Salem Social Library


The Salem Social Library, also known as the Social Library in Salem, was a proprietary library located in Salem, Massachusetts. Established in 1760, it was one of the earliest lending libraries in the American colonies.

History

In 1760, twenty-eight individuals collectively subscribed 165 guineas to fund the creation of the library. The group commissioned Jeremy Condy, a Boston minister, to purchase books in London. The library officially opened on May 20, 1761, in a brick schoolhouse, with an initial collection of 415 volumes. This collection included both purchased books and additional volumes donated by library members.
Social Library in Salem was a proprietary library in Salem, Massachusetts. "Twenty-eight gentlemen... subscribed 165 guineas.... A Boston minister,, was employed to buy the books in London and the library opened in a brick schoolhouse May 20, 1761, with 415 volumes including gifts given by members. The revolution was a bitter blow to many of the gentlemen who had founded the library. Many of the proprietors fled to England.... In 1784 the library made a new start in new quarters in the new... schoolhouse. Here they remained about 15 years, the schoolmaster acting as librarian." "In 1797 they became incorporated;" Edward Augustus Holyoke, Jacob Ashton, Joseph Hiller, and Edward Pulling served as signatories. "There were over 40 proprietors when in 1810 the library was turned over to the Salem Athenaeum| Athenaeum."

Subscribers