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Mercantile Library of Philadelphia Letters
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Held at: Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
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The Mercantile Library Company of Philadelphia was incorporated in 1820 to serve young men in mercantile business. From 1821 to 1845 it had no permanent home and moved several times. In 1845, the library was housed in its own building at 5th and Chestnut Streets, where the collection contained approximately 10,000 volumes. In 1863, a building fund was created and in 1868 a building was purchased at 10th and Chestnut (originally built for the Franklin Market Co.). In 1876, the library owned 130,814 volumes and 9,327 unbound pamphlets. Membership in 1877 was 9,207. In 1877, an adjoining building was burned in a fire, and the western end of the library suffered water damage.
Two letters from the Mercantile Library Company. One informs Jason Fennimore that he was elected one of the directors of the company. The second letter invited Rev. D. Ludlow to be a speaker for the company during their Fall lecture series.
Purchased from Carmen Valentino, Paley Fund, March 29, 1983.
Originally cataloged circa 1983. Re-processed and finding aid prepared in March 2024 by Katy Rawdon, Coordinator of Technical Services.
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Subject
Place
- Publisher
- Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
- Finding Aid Author
- Katy Rawdon, Coordinator of Technical Services
- Finding Aid Date
- March 2024
- Access Restrictions
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Open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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The Mercantile Library of Philadelphia Letters are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. The creator/donor has not assigned their rights to Temple University Libraries. Other creators' intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to them or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.