Astor Library records

Description data TOP

unitdate

{"value"=>"1839-1911", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1839/1911"}

date_inclusive_start

1839

date_inclusive_end

1911

keydate

1839

unittitle

{"value"=>"Astor Library records"}

physdesc

{"format"=>"simple", "value"=>"49 linear feet (72 boxes, 172 volumes)"}

repository

{"value"=>"The <span class=\"corpname\">New York Public Library Archives.</span> <div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">5th Avenue and 42nd Street, New York, New York 10018-2788</span></div>"}

abstract

{"value"=>"NYPL Archives Record Group 1 consists of the records of the Astor Library, a non-circulating reference library established in 1849 by the terms of the will of John Jacob Astor. In 1895 the Astor Library was consolidated with the Lenox Library and the Tilden Trust to form The New York Public Library."}

langmaterial

{"value"=>"English"}

prefercite

{"value"=>"<p>Astor Library Records, The New York Public Library Archives, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations.</p>"}

bioghist

{"value"=>"<p>The Astor Library was founded as a private reference library, open free to the public, according to the terms of the will of John Jacob Astor (1763-1848). Joseph Green Cogswell (1786-1871), teacher and librarian, had originally urged Astor to fund a free library. As a result, Astor bequeathed $400,000 for such an effort and in the meantime hired Cogswell to purchase books and to plan for the future library.</p> <p>The Astor Library was incorporated by an act of the New York State Legislature on January 18, 1849. The act of incorporation fixed the number of Astor Library trustees at eleven. The original trustees were Washington Irving, William Backhouse Astor, Daniel Lord, Jr., James G. King, Joseph Green Cogswell, Fitz-Greene Halleck, Samuel B. Ruggles, Samuel Ward, Jr., Charles Astor Bristed, John Adams Dix (who replaced Henry Brevoort, Jr., who died in 1848) and the Mayor of the City of New York.</p> <p>The following served as President of the Astor Library: Washington Irving (1849-1859), William B. Astor (1860-1875), Alexander Hamilton (1876-1889), Hamilton Fish (Acting, 1890-1891), Thomas M. Markoe (1891-1895). The following served as Treasurer: William B. Astor (1849), Daniel Lord, Jr. (1849-1868), John Jacob Astor (1868-1890), S.V.R. Cruger (1890), Edward King (1890-1895).</p> <p>The Astor Library was directed by its Superintendent and Librarian. Joseph Cogswell was chosen as the first Superintendent of the Astor Library by the Trustees in 1848 and served until 1861. Cogswell's successors as Superintendent were Francis Schroeder (1861-1871), Dr. Edward Richard Straznicky (1871-1876), J. Carson Brevoort (1876-1878) and Robbins Little (1878-1896). Beginning in 1858, the Superintendent was assisted by a Librarian, Frederick Saunders, who served until 1896.</p> <p>Cogswell made his first purchase for John Jacob Astor in 1839 at the auction of the library of Major D.B. Douglass. When the Astor Library opened to the public in 1854, the collection had grown to 80,000 volumes purchased by Cogswell in the United States and abroad, through book dealers and at auction. By 1890, the Astor held over 260,000 volumes, making it the largest reference library in the New York metropolitan area.</p> <p>From 1849 to 1853, the Astor library had temporary quarters at 32 Bond Street. The Astor Library building, designed by Alexander Saelzer and located on Astor land on Lafayette Place in lower Manhattan, opened to the public in 1854. At that time, the shelves were at almost full capacity with 80,000 volumes. An extension added to the north opened in 1859. This North Building or Hall accommodated books and readers in history and literature. Books and readers in science and the industrial arts remained in the original building, referred to as the South Building or Hall.</p> <p>In 1881 a second extension, adjacent to the North, was opened, and this more than doubled the capacity of the Library to a potential 400,000 volumes. The main entrance to the Library moved from the South Hall to the Middle Hall (formerly the North Hall) which was altered to hold the catalog and exhibits as well as administrative and book-storage space. The new North Hall and the South Hall both housed large reading rooms and books.</p> <p>The Astor Library was open to the public during the day on weekdays and Saturdays. Most readers reported to a main desk to request books which were then paged from the shelves. Some readers, usually scholars, were granted the privilege of being alcove readers, and they had full access to alcoves of books devoted to specific topics.</p> <p>As an institution funded by a single family, the Astor Library faced financial difficulties from its beginning. In 1894, it entered into talks to consolidate with the Tilden Trust. On May 23, 1895 the trustees of the Astor and Lenox Libraries and the Tilden Trust reached an agreement to consolidate and establish The New York Public Library.</p> <p>Although the Astor Library ceased to exist as a separate entity, the Astor Building continued to serve readers while the NYPL Central Building was planned and constructed. Beginning in 1895, the library was opened on Sundays and during the summer. In 1899, in a further effort toward democratization, alcove readers privileges were revoked, and all readers had to apply at the desk for books. In 1905, evening hours were added. Soon after consolidation, books were transferred between the Astor and Lenox buildings, with the Astor Building housing general literature, scientific books and serials, and duplicates. Robbins Little and Frederick Saunders retired, and NYPL Director John Shaw Billings served as head of the Astor with his office there.</p> <p>The Astor Library building finally closed to readers on April 15, 1911, shortly before the opening of the new Central Building on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street.</p>"}

