Record of strangers.

Format:

Archive

Manuscript

Author/Creator:

Athenaeum of Philadelphia.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Athenaeum of Philadelphia--Archives.

Athenaeum of Philadelphia.

Guest books--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.

Guest books.

Library records--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.

Library records.

Subscription libraries--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia.

Subscription libraries.

Genre:

Visitors' books.

Physical Description:

6 volumes ; 32-47 cm

Other Title:

Names of strangers visiting the Athenaeum

Summary:

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, a membership library, began keeping records of visitors who were not members of the Athenaeum, who needed to be introduced by a member. During some periods strangers who were residents of Philadelphia were not recorded. The first recorded entries were on April 4th, 1814. Initially strangers were recorded only by the date of their visit, their name, possibly with their city, state, or country of residence. Later records may include their lodgings, and the name of the member by whom they were introduced, The 5th and 6th volumes have printed column headings, otherwise the entries are handwritten.

Notes:

Title from cover of v. [1].

The Athenaeum was visited by politicians, diplomats, scientists, and literary figures. Some notable strangers include: J. Q. Adams [John Quincy] in 1818, Gen Wm Clark [William] in 1837, J. Fenimore Cooper [James] in 1848, C. Dickens [Charles] in 1842, Edwin Forrest in 1848, Eliza Hamilton in 1847, Professor Longfellow [Henry Wadsworth] in 1839, and Edgar A. Poe [Edgar Allan] in 1838.

Local Notes:

Athenaeum copy: All volumes are now housed in archival boxes. V. [1] and v. [2] are housed together in one box.

Cited in:

Dallett, Francis James, 1927- Bermudian bibliophiles in Philadelphia

OCLC:

1263626863