Nobody Remembers the First Library

Nobody Remembers

Lots of people know that Ben Franklin started the first library, but reading about it in his OWN words, is pretty cool. Below I ‘reprint’ Ben’s own explanation about how he thought of the concept of a library…

(Ben was VERY good at promoting all his achievements as John Adams used to so cantankerously observe.)

Actually, I also think Ben started the concept of “branding” because he made sure when he was in Paris, that you could buy his image on cups, fans, coins—-his image was all over Paris.

I love reading the founders own words and have often thought, that if our children in our schools read throughout the grades the founders own words, (instead of the rewritten history by some liberal idiot) the country would be more educated and KNOW just how much our leaders are destroying us all. It’s obvious that one of the reasons we are in such a mess today, is because of our terrible schools, which I am beginning to think is on purpose.

Why do I think it’s on purpose? Ben will tell you.

Pay attention to the last sentence: Ben knew that only an informed and educated public will stand up for its rights.

–ENJOY! And be amazed at the genius (and good common sense) of Ben Franklin.

From Ben’s Biography 1771

He had just moved from Boston—(Library is in Franklin, MA)

“I began now to have some acquaintance among the young people of the town that were lovers of reading, with whom I spent my evenings very pleasantly: and gained money by my industry and frugality. I lived very contended and forgot Boston as much as I could, and did not wish it should be known where I resided, except to my friend Collins, who war in the secret and kept it faithfully.

About this time 1730, our club meeting not at a tavern but in a little room of Mr. Grace’s set apart for that purpose, a proposition was made by me that, since our books were often referred to in our disquisitions upon the queries, it might be convenient to us to have them all together when we met, that upon occasion, they might be consulted. And by thus clubbing our books into a common library, we should, while we liked to keep them together, have each of us the advantage of using the books of all the other members, which would be nearly as beneficial as if each owned the whole. It was liked and agreed to , and we filled on end of the room with such books as we could best spare. The number was not so great as we expected: and, though they had been of great use, yet some inconveniences occurring for want of due care of them, the collection, after about a year, was separated and each took his books home again.

And now I set on foot my first project of a public nature—that for a subscription library. I drew up the proposals, got them put into form by our great scrivener Brockden, and, by the help of my friends in the Junto, procured fifty subscribers of 40s. each to begin with and 10s. a year for fifty years, the term our company was to continue. We afterward obtained a charter, the company being increased to one hundred. This was the mother of all the North American subscription libraries, now so numerous. It is become a great thing itself, and continually goes on increasing. These libraries have improved the general conversation of the Americans, made the common tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen from other countries, and perhaps have contributed in some degree to the stand so generally made throughout the colonies in defense of their privileges. “

 

And for that this Nobody will FORVER be grateful! Thank you Benjamin Franklin!

April 4, 2014 - Posted by Joyanna Adams | American History, Uncategorized | History