1855-04-14 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: 04/14/1855
Place:
Board members present: Richard P. Waters, William Endicott, Jr., Charles W. Galloupe, and
Charles Haddock
Board members absent: Benjamin O. Peirce
Others present:
Recorder: William Endicott,
In the warrant issued for the annual Town Meeting of March 1854, was inserted an article in the
following words viz.
"To see if the Town will establish & maintain a public library within the Town for the use of the
inhabitants thereof and provide suitable rooms therefor, make all necessary regulations for the
government thereof and appropriate money for any & all of said purposes, under the act of May 24th
1851 relative to public libraries; per petition of john I. Baker & others."
"At the Town meeting it was voted
"That said petition be referred to Hooper A. Appleton, Eben H. Moulton, Edwin Foster, Joseph
Conant, Joseph E. Ober, Gideon Cole, Rufus Putnam, William Porter, Thomas A. Morgan & Levi
A. Abbott to report at the adjournment of this meeting upon what action if any it may be expedient
for the Town to take on this subject."
At the adjourned meeting held April 3d this committee presented their report as follows
'"The committee to whom was referred the petition of John I. Baker & others for the
establishment of a public library have artended to the duty assigned them and respectfully submit the
following report.
First Your Committee are of the opinion that a public library judiciously selected and properly
managed would be highly beneficial to the Town and also that it is expedient for the Town at the
present time to take measures towards the establishment of one in accordance with the petition above
named.
They therefore recommend
Second That the sum of Five Hundred Dollars be appropriated the present year towards the
establishment of a public library and that it be maintained and increased thereafter by such other sums
as the town from year to year may think proper.
Third That there be committee of one person from each School District in the Town chosen by ballot
to select and purchase the books, to superintend the arrangement of the Library and the fitting up of
the room where such Library may be placed.
Fourth That a suitable place to locate such a Library is in the Room under the Town Hall at present
occupied by the Proprietors of the Social Library.
Fifth That a Board of Trustees consisting of five persons be chosen annually by ballot whose duty it
shall be to make all needful Rules and legnlations for the management of the Library.
Sixth That there be branches established in other parts of the Town whenever in the judgement of the
Trustees it shall be deemed advisable.
Your Committee would also state that they have reason to believe from consultation with the
Trustees of the Social Library that the members of that institution would be willing to relinquish their
shares in favor of a Public Library, should one be established by the Town.
B~erly April 3d 1854
E. H. Moulton Thomas A. Morgan
H. A. Appleton Gideon Cole
Jos. E. Ober Joseph Conant
Rufus Putnam
Levi A. Abbott
Edwin Foster
The report thus presented was "accepted without discussion & the whole subject was indefinitely
postponed."
The originators of this movement again brought the matter before the citizens of the Town
at the meeting of the ensuing year (1855) with the results indicated in the resolutions following as
communicated officially by the Town Clerk.
At the annual March meeting it was voted
That the sum of one hundred dollars be appropriated the present year toward the establishment of a
public library to be located in the Library Room in the Town Hall according to the report of the
committee of last year and under the management of five Trustees to be chosen annually by ballot.
At the adjourned meeting April 2d it was Voted That Charles haddock, Win. Endicott, Jr.,
Charles W. Galloupe, Benj. O. Peirce, Richard P. Waters be Trustees of the Public Library according
to the Report of the Library Committee made the 3d day of April 1854 and accepted by the Town
requiring the Election of such Trustees annually.
Voted That the Trustees of the Public Library for this Town now chosen as soon as may be at~er
being notified of their election shall organize by the choice of a chairman & secretary and shall so
mange themselves in classes by lot or otherwise that one shall be chosen by the Town at its annual
March meeting in each year to supply the place thus from time to time made vacant each retiring
Trustees to be nevertheless eligible for Reelection. And said Trustees for the time being shall have
power to fill any and all vacancies that may occur in their board and shall make all needful regulations
for said Library and in behalf of the Town may receive, hold, and manage any appropriations, devise,
bequest or donation which may be made or given towards the establishinent, increase, or maintenance
of said library.
Voted That instead of the one hundred dollars appropriated to use the credit of the Town to such an
extent not exceeding Five hundred dollars as they may receive in cash donations during the present
year towards said Library
A true copy
signed Attest James Hill, Town Clerk
The first meeting of the Trustees elected under the above vote of the Town was holden on Saturday
evening April 14~ 18 5 5.
