1946, John Carter Brown Library, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island

[LIB11103]

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1906 Memorial Library, Westerly, Rhode Island

[LIB10895] - Originally the library included a bowling alley, gymnasium, art gallery, museum, and meeting space for the Grand Army of the Republic. Really, a bowling alley? [Website]

Rhode Island RI Westerly Large Letter Vintage Postcards by USASouvenir
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John Carter Brown Memorial Library, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island

[LIB9470]

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1909 John Carter Brown Library, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island

[LIB9014] - The original Library building was formally dedicated in 1904. In 1990, the Library raised the capital to construct a 15,000 square foot addition, designed in the classical style like the original structure and named the Caspersen Building. [Website]

John Carter Brown Library, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island

[LIB7046] The scholarly value of the Library’s collection is extraordinary partly because its origins go back to a time when systematic book collecting around a historical theme was a rarity. Although the Brown family had been acquiring books since early in the eighteenth century, the present collection was not fully launched until the mid-nineteenth century when John Carter Brown (1797–1874) began avid pursuit of Americana, an area of interest he termed “the Great Subject.” His son, John Nicholas Brown (1861–1900), actively continued this tradition and before his untimely death had conceived the idea of giving the Library to the world of historical research as a memorial to his father. In his will, John Nicholas Brown assigned funds for the construction of an appropriate building and for an endowment to support the Library’s work. The original Library building was formally dedicated in 1904. In 1990, the Library raised the capital to construct a 15,000 square foot addition, designed in the classical style like the original structure and named the Caspersen Building. [Thank you to Brown, this information can be found here]

City Hall, Providence, RI Vintage Post Cards by markomundo
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1906 New Public Library, Providence, Rhode Island

[LIB6585] - Proceedings of the General Assembly, held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at South Elngstovm, the 25th day of February, 1760. The Hon. Stephen Hopkins, Governor. The Hon. John Gardner, Deputy Governor. An Act for raising $ 1,200, in order to re-establish the library, lately consumed by fire, in the town of Providence. Whereas, the proprietors of the aforesaid library preferred a petition, and represented unto this Assembly, that almost all the books and papers of which the said library was composed, were, with their book cases, destroyed, when the court house in said Providence, was burnt; and thereupon prayed for liberty to put forth a lottery sufficient to raise twelve hundred milled dollars, for re-establishing said library. Upon due consideration whereof, and as the re-establishing of the aforesaid library is of a public nature, tending to promote virtue and the good of mankind,— Be it enacted by this General Assembly, and by the authority of the same it is enacted, that the proprietors of the late library, called and known by the name of the Providence Library, which was destroyed, as aforesaid, be, and they hereby are, authorized and fully empowered to open and set up a lottery in the town of Providence, consisting of $12,000; out of which, a deduction of ten per cent, shall be made, for raising the aforesaid sum of $1,200, to be by the said proprietors applied toward purchasing books for re-establishing the said library, and defraying the charges of the said lottery, which is to consist of six thousand tickets, at $2 each; whereof, one thousand five hundred and twenty-nine to be fortunate, to wit: [Here follows the scheme of the lottery. Its directors were Benjamin Cushing and Samuel Nightingale, Esqs., Messrs. Darins Sessions, Baulston Brayton, Job Sweeting and Joseph Turpin.] [Available as a GGoogle eBook]

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John Hay Memorial Library, Providence, Rhode Island

[LIB6581] - For a complete history of this library, now part of the Brown University Library System, click here.

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Public Library, Saunderstown, Rhode Island

[LIB6518] - Original building, with an addition, still in use as a library.

1929 Knight Memorial Library, Providence, Rhode Island

[LIB2550] - The Library’s use increased, necessitating a new, more spacious building. Ground was broken in 1896 on the Library’s present location on Washington Street, and with an extraordinary gift totaling $268, 500 from Rhode Island philanthropist John Nicholas Brown, the classic Renaissance building was completed at a final cost of $387,000. It was opened in March 1900 with 93,000 volumes and 39 employees. [More at the Library Website]

University of Rhode Island Providence 1906 Vintage by markomundo
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1909 Public Library, Providence, Rhode Island

[LIB0402] Click on the image to order a reproduction of this postcard!

Public Library, Providence, RI

[LIB3707]

Providence Public Library's photostream

Redwood Library, Newport, RI

[LIB3705]

The Company of the Redwood Library was established in 1747 by Abraham Redwood and a group of his friends and associates. One of the country's earliest "public" libraries -- that is, open to the public though not "free"--Redwood is the oldest surviving lending library in the country. Redwood remains a "membership library" (open to the public) supported by Proprietors, who own shares and pay an annual assessment, and Subscribers, who pay fees. The Original Collection of 751 titles has grown to a collection numbering more than 160,000 volumes. [Thanks to the The Redwood Library and Athenæum, www.redwoodlibrary.org]

1905 Deborah Cook Sayles Library, Pawtucket, RI

[LIB3363]

The Sayles Building is an impressive example of Greek revival architecture. It was built of the finest-grained white granite, from the quarries at North Jay, Maine. Four massive Ionic columns form a portico at the former entrance. The front doorway of this building is an exact replica of the Erechtheion, a Greek temple on the Acropolis at Athens. The architects were Cram, Goodhue, and Ferguson of Boston. Six panels by sculptor Lee Laurie of New York decorate the front of the building. The panels show a comprehensive view of the world’s civilizations. The panels depict scenes from Roman, Grecian, Egyptian, Latin, Anglo-Saxon, and Teutonic civilizations. The Library is known for its decorative ceilings, soaring pillars, and glass-floored North balcony. [SOURCE]

Memorial and Public Library, Westerly, Rhode Island

The Memorial and Library Association of Westerly was established in 1892 to commemorate the volunteer soldiers and sailors who fought in the Civil War. Westerly Public Library opened its doors in 1894 through the initiative of local industrialist-inventor, Stephen Wilcox. Mr. Wilcox donated the land on which the library is situated, as well as $25,000 to be matched by citizens of the community. [SOURCE] [LIB2659]

The Redwood Library, Newport, Rhode Island

The Redwood Library: Built 1750 - Oldest library in United States.

The Redwood Library and Athenæum is the oldest lending library in America, and the oldest library building in continuous use in the country. Founded in 1747 by forty-six proprietors upon the principle of "having nothing in view but the good of mankind," its mission continues over 250 years later. [Read more, click here]

[LIB2396]

Library, Providence, Rhode Island

This card, commonly referred to as an "undivided back" postcard, was published c1910 by The Metropolitan News Co., Boston, Massachusetts. It was printed in Germany.

[RI0778]

1932 Public Library, Providence, Rhode Island

[LIB10113]

1960s Sayles Public Library, Pawtucket, Rhode Island

[RILIB0015]