The Quest for a Historical Site

The American Philosophical Society (APS) has grappled with its immense collections throughout its history, but real estate developments, financial challenges, and mere luck prevented a separate library from being built until the mid-20th century. This changed in 1941 when a special committee strongly recommended the APS erect a stand-alone library building to ensure the proper preservation and access to its historical materials. The next year, many of the Society’s members became part of the Independence Hall Association, a group instrumental to the creation of today’s Independence National Historical Park. As the City demolished nineteenth-century buildings in order to transform the area around Independence Hall into a historical district, the Society requested the government’s permission to build a new library in the image of the Library Company of Philadelphia’s original headquarters, opened in 1791, located at the corner of Chestnut and Fifth Streets.

On July 10, 1952, President Harry S. Truman approved the use of the much-coveted plot of land for the APS library “in perpetuity.” The Secretary of the Interior worked closely with the Society and approved the final plans for the building on June 21, 1956. Later that year, when officially presenting the land to the Society, Conrad Louis Wirth, director of the National Park Service, praised the partnership and noted, “this action is the culmination of a noteworthy association between the Society and the Service, with the latter as the direct beneficiary of the Society’s interest in and support of Independence National Historical Park.”

Galleries

Click on the images below to learn more about the Library's founding.

1. Chestnut Street, ca. 1934-1954. Showing from left to right: Second Bank, Drexel Building, Independence Hall. During this time, the Society’s Library was housed in the Drexel Building.
2. View of the APS Library as housed in the Drexel Building. The Library's holdings were moved to the Drexel Building in 1934 from Philosophical Hall to alleviate space issues created by a growing collection.
3. Bird’s-eye view of Independence Square from the south, showing conditions north of Independence Hall, ca. 1942-1944. Part of a brochure prepared by the Fairmount Park Association and Independence Hall Association, lobbying for the creation of Independence Hall Historical Park.
4. Architectural model showing the Independence Hall Association’s plan for renovating the Independence Hall Area, circa 1942-1944.
5. The Independence Hall Association prepared a detailed set of plans for suggested changes to the area of Independence Hall, such as this image, showing the envisioned modifications north of Independence Hall.
6. The American Philosophical Society and the Government of the United States of America signed the lease agreement regarding the building of Library Hall on October 14, 1955.
7. The U.S. Secretary of the Interior worked closely with the Society and approved the final plans for the building on June 21, 1956.
8. Document Signing Ceremony for the Construction of Library Hall, showcasing Sydney E. Martin’s design for Library Hall.
9. On November 16, 1956, Conrad Louis Wirth, director of the National Park Service, officially approved the right of the Society to begin construction of Library Hall in Independence National Historical Park.