The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-27
MEETING OF
ATHENAEUM
SiXty-Third Annual Held
at The Library.
INTERESTING REPORTS.
Library Now Contains Nearly Sixty
Thousand Volumes.
GIFTS RECEIVED DURING YEAR.

The 63d annual meeting of the Provi-
dence Athenaeum was held last evening
in its library building on Benefit street,
Mr.. f. /. Nickerson presiding. who
without any delay presented the report
of the board of directors.
This report showed that during the
year many gifts had been received.
These included bust of the late Mr..
Albert j. Jones from his sister, Mrs.
Emily A. Hall. IT is a striking likeness
of donor TO this library. framed
Photographic portrait of the late Mr..
Samuel w. Peckham, and also % addi-
tional volumes in Biblical literature.
Eight steel engravings after frescoes
in the Vatican from Hon. Joshua VIII
bour: a bronze memorial tablet by John
Williams. founder. set up at the hrst
south alcove, was presented by Prof
James NJ Hoppin, ID. D., LII. d., Yale
university, Frederick Street Hoppin.
Providence. and William Wagner Hop
pin, New York. suitably inscribed. The
Goddard art memorial room has been
handsomely furnished through the con-
tinued generosity OF Mrs. Thomas l..
Shepard.
The condition of the library is very
satisfactory, and there has been a great
increase I'm shareholders. and Librarian
Joseph lie Roy Harrison reported that
the number of volumes In the Athe-
naeum September 1, 1897, was 5S,46S;
there were added during the year by
purchase. S53; by gift, 305; by binding
periodicals, 40l; worn out volumes dis-
carded, 1853: total number OF volumes In
the Athenaeum September /. 1898, 81
S74: number of pamphlets given, 353.
The additions, classified according TO
subjects, were as follows: English
prose fiction. 243: juvenile, 40; history
and biography. 1893: literature, fiction IN
foreign languages and philology. ltS;
voyages and travels. 92: fine arts os;
science, law and the useful arts, 100:
religion, philosophy and social science,
23S; bound periodicals., 4Ol: total, 1o59
Volumes One hundred and sfxty-hve
more volumes were added than In 1896
81, while only six previous years SHOW
greater total accessions. Nine hundreu
and ffty-fve volumes were sent 10 the
bindery to be rebound or repaired.
The circulation during the year was
54.O79 classified as follows: English
prose fiction, 33352; juvenile, 34fs; his
tory and biography. 1895; literature, ne
ton In foreign languages and philology,
1921; voyages and travels. 2lO2; nne
arts, 1445; science. law and the useful
arts. 1892: religion. philosophy and So
cial science 2547: periodicals. 1877, max
ing total OF b4,of9 volumes. The IL
brary was open $40 days. with an aver
age daily circulation of IA. The largest
monthly circulation was 513S, I'm March;
the largest daily $50, on saturday Feb
ruary 19: the smallest 26 on Monday.
Nav 80 The card catalogue Is now
completed for 2l.661 volumes, repre-
sented by 50507 cards.
Treasurer Charles II. Stark presented
his report. showing the receipts To be
S932l77 and expenses about the same
Pardon s. Jastram read the secretary :
report. Prof. William &. Poland that or
the library committee, T.. |. Nickerson
the recommendations OF the committee
on building and grounds. and II. IT,
Mason the report for the committee on
accounts.
The following officers were then elect
ed i'm accordance with the report or the
nominating COMMITTEES; Ireasurer'
Charles X. Stark: secretary. Pardon ;.
Jastram: directors, William G. Poland
Alpheus s. Packard, Eugene w. Mason
Charles A. Catlin, Walter Calender
Albert Babcock, Horace q. Miller GEO.
NJ. Smith stephen o. Edwards, Angus
tus NJ. Lord Hammond Lamont, Thos
r. Bartlett and Thos. +. Green; audit
ing committee. Isaac H. Southwick
Moses T.. Torrey, Arthur knight. The
,,,aatiny vvas then ad dioiIrnpd