scopecontent

{"value"=>"<p>The Astor Library records span the years 1839-1911, with the bulk dating from the period 1870-1890. They consist of handwritten, typed, and printed documents. The records are arranged in four series: I. Administration, II. Collections, III. Readers, IV. Finance. Each series is further divided by adminstrative function and type of record.</p> <p>Administration records include correspondence, annual reports, notebooks, and historical material pertaining to the Astor Library. Materials in the Collections series include acquisition records, book orders, catalogs, periodicals registers and want lists. Finance records consist of correspondence, statements, checks, bank books, and similar fiscal documents. Readers records include registers of library users with statistics on books consulted and subject lists.</p>"}

{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Astor Library records are arranged in four series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/nypla/5975#c641354'>Series I. Administration</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1839-1904</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>20 linear feet</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series includes the 1849 pamphlet text of the Astor incorporation act and an 1890 reprint with the Library's by-law, rules, and regulations. Also included are printed annual reports issued by the Library from its incorporation to its consolidation with the Lenox Library and the Tilden Trust. There are multiple copies for some years. Correspondence consists of General Correspondence and Saunders' Letter Copybooks. General Correspondence is sorted by year and includes incoming letters and mail, invoices, clippings and related papers. There is no correspondence for the years 1843-1847, and 1866. Saunders' Letter Copybooks contain transfer-process copies of Saunders' outgoing correspondence. There are no letter copybooks for his early years at the Astor. Lists for Distributions of Annual Reports give the names of institutions and individuals to whom annual reports were mailed. There are lists for 1870-1880, 1882, 1886, 1888, and 1894, as well as one undated list. The Stock Account Book gives stock counts of the printed Astor Library catalog and lists the names of institutions purchasing it. The 1886 and 1888 Lists for Distributions of Annual Reports include stock accounts of the 1886-1888 new Nelson catalog. Saunders' Notebooks are his memo books containing notations of daily tasks. Historical Material comprises scrapbook albums on the Astor Library's history compiled by Saunders and an essay by Albert F.W. Kern reprinted from <span class=\"title\">German American Annals</span>, \"Johan Jakob Astor und die Astor Bibliothek.\"</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/nypla/5975#c641402'>Series II. Collections</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1849-1896</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>11 linear feet</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Series consists of records pertaining to the Astor Library collections and includes various lists and catalogs. It is divided into five subseries: A. Acquisitions (1849-1895), B. Catalogs (1854-1886), C. Periodicals (1855-1895), D. Pamphlets (1866-1911), E. Unsorted Volumes (1876-1910).</p> <p>Note that some records related to acquisitions and catalogs may be found in the Unsorted Volumes subseries. Some records pertaining particularly to the maintenance of books in the collections may be found in the Periodicals subseries.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/nypla/5975#c641504'>Series III. Readers</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1859-1911</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>7.5 linear feet</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The Daily Record gives the author, title, volume, reader, and sometimes the reader's address for each book consulted for each day of the Astor Libary's operations from 1860 to 1882. There are separate volumes of records for the South and North buildings, with no record for the North Building for the years 1862 and 1863. The Diary of Subjects gives a daily listing of books used by subject, with monthly tallies of use at the end of each volume. There are separate volumes for the South and North buildings. The Statistics of Readers are the NYPL continuations of the Diary of Subjects. The Register of Readers & Volumes Consulted gives daily, monthly, and yearly totals of volumes and readers served, as well as percentage increases and averages for readership, calculated over time.