The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1921-06-30
COLLECTION OF
VALUABLE BOOKS
AT PENNSYLVANIA
Interesting Library of
Kentucky and Dam
vile History by DR..
A. II. Barley.

interesting artical on the Pennsylvania
Library. which contains many book.
on Kentucky and Danvillc history,
The article was written by A. "
Barley. VI. n. ,HonD. c. NJ, Of Lex
ington, Ky. and much Of the early
history Of Crows Station lnow Dan
vile. Ky.J il given. Following Is a
part Of the article taken from the
Journal:
An item on Pennsylvania Library
appeared in The Journal. Feb. Il?
1921. II is doubtful whether any
like collection Of books so valuab,
has been kept in the background Sc
long as those now occupying the
shelves in Pennsylvania.
The nucleus ~ this wonderful col
lection was started by John Todd OF
Virginia. who gave TO Pennsylvania
Seminary. then located at Crows Sta.
ton. now Boyle County, Kentucky
his library. which consisted Of many
valuable and rare books. Todd's
books were brought from Virginia
over the Allegheny Mountains 90
Kentucky. by what was then known
as the Nv lderness Road" this Of H.
self when one reflects on the mac
feasibility Of the destination and the
poor facilities for travel. was no
small feat TO accomplish under such
conditions.
These books were brought 20 Crows
Station, Ky. in 1854. and placed in
the double log cabin then occupied
by Pennsylvania Seminary. They re
NAMED here until their removal to
Lexington. Ky, in 1892.
There was formed in Lexington
prior to 1892, a company that styled
itself the Pennsylvania Land Com
pany This company was made up
largely Of Lexington citizens Of a
phlanthropic turn Of mind. who offer
cd Pennsylvania Seminary a plot Of
ground in Lexington. now known as
"Gratz Park" IL the Seminary would
move from Crows Station to Lexing-
ton. This offer was accepted and. in
the fall Of 1899. the seminary with
It's collection Of books moved TO Lex
ington and occupied a brick building
located on the ground donated by the
land company.
The time at which the formation Of
this wonderful storehouse Of knowl-
edge was begun can be recalled, and
in presenting these facts II is inter-
esting 10 note tina, Kentucky was
then section Of Virginia. The
ground that the land company gave
had been but a short time before oc-
cupied by hardy pioneers. and was
known as the "Tomahawk Claim" be-
yond which lay endless leagues Of
shadowy forest.
The vast domain west Of the Ms
sissippi had not been explored. The
city Of 81. Louis was but an output
for traders. The name Chicago had
not been coined. Fort Dearborn oc-
cupied By two companies Of United
States troops, marked a roll IN he
prairie among the sloughs whore
stands today the Queen and Queen
and Mistress Of the lakes. Cincinnati
had not yet taken her place on the
map, being known as Fort Washing
ton.
General Pakenham had not attemp-
ted the capture Of New Orleans. and
General Jackson, who was 70 Dive
him with his troopers back 20 hi,
ships, was unknown TO fame.
Wars with the Indians were Of IRE
quent occurrence. The PROV Of
steamboat had never cut the waters
of a western stream, and the whistle
Of a locomotive was unheard q in
this section.
There were only two avenues by
which Kentucky could be reached
from the east. One was the Ohio
River, the other the Wilderness Road.
The former was covered By keel
boats, flat-boats. and canoes; the
latter was travelled on horseback or
on foot; no wheel had broken i or
been broken by il.
II was in such country and with
such environments that this great H.
brary began 20 grow and diffuse
knowledge throughout the sparsely
settled country,
The history Of the library is closely
linked with that Of Transylyania
Medical School. A. is well known.
Transylvania Medical College. the
first Of It's kind west Of the Alleghen.
les, was located in Lexington, ~.
Its faculty was composed Of such men
as Drs. Samuel Brown, frederick
Daniel Drake. Charles Caldwell, and
others Of like mental caliber and
literary attachments.
At the first meeting Of the trustees