The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, located in the city's Society Hill neighborhood, is a special collections library and museum founded in 1814. This historic Italianate-style building opened in 1845. The institution was inspired by the Greek Athenaion, an Athenian temple where poets read their works, the library's founders desired to develop a place to display materials linked to our nation's history, showcase arts, and discuss and disseminate learned knowledge. The Athenaeum saw declining patronage after the city developed its free library system in the 1890s, and in response, the organization reinvented itself as a special collections library with related public exhibitions, lectures, and publications; the research-orientated library has again thrived since the mid-twentieth century. Alongside the library's rare books, manuscripts, sculptures, and countless historical materials, the Athenaeum's collections include architecture and interior design history (notably from 1800 to 1945) that focuses on the history of American architecture and building technology. Lastly, since 1950, the Athenaeum has sponsored the annual Athenaeum Literary Award for works of fiction and non-fiction.

Numerous Athenaeums arose in the United States in the early nineteenth century during a surge of cultural and literary nationalism. However, only a few have survived into the twenty-first century. The Philadelphia Athenaeum developed out of the American Philosophical Society (see the link below for the Clio entry about APS) and the two institutions, both of which aimed to provide "useful information" to the public, shared quarters on Independence Square until the Athenaeum moved into its now national-landmark building.

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, named for the classical Greek goddess of wisdom, was founded in 1814 to educate the public and procure works of art, newspapers, pamphlets, books, maps, science, charts, monuments, and other items connected with the history and antiquities of America. Moreover, the Athenaeum's library contains an extensive rare book collection, developed for nearly two-hundred years. As its collections expanded and other learned societies emerged (the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Franklin Institute grew out of the Athenaeum's membership), the Athenaeum refined its objectives. Today it maintains a reference library for members and the public, a depository of periodicals of interest to scholars, and graduate students are frequent visitors. The organization also contributes to the city's cultural life by hosting and supporting historical and educational activities and recognizing outstanding literary achievements. For instance, the Athenaeum of Philadelphia has presented the Athenaeum Literary Award since 1950. 

In 1968 the Athenaeum joined with the Victorian Society in America to offer a national program of research; publications; public lectures and tours; and exhibitions devoted to nineteenth-century American social and cultural history. This program has attracted thousands of rare books, manuscripts, architectural drawings, and photographs, all available and utilized by scholars, academics, and researchers.

The Athenaeum's architectural collection consists of 180,000 archived drawings, more than 350,000 photographs, and manuscripts from roughly 1,000 American architects. Meanwhile, the Anthanaeum's own architecture is noteworthy. John Notman designed the Italianate-style building in 1845 as one of the city's first buildings comprised of brownstone and one of the nation's first examples of a building with a palazzo-style facade. 

"The Athenaeum of Philadelphia." USHistory.org. Accessed January 8, 2023. https://www.ushistory.org/tour/athenaeum.htm.

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia website. https://philaathenaeum.org/. Accessed January 8, 2023

Moss, Roger W. "Athenæum of Philadelphia." The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia from Rutgers University. 2015. https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/athenaeum-of-philadelphia/.

Pitts, Carolyn. "Nomination Form: The Athenaeum of Philadelphia." National Register of Historic Places" nps.gov. 1976. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/79f45b28-9cc3-4e0a-9c72-6f8666316077/.