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| image = The stranger's illustrated pocket guide to Philadelphia, embracing a description of the principal objects of interest in and around the city, with directions how to reach them (1876) (14779403095).jpg
| image = The stranger's illustrated pocket guide to Philadelphia, embracing a description of the principal objects of interest in and around the city, with directions how to reach them (1876) (14779403095).jpg
| caption = The second Mercantile Library building on Tenth Street in 1876. It was replaced by the Chestnut Street building in 1952 and was promptly demolished.
| caption = The second Mercantile Library building on Tenth Street in 1876. It was replaced by the Chestnut Street building in 1952 and was promptly demolished.
| coordinates = {{coord|39.95027|-75.15789|format=dms|type:landmark_region:US-PA|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{coord|39.9503|N|75.1579|W|format=dms|type:landmark_region:US-PA|display=inline,title}}
| location = 125 South Fifth Street, [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, United States (1845–1869)
| location = 125 South Fifth Street, [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, United States (1845–1869)
Tenth Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. (1869–1952)
Tenth Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. (1869–1952)
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== History ==
== History ==
[[File:Mercantile Library, by Bartlett & French.jpg|thumb|The first Mercantile Library building at Fifth Street and Library Street in 1868.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Mercantile Library [graphic] |url=https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora:59377 |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=Library Company of Philadelphia Digital Collections |language=en}}</ref>]]
[[File:Mercantile Library, by Bartlett & French.jpg|thumb|The first Mercantile Library building at Fifth Street and Library Street in 1868.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Mercantile Library [graphic] |url=https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora:59377 |access-date=May 17, 2024 |website=Library Company of Philadelphia Digital Collections |language=en}}</ref>]]


The Mercantile Library was founded in 1821. In 1845, after years of having impermanent locations, it housed itself at the Mercantile Library building on Fifth Street. Per its name, the library was primarily intended to serve merchants with documents on [[trade]], [[business]], and [[commerce]], though [[library catalog]]s from later in the century indicate the library soon held books on other subjects.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":0" />
The Mercantile Library was founded in 1821. In 1845, after years of having impermanent locations, it housed itself at the Mercantile Library building on Fifth Street. Per its name, the library was primarily intended to serve merchants with documents on [[trade]], [[business]], and [[commerce]], though [[library catalog]]s from later in the century indicate the library soon held books on other subjects.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":0" />


In 1869, the library's growing membership and book collection prompted a move to another location on Tenth Street.<ref name=":0" /> In 1877, the Mercantile Library building caught fire when a blaze from the neighboring [[Chestnut Street Opera House|Fox's American Theatre]] spread to its roof, and some of the library's collection was damaged from the fire as well as from water used in firefighting efforts by the [[Philadelphia Fire Department]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1877-02-26 |title=A Disastrous Fire |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref>
In 1869, the library's growing membership and book collection prompted a move to another location on Tenth Street.<ref name=":0" /> In 1877, the Mercantile Library building caught fire when a blaze from the neighboring [[Chestnut Street Opera House|Fox's American Theatre]] spread to its roof, and some of the library's collection was damaged from the fire as well as from water used in firefighting efforts by the [[Philadelphia Fire Department]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 26, 1877 |title=A Disastrous Fire |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref>


By the 1880s, the Mercantile Library had long since become considerably popular outside its original membership base of merchants, and the librarians chose to lean into this and curate expanded [[novel]] collections to match public demand, though they were especially selective to enforce [[public morality]] at the time.<ref name=":0" /> At an indeterminate point after 1894, the Mercantile Library was absorbed into the [[Free Library of Philadelphia]] and became a public library branch.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Strahan |first=Derek |date=2021-06-01 |title=Mercantile Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |url=https://lostnewengland.com/2021/05/mercantile-library-philadelphia-pennsylvania/ |access-date=2024-05-17 |work=Lost New England |language=en-US}}</ref>
By the 1880s, the Mercantile Library had long since become considerably popular outside its original membership base of merchants, and the librarians chose to lean into this and curate expanded [[novel]] collections to match public demand, though they were especially selective to enforce [[public morality]] at the time.<ref name=":0" /> At an indeterminate point after 1894, the Mercantile Library was absorbed into the [[Free Library of Philadelphia]] and became a public library branch.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Strahan |first=Derek |date=June 1, 2021 |title=Mercantile Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |url=https://lostnewengland.com/2021/05/mercantile-library-philadelphia-pennsylvania/ |access-date=May 17, 2024 |work=Lost New England |language=en-US}}</ref>


