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NUMBER TEN AND A HALF BEACON STREET
THE
BOSTON ATHENAEUM had its origin in the Anthology Club, which was founded in
1804. Reading-Rooms were established in Joy’s Building, Congress Street,
January 1, 1807; and in the following month the Anthology trustees were
incorporated by an Act of the Legislature, as a body politic under the name of
the Proprietors of the Boston Athenaeum. In June, 1822, the books and other
property of the Institution were removed to the former mansion of James
Perkins, Esq., on Pearl Street, and there remained for about twenty years. At
the close of that period the locality had become almost wholly occupied by
mercantile buildings, and a strong sentiment developed in favor of removal. In
1845 a lot on Tremont Street was purchased. This was soon after sold, and on
December 1 of the same year the Proprietors bought of Edward B. Phillips, Esq.,
the former pasture lot of his grandfather, Lieutenant-Governor William
Phillips, together with four brick dwelling-houses standing thereon. The lot
has a frontage of one hundred and twenty-four feet on Beacon Street, and is
bounded by the Granary Burial-Ground in the rear. The Corner-Stone of the
present edifice was laid April 27, 1847, and the books and art treasures were
removed thereto in July, 1849. Among the more precious acquisitions of the
Athenaeum are many volumes formerly in the possession of George Washington.
These were procured through the generosity of seventy gentlemen of Boston and
Salem, who contributed fifty dollars apiece for that object. 1
1 Barrett Wendell, Litt.D., The
Athenaeum Centennial.
