About This Gallery

The opening of Library Hall was a significant milestone in the history of the American Philosophical Society, as revealed in this digital exhibit. Since 1959, Library Hall has become an international center for research, scholarly meetings, public programs and digital innovation. With first-class collections in early American history, the history of science and Native American ethnography and linguistics, Library Hall brings together scholars, educators, students, and the general public from all over the world. Library Hall will continue to serve the Society’s core mission to promote useful knowledge as new technologies, interpretations, and standards emerge over the course of the 21st century.

This digital exhibit was written by Madalina Veres. The gallery was designed and built by Bayard Miller using HTML5Up. The story map was created by Madalina Veres using StoryMapJS. The project was managed and edited by David J. Gary. Learn more about the American Philosophical Society by visiting our website, our digital library, and our other digital library galleries.

Sources

Click on the links below to consult the sources that informed this project.

• American Philosophical Society Archives, Executive Office. Uncataloged material.
• American Philosophical Society Archives, Correspondence of the Library Building, box III. William J. Robbins to Morris Duane, memorandum on Building Fund (February 26, 1959).
• American Philosophical Society News 11, no. 3 (1996).
• “Dedication of Library Hall of the American Philosophical Society, November 11, 1959 Remarks Made at the Dinner at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel.” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 104, no. 4, (1960): 357-370.
• Hindle, Brooke. David Rittenhouse. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1964.
• “Laying of the Cornerstone of Library Hall. Remarks Made at the Ceremony.” American Philosophical Society Yearbook (1958): 201-209.
• Lingelbach, William E. “Franklin Medal Lecture: The Story of ‘Philosophical Hall.’” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 94, no. 3 (1950): 185-213.
• Lingelbach, William E. “Old Philadelphia: Redevelopment and Conservation.” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 93, no. 2 (1949): 179-207.
• Lingelbach, William E. “The American Philosophical Society Library from 1942 to 1952 with a Survey of Its Historical Background.” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 97, no. 5 (1953): 471-492.
• Shryock, Richard H. “The Planning and Formal Opening of Library Hall,” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 104, no. 4 (1960): 349-356.
• Wolf, Edwin. At the Instance of Benjamin Franklin: A Brief History of the Library Company. Philadelphia: Library Company of Philadelphia, 1995.