In 1952, the Mercantile Library moved to a newer building at 1021–1023 [[Chestnut Street (Philadelphia)|Chestnut Street]],<ref name=":1" /> the site of the former [[Chestnut Street Opera House]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Midcity Garage to Be Built Soon By Parking Unit |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |page=17 |date=1952-07-14}}</ref> In 1989, after 168 years of operation, the Mercantile Library was forced to close after [[asbestos]] was discovered in the building.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Feldman |first=Vincent D. |title=City Abandoned: Charting the Loss of Civic Institutions in Philadelphia |publisher=[[Paul Dry Books]] |year=2014 |isbn=9781589880825 |pages=137}}</ref><ref name="PDN">{{cite news |title=Mercantile Library Closed |work=Philadelphia Daily News |page=32 |date=1989-08-22}}</ref> The Free Library of Philadelphia absorbed the collections of the Mercantile Library after its closure.<ref name=":1" />
In 1952, the Mercantile Library moved to a newer building at 1021–1023 [[Chestnut Street (Philadelphia)|Chestnut Street]],<ref name=":1" /> the site of the former [[Chestnut Street Opera House]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Midcity Garage to Be Built Soon By Parking Unit |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |page=17 |date=July 14, 1952}}</ref> In 1989, after 168 years of operation, the Mercantile Library was forced to close after [[asbestos]] was discovered in the building.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Feldman |first=Vincent D. |title=City Abandoned: Charting the Loss of Civic Institutions in Philadelphia |publisher=[[Paul Dry Books]] |year=2014 |isbn=9781589880825 |pages=137}}</ref><ref name="PDN">{{cite news |title=Mercantile Library Closed |work=Philadelphia Daily News |page=32 |date=August 22, 1989}}</ref> The Free Library of Philadelphia absorbed the collections of the Mercantile Library after its closure.<ref name=":1" />


== Architecture ==
== Architecture ==
Initially, the Mercantile Library was housed at multiple different locations that are not clearly known and may no longer exist. From 1845 to 1869, the library was housed in a dedicated [[Greek Revival architecture|Greek Revival]] building at 125 South Fifth Street and Library Street,<ref name=":3" /> designed by [[William L. Johnston]].<ref name=":0" /> After the library moved to its second location in 1869, the first building at Fifth Street was converted into [[office]]s, purchased by Horatio Nelson Burroughs in the 1870s as the Burroughs Building, and eventually demolished in 1925. Its former location is now an open area in [[Independence National Historical Park]], with nothing indicating there was once a building there.<ref name=":0" />
Initially, the Mercantile Library was housed at multiple different locations that are not clearly known and may no longer exist. From 1845 to 1869, the library was housed in a dedicated [[Greek Revival architecture|Greek Revival]] building at 125 South Fifth Street and Library Street,<ref name=":3" /> designed by [[William L. Johnston]].<ref name=":0" /> After the library moved to its second location in 1869, the first building at Fifth Street was converted into [[office]]s, purchased by Horatio Nelson Burroughs in the 1870s as the Burroughs Building, and eventually demolished in 1925. Its former location is now an open area in [[Independence National Historical Park]], with nothing indicating there was once a building there.<ref name=":0" />


The second Mercantile Library building was opened in 1869, designed by [[Frank Furness]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Lewis |first=Michael J. |date=2018-06-01 |title=Frank Furness and the Expandable Library |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/jsah.2018.77.2.138 |journal=Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians |volume=77 |issue=2 |pages=138–145 |doi=10.1525/jsah.2018.77.2.138 |issn=0037-9808}}</ref> The library was converted out of a disused market building<ref name=":5" /> and was renovated by Furness twice, first in 1873 (with [[G. W. & W. D. Hewitt|George W. Hewitt]]) and again after the fire in 1877.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1887 |title=Mercantile Library (built before 1873, architect unknown), Tenth Street above Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, exterior |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.22104949 |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=[[JSTOR]] |quote=Alterations in 1873 (Furness and Hewitt, architects) and in 1877 (after a fire, Frank Furness, architect).}}</ref> When the library moved to the Chestnut Street building in 1952, the now-vacant second building, which was located somewhat nearby, was demolished to construct a large [[parking garage]] for the area.<ref name=":0" /> The third Mercantile Library building at 1021–1023 Chestnut Street was a two-story [[Modern architecture|Modern]] building with a clean windowed front, designed by Martin, Stewart & Noble.<ref name=":1" />
The second Mercantile Library building was opened in 1869, designed by [[Frank Furness]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Lewis |first=Michael J. |date=June 1, 2018 |title=Frank Furness and the Expandable Library |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/jsah.2018.77.2.138 |journal=Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians |volume=77 |issue=2 |pages=138–145 |doi=10.1525/jsah.2018.77.2.138 |issn=0037-9808}}</ref> The library was converted out of a disused market building<ref name=":5" /> and was renovated by Furness twice, first in 1873 (with [[G. W. & W. D. Hewitt|George W. Hewitt]]) and again after the fire in 1877.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1887 |title=Mercantile Library (built before 1873, architect unknown), Tenth Street above Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, exterior |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.22104949 |access-date=May 17, 2024 |website=[[JSTOR]] |quote=Alterations in 1873 (Furness and Hewitt, architects) and in 1877 (after a fire, Frank Furness, architect).}}</ref> When the library moved to the Chestnut Street building in 1952, the now-vacant second building, which was located somewhat nearby, was demolished to construct a large [[parking garage]] for the area.<ref name=":0" /> The third Mercantile Library building at 1021–1023 Chestnut Street was a two-story [[Modern architecture|Modern]] building with a clean windowed front, designed by Martin, Stewart & Noble.<ref name=":1" />


