The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-06
LIBRARY CLUB.
Massachusetts Organization Pays a
visittO Tbs City.
Inspected Historical SocIsiy's Cabinet,
Buildings at Brown, Etc., Today.

y party of about 200 officers and
members OF the Massachusetts Libra
ry club are in this city, for the pr-
pose OF holding their spring meeting.
one of the four gatherings held by the
organization each year. The visitors
reached this city yesterday afternoon.
having selected Providence in order to
afford the members from the various
Massachusetts cities, who have not al
ready had that pleasure. an opportuni-
ty TO inspect and admire the beautiful
new Providence Public Library.
They were met at the station, and at
once conducted to the library building.
where they were received by Librarian
Foster and representatives of the
architects. Stone. Carpenter a. Wilson.
and n tour OF inspection OF the build
ing was made. AT O'Clock last even-
ing, the club held its business meeting
in the Y. Nj. G. A. building, and after
some routine matters had been dis
posed Of, the balance OF the evening
was devoted to the enjoyment OF feat
ures which had been provided for the
entertainment of the visitors. George
Parker Winship, Librarian OF the John
Carter Brown library read a paper on
"The Libraries OF Providence" AMI Al
fred Stone. one OF the architects of the
Providence Public Library. gave sn in
teresting talk Illustrated by lantern
slides, showing the interiors and ex-
teriors of tLe val ious library bui,iipgs
OF the city.
Mr.. Winship's paper was one os far
more than average interest. and he
gave his hearers some very valuable in
formation, and then ne said: M
when the Massachusetts Library
club again visits rrovidence shall
hope for the pleasure of entertaining
the members in Datid,ng. the PLANS
for which are now neatly completed.
i'm which the John Cater Brown lhra-
ry is to be established. for tha use cf
students OF American hist 'ry. Fer two
generations this library has been
widely known as a notable collection OF
Americana, but the SIP rit which has
built IL up is Older. The earliest auc-
tion sale at which. purchases were
made for Mr.. Browns library was held
in the year 174l. IL was nearly hum
dred years later, however, before Mr..
John Carter Brown, the father OF the
present owner, began systematically to
buy books printed i'm America or about
American history before 1900. This ~
still the definition of the library. II fs
primarily a library which. IL Is hoped
may prove useful to students OF the
history of the two Americas"
At $3.50 o'clock this morning, the
members Of the club assembled at the
cabinet OF the Rhode Island Historical
society. and after inspecting the bu,d-
ing. they went 10 the library and other
buildings OF Brown University and the
Prov dence Athenaeum. The visiting
members took their departure from the
city at noon, going TO Boston. The of'i-
GERS OF the club are: w. l.. n. Clifford.
librarian OF the Cambridge Public Lii
brary, president; III. l.. koopnan. IL
brarian Of Brown University. and r..
VI. Barton. librarian OF the American
Antiquarian society. Worcester. vice
presidents: Franklin G. Poole Of the
Boston Atheneum, secretary: and Miss
Margaret Mc;uffey OF the Boston Pub
lie Library, treasurer.