Astor Library

Astor Library was a major New York City library, founded by John Jacob Astor in 1849, with the goal of creating a New York Public Library-style institution, similar to the British Library and the Library of Congress. The library was established with an initial collection of over 80,000 volumes, including works by William Shakespeare, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and Voltaire. The library's collection was also influenced by the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Vatican Library. The library's founders, including John Jacob Astor and Washington Irving, were inspired by the Great Library of Alexandria and the Library of Ashurbanipal.

● History

The Astor Library was founded in 1849, with John Jacob Astor as its primary benefactor, and was initially located in a building designed by Thomas Stent on Lafayette Street in Manhattan. The library's early collection included works by Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and The Brontë sisters, as well as rare books from the Bodleian Library and the Cambridge University Library. The library also housed a significant collection of Incunabula, including works by Gutenberg and Aldus Manutius. During the American Civil War, the library served as a hub for Abraham Lincoln's administration, with Frederick Douglass and Ralph Waldo Emerson frequenting the library. The library's collection was also influenced by the Boston Public Library and the Philadelphia Library Company.

● Architecture

The Astor Library building, designed by Thomas Stent, was a prominent example of Greek Revival architecture in New York City, with a grand Ionic order facade and a large reading room inspired by the British Museum and the National Library of France. The building's design was influenced by the Pantheon in Rome and the Parthenon in Athens. The library's interior featured a grand staircase and a large skylight, similar to those found in the New York State Capitol and the United States Capitol. The building's architecture was also influenced by the White House and the United States Supreme Court Building.

● Collections

The Astor Library's collection included over 80,000 volumes, with a focus on literature, history, and science, including works by Isaac Newton, Galileo Galilei, and Charles Darwin. The library's collection also included rare books and manuscripts from the Medici family and the Vatican Secret Archives. The library's collection was also influenced by the Harvard University Library and the Yale University Library. The library housed a significant collection of maps and atlases, including works by Gerardus Mercator and Abraham Ortelius. The library's collection was also influenced by the Royal Geographical Society and the National Geographic Society.

● Legacy

The Astor Library played a significant role in the development of New York City's cultural and intellectual landscape, with notable patrons including Edgar Allan Poe, Herman Melville, and Walt Whitman. The library's collection and architecture influenced the development of other libraries, including the New York Public Library and the Brooklyn Public Library. The library's legacy can also be seen in the Morgan Library & Museum and the Pierpont Morgan Library. The library's influence extended beyond New York City, with libraries such as the Boston Public Library and the Chicago Public Library drawing inspiration from the Astor Library.

● Operations

The Astor Library was initially operated by a board of trustees, including John Jacob Astor and Washington Irving, with Joseph Green Cogswell serving as the library's first superintendent. The library was open to the public, with a focus on serving the New York City community, including Columbia University and New York University. The library's operations were influenced by the American Library Association and the Library of Congress. The library's cataloging system was developed in consultation with the British Museum and the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The library's operations were also influenced by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Category:Libraries in New York City