The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-05-23
Richest Collection of Americana in
the Country MakeSReally Princely
Donation to College Fund.

The trustees OF the John Carter Brown
library acting under the provisions of
the will OF the late John Nicholas Brown,
have decided TO present the library with
its ss5o,oco endowment to Brown Univer-
slty.
Papers are now being drawn up and
the formal offer will be made the cor
poration OF the university at their an
nual meeting June 20.
Under the conditions of the magnificent
Gift. Brown University viii receive the
library as "a sacred trust never to be
merged I'm the general university library.
but TO be preserved as a family memorial
and used by properly qualified students.
In addition 20 the books. whose value
IL is difficult TO estimate, there will come
TO the university $4,000 for a library
building and $500. .0ae of permanent endow-
ment. The library viii thus be amply
supported and can be constantly en-
larged.
Shortly before the death of John Mich
olas Brown he had accepted plans for
new building for his precious library.
The structure was TO be on Power street
on the side OF the Brown homestead on
Benefit street, In an addition TO which
the library is now housed
White IL is not definitely decided II
seems likely that the trustees will follow
these plans. and that this splendid mem
orial OF a Rhode Island family will be
placed on the Brown estate. Its control
viii probably be placed with a board of
library trustees.
FINEST an THE COUNTRY.
BY this gift Brown University will pos
sess the finest collection OF Americana I'm
MI w he
drawn from all parts of the country TO
avail themselves of this rare opportunity.
Beginning with the earliest books ahaut
New England. the scope OF the library
has been extended TO include everything
that relates to the history of North and
South America before the year 1901. IL
may be ascrbed as collection of books
which were printed In or about the two
Americas before the end OF the eight
eenth century.
II was the ambition of the late John
Carter Brown and later OF his son, John
Nicholas Brown. To make his library the
most complete collection OF Americana
i'm existence. How nearly they succeeded
is best proven by the use made of their
library by students and writer's on Ameri-
can history.
The owners OF the library were always
ready 20 open IL as freely AZ possible TO
scholars who were competent To make
II contains.
In order that the resources of the lib
rary miRht he more generally known. "A
catalogue of the books was printed In
1865. and distributed 20 the leading uni
Verslties and public libraries.
This was afterwards enlarged To four
volumes containing descriptions Of some
Son0 books compiled by the Hon. John
Russell Bartlett, who was for many years
secretary 81 state OF Rhode Island. and
acted ss Mr.. Browns librarian until his
death I'm 1885
The University of Ghent, the Chilean
and italian governments. the British
Geographical societies and many histori-
cal societies an this country, have availed
Themselves o. the treasures OF this grand
collection OF historical works.
TT WILL BE PUBLIC.
The library has been. very naturally.
much better known abroad than hero.
IN tho town which has been its home for
three generations, hut IN latter years II
became better known here As its use
by outside students increased. however.
u became more and moro necessary 20
restrict visitors who desired merely TO
look al the library.
The library has been kept where 10 Will
remain until the completion of the IT,
hrary building which was provided bv
John Nicholas Rrovn's Will. 10 the pri-
yate dwelling house of the owners There.
Il Il obviously Impossible ~ permit any