{"value"=>"<p>With the incorporation of the Lenox Library in 1870 James Lenox (1800-1880) became the first President of the Board of Trustees. In addition to giving the endowment, land, and collections for the library, he selected the architect and supervised the initial plans for the library building. Lenox was not simply a wealthy collector and library patron, but a capable and discerning bibliographer and scholar in his own right. In the early years of the library he remained the chief bibliographer, corresponding with booksellers such as Henry Stevens, B. Quaritch and E.G. Allen, making most of the library's acquisitions decisions himself. With the arrival of George Moore as Superintendent in 1872, these duties gradually shifted to Moore.</p> <p>After the death of Lenox in 1880, his nephew, Robert Lenox Kennedy (1822-1887) was elected President. At this time all bibliographic duties became Supt. Moore's responsibility, leaving Kennedy to guide the Board's policy decisions for the Library. R.L. Kennedy died in 1887 during a return voyage from Europe and was succeeded as President by John Stewart Kennedy (1830-1909), who continued in this office until the formation of the New York Public Library in 1895. Kennedy then became one of the original Trustees of the NYPL.</p> <p>The office of the president contains only records from James Lenox's term. The annotated booksellers catalogs, in addition to their bibliographical value, contain information relating to the provenance of some of the library's holdings.</p>"}