Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-21
APPRENTICES LIBRARY
Centenary Of Free institution That
Has Been an inspiration and a
Help to Thousands
IN FEBRUARY "a, 1920 the Appren-

ON FEBRUARY "a, 1920, the Appren-
~ tees Library will celebrate its one
hundredth birthday. Some years ago the
Legislature repealed the law under which
the apprentice system had fourished in
PENNSYLVANIA for at least three generations,
but this ancient and honorable institution
has continued to serve the needs of the pub
ilc, and especially the needs of the boys and
girls, with unabqted vigor.
N 1870 free" libraries, in the latter day
- sense Of that term, we're unknown,S and
places where books could be obtained by poor
boys were very few and very limited in re-
sources. Yet among the many thousands
of apprentices in Philadelphia, boys who
were bound OUT by indcnturc to learn the
trade OF their master, there were consid-
cradle number who wanted to spend their
spare hours in reading, but whose masters,
as rule, had no books that appealed to
them.
1t was largely among practical minded
members of the Society of Friends that this
want was recognized. and the belief held
that if the lads could be put in the way
Of obtaining good books it would greatly
lessen the mischief into which many appren-
tices fell when they were idle o. had leave
of absence on the city streets. Therefore,
in the winter of 1920, movement to'accom-
pish this end was started by Thomas Kim
ber. Daniel b. Smith and Samuel X.
Shober. They gained the assistance of a
number of influential citizens, prominent
among whom was Horace Binney, and the
result was the formation of the "Appren-
tees Library Co. of Philadelphia.
THIS new institution would, in the words
of the founders. promote orderly and
virtuous habits, diffuse knowledge and the
desire for knowledge. improve the scientific
skill ~of our mechanics and manufacturers,
increase the benefits Of the system of gen
eral education which is now adopted, and
advance the prosperity and happiness of the
community"
Among the founders. beadroll of pub
lie spirited ,Philadelphians of the first quar-
ter of the nineteenth century, many OF them
represented by descendants in the city to-
day, were Roberts Vaux, Philip Garrett,
Clement G. Biddle, James Cresson, Thomas
H. Leaning Benjamin II. Yarnall, Samuel
B. Morris, Robert NJ. Lewis, Henry Troth,
Jacob Gratz, William Price, Samuel Sell
ers, William s. Warder, Samuel Candy.
Merritt Candy, Richard G. Wood, Richard
Oakford. Anthony Finley, Benjamin Tuck
er, Frederick " Krug, Philip f. Mayer and
Lloyd Mif1in.
THE library was first opened at what was
l. then 100 Chestnut street. There were
about 1900 volumes, and these were given
out to apprentices on Saturday afternoons.
Soon afterward a room in Carpenters Hall
was taken by the library. and there it stayed
for seven years. In 1928 it was moved to
the north side of Ludlow street, known at
that time as Carpenter street.
- The Franklin Institute had been opened
shortly before on Seventh street. and most
of the citizens who were interested in the
Apprentices Library were members of the
institute. Later the, books were moved to
building at Seventh street and Sugar
alley (afterward Filbert street, which had
housed the United States Mint for nearly
forty years. At this time and for some
time to come the Apprentices was the only
strictly free library of general character
in the city. For it's first twenty years its
books were only given to boys and young
men. but in 1S41 girls were admitted to its
privileges.
At THAT time the members of the Free
"A or Fighting Quakers abandoned their
services in the old meeting house at Fifth
and Arch streets. The managers of the
library obtained the right to occupy the
upper floor at a nominal rent, and there,
for more than half century, apprentices
went for their books. Presently the entire
property was devoted to their use.
In time the growth of the city made Fifth
and Arch no longer desirable center for
library purposes, and the Apprentices
moved to the Unitarian Church building, at
Broad and Brandywne streets, in 1897.
This was what Joel Cook called the focal
point of an educational region the Cen
tral High School and other public schools,
the Spring Garden Institute, and the great
industrial plants of the neighborhood pro-
viding host Of potential students, eager
to read good books.
The library, now free to ALL still draws
the larger number of its beneficiaries from
the ambitious youth of the city.
TN ITS hundred years. or since the day
when Horace Binnpy ceased to be its off
cial head, the Apprentices has had eight
presidents John Sergeant. Henry Troth,
Townsend Sharpless, james j. Barclay,
Joseph II. Collins, Charles Roberts, Joseph
r. Rhoads, and now William NJ. Coates.
Considerably more than one hundred thou
sand apprentices and those who have taken
their place in the life of the city have been
enrolled on the library's register and more
than half million readers have shared Its
benefits.
A modest but very substantial agent in
the work of diffusing knowledge and the
desire for knowledge, the Apprentices Lii
brary has. in its hundred years of service,
worthily carried out the desire OF its
founders to "adyance. the prosperity and
happiness of the community"
"Mr and Mrs. Rafies'' are said to have
returned $12, 900 worth of jewels stolen from
yentnor family after they learned there
were finger prints in the possession of the
police They will probably handle their next
case with gloves.