Redwood Library and Athenaeum

Redwood Library and Athenaeum is the oldest community library in the United States, founded in 1747 by Abraham Redwood, a wealthy Newport, Rhode Island merchant, with the help of Peter Faneuil and other prominent citizens, including Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and William Ellery. The library was established to provide a repository of knowledge for the people of Newport County, Rhode Island, and its founding was influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment, which emphasized the importance of Reason and Intellect. The library's early collection included works by Isaac Newton, John Locke, and Voltaire, and it was supported by Benjamin Franklin and other notable figures of the time, such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. The library's establishment was also influenced by the Boston Athenaeum and the New York Society Library.

● History

The history of the library is closely tied to the history of Newport, Rhode Island, which was a major Colonial American port city and a center of Trade and Commerce during the 18th century. The library's founders were influenced by the ideas of the American Enlightenment, which emphasized the importance of Education and Intellectual curiosity, as seen in the works of Jonathan Edwards and Cotton Mather. The library's early collection included works by William Shakespeare, Milton, and Alexander Pope, and it was supported by King George III and other members of the British Royal Family, such as King George II and Queen Caroline. The library also had connections to other notable institutions, such as the American Philosophical Society and the Royal Society, and its members included prominent figures such as John Adams and James Madison. The library played an important role in the American Revolution, serving as a meeting place for Patriots and a repository of information on Politics and Government, with influences from Jean-Jacques Rousseau and John Stuart Mill.

● Architecture

The library's building, which was designed by Peter Harrison and constructed in 1750, is a notable example of Georgian architecture in the United States, with influences from Andrea Palladio and Inigo Jones. The building features a Neoclassical facade and a Greek Revival interior, with a Doric Portico and a Rotunda inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. The building has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years, including a major renovation in the 19th century led by Richard Morris Hunt and a restoration in the 20th century led by John Russell Pope, with contributions from Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Kahn. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark, recognized by the National Park Service and the United States Department of the Interior.

● Collections

The library's collections include over 200,000 volumes, including rare books, Manuscripts, and Archives, with works by Aristotle, Galileo Galilei, and René Descartes. The library's collections are particularly strong in the areas of American History, Literature, and Art, with works by Herman Melville, Edith Wharton, and John Singer Sargent. The library also has a significant collection of Newport, Rhode Island materials, including Historic newspapers, Photographs, and Maps, with contributions from Matthew Carey and Jedidiah Morse. The library's collections are used by researchers from around the world, including scholars from Harvard University, Yale University, and Brown University, and are also used by National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of Congress.

● Programs and Services

The library offers a range of programs and services, including Author readings, Book clubs, and Lectures, with speakers such as Toni Morrison, John Updike, and David McCullough. The library also offers Research assistance and Interlibrary loan services, with partnerships with New York Public Library and Boston Public Library. The library's programs and services are designed to promote Literacy, Lifelong learning, and Community engagement, with influences from John Dewey and Maria Montessori. The library also offers Exhibitions and Events, including Concerts and Film screenings, with collaborations with Newport Jazz Festival and Newport Film Festival.

● Governance and Membership

The library is governed by a Board of Trustees, which includes prominent citizens of Newport, Rhode Island, such as Julia Ward Howe and Thomas Wentworth Higginson. The library is a Non-profit organization and is supported by Membership fees, Donations, and Grants, with funding from National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities. The library offers Membership to individuals and Institutions, including Universities and Research centers, such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Members of the library have access to the library's collections and programs, as well as Reciprocal borrowing privileges at other libraries, including British Library and Bibliothèque nationale de France. Category:Libraries in Rhode Island