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An attempt was made in 1795 to purchase land to build a library building, but no property meeting the library's needs could be found at an affordable price. In 1819 Ann
Paschall inherited a share in the library and became the first woman to be a member. She was not invited to the membership meetings
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as a subscription library. Joseph
Bonsall was elected Secretary, Nathan Gibson, Treasurer, and John Pearson was the first Librarian. Until 1872 library meetings were held in member's houses and the librarian kept the collection of books in a trunk.
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however as the minutes state "her attendance at our meetings is dispensed with." In 1826 borrowing privileges were extended to anyone paying a $ 3 annual fee. Several books were sold from the collection soon after. One book,
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Each subscriber pledged 20 shillings to join plus 5 shillings per year to continue his membership. ÂŁ11-10s
Sterling was used to buy the first books from England. With the help of botanists
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and constructed by
Charles Bonsall. It was completed in 1872 at a cost of $ 8,895.54. Price was known for designing churches and the library design in many ways resembles a church.
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Most of these books are still owned by the library and are on display there. The library continued to buy books from London until 1761 when they began buying books from
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until 1898, it claims to be "the oldest library in the United States in continuous service." The library celebrated its 275th anniversary in 2018.
91:(in England), who performed similar services for the Library Company of Philadelphia, the first books arrived from England on November 5, 1743,
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Darby Free
Library's 1872 building at 1001 Main St. in Darby. The date stone above the rose window reads "Darby Library. 1743 1872"
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In 1866 property was bought to build a permanent home for the library, just south of
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These books will be on display at the
Library Company of Philadelphia in early 2018
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at the corner of 10th and Main
Streets. The building was designed in the
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A History of
Delaware County Pennsylvania and Its People, Vol. I
527:, finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Sarah Leu.
351:. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 292.
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Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the OLDEST of them all…?
298:
List of public libraries in
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
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In 1898 the library became free and open to the public.
460:"Country's oldest public library could close this year"
490:"Books, Bartrams, and Burglars: Darby Library Company"
399:. Pennsylvania. Free Library Commission. p. 68
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1 Vol. 1738 Wood’s
Institute of the Laws of England
397:Pennsylvania Library and Museum Notes, Volumes 1-8
75:The library was organized on March 10, 1743 by 29
270:that offended Quaker sensibilities, was burned.
510:"Darby Free Library looks back, moves forward"
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488:Caust-Ellenbogen, Celia (January 7, 2015).
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30:is a public library at 1001 Main Street in
190:1 Vol. 1740 Dycke’s New English Dictionary
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166:1 Vol. 1741 Gordan’s Geographical Grammar
525:Darby Library Company records, 1743-2012
173:- A Practical Discourse Concerning Death
531:Darby Free Library, A National Treasure
393:"A Sketch of the Darby Library Company"
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423:Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
241:- The Life of the Duke of Marlborough
180:- Astronomical Principles of Religion
111:8 Vol. 1736 * The Universal Spectator
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187:- A Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem
42:in 1743 – just 12 years after
458:Bello, Marisol (February 2, 2009).
494:Historical Society of Pennsylvania
419:"PHMC Cultural Resources Database"
156:Some Thoughts Concerning Education
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581:Delaware County Libraries website
508:Mengers, Patti (April 13, 2014).
227:- The compleat History of Sweden
207:3 Vol. 1735 The Independent Whig
204:- Creation, a Philosophical Poem
108:Of the Law of Nature and Nations
48:Library Company of Philadelphia
275:the Darby Friends Meetinghouse
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596:Delaware County, Pennsylvania
512:. Delaware County Daily Times
162:Religion of Nature Delineated
66:Library on a c. 1905 postcard
36:Delaware County, Pennsylvania
124:’s- A Voyage into the Levant
197:- The Horse-Hoing Husbandry
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321:"History of Darby Library"
234:- The History of the World
601:Libraries in Pennsylvania
391:Serrill, Kate W. (1908).
133:A New Theory of the Earth
345:Jordan, John W. (1914).
100:The Gentleman Instructed
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94:These books included:
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268:The Pupil of Pleasure
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213:2 Vol. 1730 Milton’s
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40:Darby Library Company
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253:After the Revolution
52:subscription library
560:39.9202°N 75.2631°W
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261:View from the south
16:Free public library
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565:39.9202; -75.2631
283:Benjamin D. Price
219:Paradise Regained
139:Addison’s Travels
87:(in America) and
44:Benjamin Franklin
38:. Founded as the
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237:2 Vol. 1743
230:2 Vol. 1736
223:2 Vol. 1702
200:1 Vol. 1736
193:1 Vol. 1733
183:1 Vol. 1740
176:1 Vol. 1717
169:1 Vol. 1743
160:1 Vol. 1738
150:1 Vol. 1738
143:1 Vol. 1736
137:1 Vol. 1736
127:1 Vol. 1737
120:2 Vol. 1718
114:8 Vol. 1741
106:Puffendorf’s
104:1 Vol. 1729
98:1 Vol. 1738
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85:John Bartram
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533:, slideshow
122:Tourneforte
590:Categories
551:75°15′47″W
548:39°55′13″N
516:August 20,
499:August 21,
469:August 16,
428:August 20,
403:August 15,
364:August 18,
330:August 15,
304:References
279:Italianate
247:David Hall
225:Puffendorf
147:’s Apology
464:USA Today
281:style by
202:Blackmore
292:See also
185:Maundrel
171:Sherlock
71:Founding
239:Lediard
232:Raleigh
178:Whiston
145:Barclay
129:Whiston
77:Quakers
58:History
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152:Locke
518:2017
501:2017
471:2017
430:2017
405:2017
366:2017
353:ISBN
332:2017
217:and
195:Tull
131:’s-
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