</p> <p>Alcove Readers are volumes including the subjects and signatures of alcove readers for each day of library operation. There are separate volumes for the South and North buildings to 1882, the South Building's records beginning in 1864. A list of Alcove Readers in the North Building during 1861 can be found in the Daily Record of 1861. There is no volume for the North Building for 1883. Both buildings have common records from 1884 to 1899. Alcove Admissions are books that give the name of alcove readers, their respective subjects, and sometimes the time periods for which they were granted privileges. Patents Index to Visitors lists the names and addresses of individuals who consulted the patents collection by date.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/nypla/5975#c641561'>Series IV. Finance</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1848-1896</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>11 linear feet</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>Series includes Finance Committee Minutes for 1892. The Treasurer's Correspondence refers to properties of the Astor Library, as do the Mortgage, Loan, and Insurance Papers & Book. Monthly Statements are monthly accountings of credits and debits. Ledgers are extant for all years from 1876 to 1896 except 1882, 1883, and 1887. The Cash Book is a journal listing amounts paid to vendors and individuals by date. Invoice Books and Invoices contain invoices from vendors and books of transcriptions of billings. There are no invoice records for the years 1880-1886 and 1889-1890. The Receipt Books for Salaries are books where library employees placed their signatures upon receipt of salary payment. Petty Cash Books are records of cash dispensed for sundries.</p> <p>Checkbooks are the stub records of checks written. The earliest are for checks drawn on the Gallatin National Bank (1858-1890), and there are also checks for the Pacific Bank (1876-1896) and the Union Trust (1890-1895). Canceled Checks are written on accounts with the National Bank (1848-1861), the Gallatin National Bank (1862-1876), the Pacific Bank (1876-1879, 1887-1896) and the East River National Bank (1878). There are Bank Books for the National, Gallatin National, East River, Second National and Pacific banks. The Receipt Book records sums of money received and dispensed by the Astor. Package Receipt Books from the United States Express Company comprise receipts for the shipment of packages.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}

accessrestrict

{"value"=>"<p>Advance permission is required to access Board of Trustees minutes.</p>"}

{"value"=>"<p>Volumes 8 and 10 are closed to research for preservation reasons. Readers may use photocopies of these items identified as Volumes 9 and 11.</p>"}

unitid

{"value"=>"MssArc RG1 5975", "type"=>"local_call"}

{"value"=>"5975", "type"=>"local_mss"}

origination

{"value"=>"Astor Library", "type"=>"corpname"}

arrangement

{"value"=>"Arranged in four series: I. Administration, 1839-1904; II. Collections, 1849-1896; III. Readers, 1859-1911; IV. Finance, 1848-1896", "supress_display"=>true}

acqinfo

{"accession_number"=>"ARC"}

{"source"=>"NN", "method"=>"NN", "accession_number"=>"appm", "date"=>"OCoLC", "value"=>"NN, NN, OCoLC"}

userestrict

{"value"=>"<p>All rights reserved. Permission to quote must be obtained in writing from The New York Public Library</p>"}

processinfo

{"value"=>"<p>Compiled by Robert Sink; machine-readable finding aid created by Jim Moske.</p>"}

date_start

1839

date_end

1911

Update Collection TOP

Update from EAD XML File

Child components TOP

1. Series I. Administration [13/2]
2. Series II. Collections [5/3]
3. Series III. Readers [56/1]
4. Series IV. Finance [15/1]