1856-03-08 City of Beverly, Massachusetts
Public Meeting Minutes
Board: Library Trustees
Subcommittee:
Date: 03/08/1856
Place: Beverly Public Library
Board members present: William Endicott, Jr., Charles Haddock, and Benjamin O. Peirce
Board members absent: Richard P. Waters, and Charles W. Galloupe
Others present:
Recorder: Benjamin O. Peirce
Saturday evening March 8th 1856
The Board met at the Library Room. Messrs. Endicott, Haddock & Peirce were present.
On motion of Mr. Haddock, Mr. Endicott was appointed to the Chair.
Mr. Haddock from the Committee on Subscriptions presented a report which on motion of
Mr. Peirce was accepted and placed on file.
Mr. Haddock from the Committee on Alteration of the Library Room presented a report
which was on motion of Mr. Peirce accepted & placed on file.
Mr. Haddock reported the presentation to the Library from the Hon. Robert Rantoul of the
fifty volumes of State Documents.
Mr. Peirce reported the presentation of Ten volumes of State Agricultural Documents from
Charles L. Flint, Esq., Secretary of the Board of Agriculture.
On motion of Mr. Pierce
Resolved That the thanks of the board be presented to the Hon. Robert Rantoul for the valuable
donation of Legislature Documents by him to the Library.
On motion of Mr. Peirce
Resolved That the thanks of the Board of Trustees be presented to Mr. Wm. Thorndike for the
valuable assistance which he has rendered in the arrangement & preparation of books for use in the
Library.
Mr. Haddock informed the Board that several Ladies of the Town had given much aid in
covering & labeling the Books. A list of names was called for & furnished when
On motion of Mr. Peirce
Resolved That the thanks of the Trustees are due to the Ladies for their kind assistance and that
record of it be made
The ladies whose name were reported were
Miss Hannah L. Rantoul
Mrs. F. Lamb
Mrs. S. Endicott
Mrs. C. Haddock
The Misses Kittredge
The Misses Abbott
Miss Emily Abbott
Miss Mary Endicott
In the absence of the President of the Board, Mr. Peirce was requested to prepare a report of the
board to be laid before the Town at their meeting on Monday next.
On motion or Mr. Peirce
Adjourned
Report of the Committee on Subscriptions
To the Trustees of Public Library of the Town of Beverly
Gentlemen
The undersigned a committee appointed to address the Citizens of Beverly on the
subject of a Public Library & also to solicit subscriptions for the same have attended to that duty &
beg leave to present the following report.
Soon after their appoimment your committee addressed a printed circular to the inhabitants
of the Town and all others who by former connection or association might be interested in such an
undertaking on the subject of the proposed Library, a copy of which is herewith annexed.
In answer to our solicitations the following subscriptions have been received.
10 subscriptions of $100. Paid $500. Unpaid $500.
7 subscriptions of 50. Paid 350.
42 subscriptions of $25. Paid $675. Unpaid $400.
5 subscriptions of $15. Paid 15. Unpaid 60.
2 subscriptions of $10. Paid 10. Unpaid 10.
3 subscriptions of $5. Paid 10. Unpaid 5.
1560 975
To which add received from Town 500
2060
It will be seen that your committee cannot yet make a final report in this matter since
subscriptions for $975 remain uncollected. These however, with perhaps a few exceptions, we have
no doubt will in the end be obtained.
Respectfully submitted
signed Chas. Haddock
Beverly March 9~ 1856 Wm. Endicott, Jr.
Report of Committee on Alterations
To the Trustees of Public Library of Town of Beverly.
Gentlemen
The undersigned a committee to whom was referred the subject of proposed
alterations and repairs of Rooms granted to the Library by the Town have attended to this duty and
beg leave to make the following report.
They have caused the two Rooms to be connected by arches, suitable & sufficient shelving
to be erected for books sufficient to contain about 5000 volumes, closets for the private documents
of Trustees and Librarian. They have also caused a substantial railing to be built across the western
end of the room it being proposed that none should have access on Library days excepting the
Librarian & assistants. The walls & ceiling have been prepared & thoroughly varnished and the entire
wood work grained in oil. It was not deemed advisable at present on account of the expense already
incurred, to paint or carpet the floor leaving that for the decision of the Board some future time. It
was deemed advisable to place a furnace in the cellar for the exclusive use of the Library.
All of which has been done at an expense of
$302.92 as follows
Warren Prince $156.25
John Remmonds 78.67
B. S. Lunt 48.75
Hazelton, Cowdain & Co. 12.00
W. P. Cleaves 7.25
bills annexed 302.92
These bills have been presented to the Selectmen for payment but declined on the ground that no
appropriations had been made by the Town for this purpose.
Very respectfully submitted
Singed Chas. Haddock
Wm. Endicott, Jr.
Beverly March 9~ 1856