Present Messrs. Waters, Haddock, Galloupe & Endicott.
The Board was called to order by Dr. Haddock.
On motion of Mr. Galloupe it was voted to proceed to the choice of a President and Secretary of the
board.
Richard P. Waters was chosen President.
Benjn Osgood Peirce was chosen Secretary.
Mr. Peirce being absent, Win. Endicott, Jr. was chosen Secy pro tern.
On motion of Dr. Haddock it was voted to proceed to the choice of a Librarian and also that the
Librarian so chosen shall be requested to act as Secretary in the absence of that officer and also to
assist if desired by the Secretary in the keeping of the Records of the Board.
Charles S. Giddings was chosen Librarian.
On motion of Mr. Endicott it was voted that the Town Treasurer be requested to assume the charge
of the Funds to be raised for the use of the Library provided that he would do it without
compensation.
On motion of Mr. Endicott it was voted That a committee of three be appointed by the chair to
prepare and distribute an address to the inhabitants of the Town soliciting contributions also to
procure subscriptions and in general to consider and report what measures are proper to the
organization of the Library provided that no appropriation of money shall be made without a vote of
the full Board.
The chair appointed Messrs. Haddock, Galloupe and Endicott to be this committee.
On motion of Mr. Galloupe it was voted that Mr. Peirce and Mr. Endicott be a committee to coffer
with the Trustees of the Beverly Social Library as to the transfer of that Library to this Board for
incorporation into the Public Library.
On motion of Mr. Endicott it was voted
That a committee of two be appointed by the chair to draft a series of Rules & Kegulations for the
government of the Library and to report the same at a future meeting of this Board.
The chair appointed Mr. Endicott & Dr. Haddock to be this committee.
It was the voted that the Board adjourn to meet again after a short interval at the call of the Secretary.
Attest Wm. Endicott, Jr. Soy., pro tem
O City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: 04/14/1855
Place:
Board members present: Richard P. Waters, William Endicott, Jr., Charles W. Galloupe, and
Charles Haddock
Board members absent: Benjamin O. Peirce
Others present:
Recorder: William Endicott, Jr.
The first meeting of the Trustees elected under the above vote of the Town was holden on Saturday
evening April 14m 1855.
Present Messrs. Waters, Haddock, Galloupe & Endicott.
The Board was called to order by Dr. Haddock.
On motion of Mr. Galloupe it was voted to proceed to the choice of a President and Secretmy of the
board.
Richard P. Waters was chosen President.
Benjn Osgood Peirce was chosen SecretaW.
Mr. Peirce being absent, Win. Endicott, Jr. was chosen Secy pro tern.
On motion of Dr. Haddock it was voted to proceed to the choice of a Librarian and also that the
Librarian so chosen shall be requested to act as Secretary in the absence of that officer and also to
assist if desired by the Secretary in the keeping of the Records of the Board.
Charles S. Girlclings was chosen Librarian.
On motion of Mr. Endicott it was voted that the Town Treasurer be requested to assume the charge
of the Funds to be raised for the use of the Libra~ provided that he would do it without
compensation.
On motion of Mr. Endicott it was voted That a committee of three be appointed by the chair to
prepare and distribute an address to the inhabitants of the Town soliciting contributions also to
procure subscri~ions and in general to consider and report what measures are proper to the
organization of the Library provided that no appropriation of money shall be made without a vote of
the full Board.
The chair appointed Messrs. Haddock, Galloupe and Endicott to be this commAtree.
On motion of Mr, Galloupe it was voted that Mr. Peirce and Mr. Endicott be a committee to confer
with the Trustees of the Beverly Social Library as to the transfer of that Library to this Board for
incorporation into the Public Library.
On motion of Mr. Endicott it was voted
That a committee of two be appointed by the chair to draft a series of Rules & Regulations for the
government of the Library and to report the same at a future meeting of this Board.
The chair appointed Mr. Endicott & Dr. Haddock to be this committee.
It was the voted that the Board adjourn to meet again after a short interval at the call of the Secretary.
Attest Wm. Endicott, Jr. Sey., pro tern