The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-26
AFOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE
Fifty-Seventh Annual Meeting Of the
Providence Athenaum.
REPORTS OF THE OFFICERS.
Brief sketch Of the Career Of One of the
Most Ancient and Honored Literary
institutions Of tho City and of the
State.

NIaE fourth Monday in
q M September was the day
%>M\ set apart for the 51th
sGAEj1 WA annual meeting OF the
SSGEE1H PROVIDENCE Athen-
mum. The meeting
was held last night In
the Atheneum bu ilding, corner OF bene-
at and College streets, and was called TO
order by President Samuel w. Peckham.
Nearly thirty members were In their
seats when the secretary read the min-
utes of the last meeting. which were an
proved. The report OF the Board OF III III
rectors was read by A: IL; brown' s ine
elected Misses Mary Howard and Cara
Ruffin assistants TO the librarian, The
large increase of new books made new
shelyipg in the alcoves necessary. Ihe
COMMITTEES on building and grounds made
improvements to the roof ana the neat
ing and lighting apparatus.
During the last nine years the average
number of books catalogued has been
1893. the average Of annual additions
has been /, 1872. The yearly addition OF
books is constantly increasing. The
whole number now in the library Is
52,741. During the year past l,oss DOCKS ,his
were added. Fiction Is less popular tnis
year than in any preceding year. The
additions during the year may be ciassi-
fed as follows: =. -.
English prose fiction, 3l3; juveniles. 81;
history and biography, 224: poetry, bellies
lettres, ETC.. 1S9; voyages and travels, oil;
fine arts, "a; science, law, medicine, l5S:
religion, philosophy, social science. lOS;
periodicals, 1917. One hundred and twenty
two periodicals are taken by the library.
and the circulation during the year was
4S,S The average daily circulation was
142 II a printed index were added
complete index catalogue would be had
from the date of the establishment OF the
library.
The report of Stephen H. Arnold. treas
urer. was next submitted for the year
ending August 81. IL is summarized as
follows: Investments, $4, ,5i5:3 ke-
ceipts from shares, taxes, fines. dividends,
books, salaries and other purposes.
$7.166.57; balance to new account,
81. .396 OF The report was approved by
Isaac II. Southwick and M. t. Torrey. the
auditing committee. :,
The report OF Secretary William M.
Bailey, Jr., showed the number OF share
holders who owned one share each TO be
zoe, two shares each o, five shares each / !;
7l6 men own TO shares. Two OF these
shares are paid up aud non -assessable.
The usual tax of S. per share was the n
voted; and the chairman appointed com
mittee of three, consisting OF DIR. Rich
ards, Arthur l.. Brown and Mr.. Smith.
The committee recommended the election
OF Moses B. i. Bradford, Edward +:
Child, " alter 4. Angel as members OF
the board of directors, and Isaac IL.
Southwick and M. 4. Torrey TO be re-
leased and the auditing committee. Three
members OF the board Of directors retired.
IA. rho 81 Harry
Lothrop and Arthur l.. Brown.
All OF the reports were accepted and the
usual vote to refer them To the prop or
committee was considered taken.
The president. vice-president and the
standing committees will bs elected
Monday, October 3, by the board of di-
Tectors
The PROVIDENCE Athen@um was es-
tablished In 1886. The shareholders are
among the most prominent OF our citi-
xens. Many of the original shareholders
have long since died and more lhan 100
shares now stand on the books in the
names OF shareholders who have been
dead thirty years. their families prefer
ring to have them remain in the original
names Non-assessable shares extending
through the natural life of the holder
and reverting to his heirs at his death are
held by two members who paid sl52 each
for the honor. Hardly one of the original
fifty-six years of existence the library has
grown into its present large proportions,
requiring the care of librarian and
three assistants to supply the demands OF
$50 shareholders for the best literature
obtainable.
Many bequests approximating in value
goodly sum have been received and ju-
diciously invested, and the income from
these investments is used in the purchase
of new books. The list Of donors to the
library includes some of the best-knowu
publishing firms, libraries and individ-
uals in the world.
The Athen@um enters upon its fifty
seventh year thoroughly equipped for
effective work. IL is ably officered, highly
prosperous and one Of our most solid in-
stitu, ions.
DIsgusted Fishermen.
Fishing steamers that devoted their at.
tention this season exclusively to endeav-
ors to catch menhaden have not been am
plv reDaid during the season now rapidl v