Culture club the curious history of the boston athenaeum book

At first a repository for books, to which works of art were later added, the athenaeum attracted over time a following that included such literary luminaries as ralph waldo emerson and henry james. John adams seriously ocd nephew founds the boston athenaeum. The docent was outstanding, knowledgeable, and lots of fun. Book overview founded in 1807, the successor to a literary club called the anthology society, the boston athenaeum occupies an important place in the early history of american intellectual life.

Explore the stunning boston athenaeum plus its rare books. The curious history of the boston athenaeum by katherine wolff. The curious history of the boston athenaeum amherst, ma. The boston athenaeum is home to about 150,000 rare books. The book club for the curious is just the thing for you. Book club for the curious museum of science, boston. In nineteenthcentury america it was customary for a new institution to choose an emblem, a seal or device, for official purposes. Feb 24, 2018 strife has erupted at the boston athenaeum, a venerable redoubt of brahmin culture better known for afternoon teas and beacon hill reserve than for workplace clashes that spill into the public realm.

Wolff, unlike other booklength chroniclers of the athenaeums history, shies away from a fullscale chronological study. If you wish to become a member or register for the first time, please create an account. The boston athenaeum was invented by men who understood the power of symbols. But in 1807, it was little more than the obsession of the odd bibliomaniac. At first a repository for books, to which works of art were later added, the athenaeum attracted over time a following that included such literary luminaries as. An architectural journey through the london library by tony mcintyre. Membership library and cultural center founded in 1807. The word athenaeum is borrowed from the greek, originally a designation for temples of athena, goddess of wisdom, justice, and craft. The boston athenaeum deploys generous and engaged donors, committed members and trustees, and a wellqualified staff currently working toward the strategic goals.

University of massachusetts press although the boston athenaeum was founded in 1807 as a repository for books, it was from the outset much more than a library. Katherine wolffs culture club, her account of the founding of the boston athenaeum in 1807, is an eminently readable piece of scholarship on one of nineteenthcentury. Once among the most famous women in america, her name is somewhat obscure today. The boston athenaeums early years fine books and collections. An appeal in behalf of the boston athenaeum addressed to the proprietors by. He had two siblings, elizabeth 17801798 and abigail 17901859. By the spring of 1812, five years after incorporating, athenaeum members had begun to entertain various designs. A history of the linen hall library, 17881988 by john killen. Strife has erupted at the boston athenaeum, a venerable redoubt of brahmin culture better known for afternoon teas and beacon hill reserve than for. The curious history of the boston athenaeum by katherine wolff university of massachusetts press, 2009.

The alcott sisters letters from europe, 18701871 louisa may alcott, may alcott. The first librarian, william smith shaw, and the new trustees had ambitious plans for the athen. Katherine wolff shows that from its inception, the boston athen. In the early nineteenth century, though books were still scarce in america, bibliomania was no rare disease. The curious history of the boston athenaeum by katherine wolff 2009, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Today the boston athenaeum oozes elegance with its scarlet leatherbound doors, giltedged books and marble busts. The curious history of the boston athenaeum university of massachusetts press, 2009.

The boston athenaeuma 211yearold independent library in the center of beacon hillis home to about 150,000 rare books. American neoclassic sculpture at the boston athenaeum past exhibition a new sett of maps both of ancient and present geography annual reports of the boston athen. Jun 16, 2019 the brattle book shop outside bookstalls, surrounded by murals of authors and book covers, are easily one of the most instagrammed literary sites in boston. Anthropodermic bibliopegy is the practice of binding books in human skin. He very early discovered a strong attachment for books. This reading group is designed especially for those who are interested in science and technology and how it impacts our society.

It moved into its present building on beacon street in the late 1840s. Josiah quincy, the sole survivor of the first five. Boston athenaeum skin book boston, massachusetts atlas. We are temporarily closed through april 4, 2020 due to the covid19 coronavirus. In the early nineteenth century, though books were still scarce in. The brattle book shop outside bookstalls, surrounded by murals of authors and book covers, are easily one of the most instagrammed literary sites in boston. Though governed by the boston elite, who promoted it as a way of.

Social libraries and american civic life, 17341854, unpublished ph. Strife has erupted at the boston athenaeum, a venerable redoubt of brahmin culture better known for afternoon teas and beacon hill reserve than for workplace clashes that spill into the public realm. Once this happens you will receive an invite from ba events via clickmeeting. John lannon, associate director of the boston athenaeum, discusses the history of this enduring fixture on beacon hill. May 06, 2014 john lannon, associate director of the boston athenaeum, discusses the history of this enduring fixture on beacon hill.

The curious history of the boston athenaeum examines the genesis and early. But the store, which specializes in used and antiquarian books, maps, prints, and ephemera, began back in 1825, originally located a few blocks away where the present government center. The curious history of the boston athenaeum katherine wolff isbn. The curious history of the boston athenaeum explores the development of an alternative. Bibliography of writings on the history of libraries. Though governed by the boston elite, who promoted it. Frequent, structured meetings of supervisors and direct reports along with crossorganizational task. Oct 11, 2017 guests can examine a 19thcentury book bound in human skin and portions of president george washingtons personal library on saturday during the boston athenaeums fourth annual open house. Guests can examine a 19thcentury book bound in human skin and portions of president george washingtons personal library on saturday during the.

Proprietors of the boston athenaeum guidestar profile. Today its collections comprise over half a million volumes, with particular strengths in boston history, new england state and local history, biography, english and american literature, and the fine and decorative arts. Founded in 1807, it houses such treasures as george washingtons library. As of may 2019, the anthropodermic book project has examined 31 out of 50 books in public institutions supposed to have anthropodermic bindings, of which 18 have been confirmed as human and have been demonstrated to be animal leather instead. Library history round table newsletter round tables. Search university of massachusetts press umass amherst. William smith shaw was born to john and elizabeth shaw in haverhill, massachusetts, on august 12, 1788. The top ten literary sites in boston you should visit. But in a locked room, tucked into a custommade box, there lives a particularly curious one. Founded in 1807, the successor to a literary club called the anthology society, the boston athenaeum occupies an important place in the early history of american intellectual life. At first a repository for books, to which works of art were later added, the athenaeum attracted over time a following that included such literary. The curious history of the boston athenaeum princeton alumni weekly. The building holds so much history and beautiful artwork.