 Pounds, 10 Shillings, Sterling were
purchased. Forty-three of those original volumes are on display at the
Darby Free Library.
John Pearson was
elected the first Librarian, Joseph Bonsall, Secretary, and Nathan Gibson,
Treasurer. With the assistance of botanist, John
Bartram, a member
of the Darby Friend Meeting, arrangements were completed to purchase the books
in London. Funds for the purchase were transferred in the
form of a bill of exchange to Lawrence Williams, to be paid on sight to Peter
Collison of London.
On the 14th of April 1743, the
original Library Company Minutes (which still exist today) recorded a letter to
Peter Collison which was written by John Bonsall.
We quote it part:
‘There is a small number of us in Darby
near Philadelphia who have formed ourselves into a company in order to purchase
for our use a small set of books, with well-grounded expectations of our number
increasing in a little time, and being advised by our friend and neighbor,
John
Bartram, to
apply to three to purchase
these books , and in confidence of thy good disposition from the character her
gives of thee to encourage such a decision we have thought fit there upon to
send to and desire thee to do such an office of kindness for us..."
Peter Collison apparently merited the confidence
place in him, for the shipment of books arrived in Darby in November of that
same year. Many of those original 45 volumes are on display in the Darby Free
Library today.
In the early days of the Library Company, books were
kept in the home of the Librarian.
Borrowers of books were required to reimburse the library for one and one-half
times the value of each volume not returned. Late fines ranged from 3 to 6
pence, depending on the value of the book. Company meetings were held in various
members homes at "two o’clock in the afternoon."
In the 1866 the corner property at 10th
and Main was purchased and in 1872 the present building was erected with funds
raised by local friends and borrowers. Construction costs were $8,895.54
The Original Collection:
Through the interest of John Bartram [Botanist], his friend, Peter
Collinson, of London, procured and shipped to the Library it’s first
collection of books. Some 43 volumes, at the cost of £ ll-10s
Sterling or £ 25-19s-d. Pennsylvania
currency.
These books were received and examined at a Meeting of the Library Company
held November 5, 1743, being as follows:
| 1 Vol. 1738 |
|
The Gentleman
Instructed |
| 1 Vol. 1729 |
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Puffendorf’s Of the
Law of Nature and Nations |
| 8 Vol. 1736 |
* |
The Universal
Spectator |
| 8 Vol. 1741 |
|
The Turkish Spy |
|
2 Vol. 1718
|
|
Tourneforte’s- A
Voyage into the Levant |
|
1 Vol. 1737
|
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Whiston’s- A New
Theory of the Earth |
| 1 Vol. 1736 |
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Addison’s Travels |
| 1 Vol. 1736 |
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Barclay’s Apology |
| 1 Vol. 1738 |
|
Locke- Some Thoughts
Concerning Education |
| 1 Vol. 1738 |
|
Religion of Nature
Delineated |
| 1 Vol. 1741 |
|
Gordan’s Geographical
Grammar |
| 1 Vol. 1743 |
|
Sherlock- A Practical
Discouse Concerning Death |
| 1 Vol. 1717 |
|
Whiston- Astronomical
Principles of Religion |
| 1 Vol. 1740 |
|
Maundrel- A Journey from
Aleppo to Jerusalem |
| 1 Vol. 1740 |
* |
Dycke’s New English
Dictionary |
| 1 Vol. 1733 |
|
Tull- The Horse-Hoing
Husbandry |
| 1 Vol. 1736 |
|
Blackmore- Creation, a
Philosophical Poem |
| 3 Vol. 1735 |
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The Independent Whig |
| 1 Vol. 1738 |
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Wood’s Institute of
the Laws of England |
| 2 Vol. 1730 |
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Milton’s Paradise Lost
and Paradise Regained |
| 2 Vol. 1702 |
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Puffendorf- The
compleat History of Sweden |
| 2 Vol. 1736 |
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Raleigh- The History
of the World |
| 2 Vol. 1743 |
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Lediard- The Life of
the Duke of Marlborough |
These books, with the exception of six of the eight volumes
of the Universal Spectator, and Dycke’s New English Dictionary, are still in the
possession of the Library.
Present
Today, over 260 years later, the Library contains over 20,000 volumes of
fiction, non-fiction and reference books, plus audio, DVD and video tapes.
Information is also accessible through the Internet. Additionally, the
Library sponsors programs for children and adults throughout the year.
The Darby Library is a member of the Delaware County Library System.
With this affiliation, our patrons are able to access books from all over
Delaware County.
Future
You can keep the second oldest library in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
operating into the future by volunteering your time or by contributing
financially. Please see our volunteering page
for up-to-date ways for you to contribute.
|
1998 - 2006
Darby Free Library