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==
The Mercantile Library building is still standing at 1021 Chestnut Street, but remains vacant and boarded up.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Griffith |first=Shila Scarlet |date=2016-01-20 |title=Marked Potential: Mercantile Library |url=https://hiddencityphila.org/2016/01/marked-potential-mercantile-library/ |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=Hidden City Philadelphia |language=en-US}}</ref> It was placed on the [[Philadelphia Register of Historic Places]] in 1990, and was the first mid-20th century building on the list.<ref name=":1" />
The Mercantile Library building is still standing at 1021 Chestnut Street, but remains vacant and boarded up.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Griffith |first=Shila Scarlet |date=January 20, 2016 |title=Marked Potential: Mercantile Library |url=https://hiddencityphila.org/2016/01/marked-potential-mercantile-library/ |access-date=May 16, 2024 |website=Hidden City Philadelphia |language=en-US}}</ref> It was placed on the [[Philadelphia Register of Historic Places]] in 1990, and was the first mid-20th century building on the list.<ref name=":1" />


==See also==
==See also==
Line 49: Line 49:
* William Ellery Channing. [https://openlibrary.org/books/OL13512089M/An_address_delivered_before_the_Mercantile_Library_Company_of_Philadelphia_May_11_1841 An address, delivered before the Mercantile Library Company of Philadelphia, May 11, 1841]
* William Ellery Channing. [https://openlibrary.org/books/OL13512089M/An_address_delivered_before_the_Mercantile_Library_Company_of_Philadelphia_May_11_1841 An address, delivered before the Mercantile Library Company of Philadelphia, May 11, 1841]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/34900073@N07/3266845013/ Bookplate] of the Mercantile Library Company, via Flickr
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/34900073@N07/3266845013/ Bookplate] of the Mercantile Library Company, via Flickr
* [https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/99614076/ Illustration] of the library in ''Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper'', 1869 (via US Library of Congress)
* [https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/99614076/ Illustration] of the library in ''Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper'', 1869 (via US Library of Congress)


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

Revision as of 06:10, 7 July 2024

Mercantile Library
The second Mercantile Library building on Tenth Street in 1876. It was replaced by the Chestnut Street building in 1952 and was promptly demolished.
Map
39°57′01″N 75°09′28″W / 39.9503°N 75.1579°W / 39.9503; -75.1579
Location125 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (1845–1869)

Tenth Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. (1869–1952)

1021–1023 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. (1952–1989)
Established1821
Closed1989
Architect(s)William L. Johnston (first building)

Frank Furness (second building)

Martin, Stewart & Noble (third building)
Branch ofFree Library of Philadelphia (circa unknown point after 1894)

The Mercantile Library Company was a library in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, that operated from 1821 to 1989.[1][2] Like other "Mercantile Libraries" of the era, it was originally a subscription library focused on serving merchants, but gradually shifted focus over time to serve more as a public library, and ultimately became a freely-accessible branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. The library moved to three different locations during its 168 years of existence, but only the third library building, opened in 1952, still stands; this building was added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 1990.

History

The first Mercantile Library building at Fifth Street and Library Street in 1868.[3]

The Mercantile Library was founded in 1821. In 1845, after years of having impermanent locations, it housed itself at the Mercantile Library building on Fifth Street. Per its name, the library was primarily intended to serve merchants with documents on trade, business, and commerce, though library catalogs from later in the century indicate the library soon held books on other subjects.[1][4]

In 1869, the library's growing membership and book collection prompted a move to another location on Tenth Street.[4] In 1877, the Mercantile Library building caught fire when a blaze from the neighboring Fox's American Theatre spread to its roof, and some of the library's collection was damaged from the fire as well as from water used in firefighting efforts by the Philadelphia Fire Department.[5]

By the 1880s, the Mercantile Library had long since become considerably popular outside its original membership base of merchants, and the librarians chose to lean into this and curate expanded novel collections to match public demand, though they were especially selective to enforce public morality at the time.[4] At an indeterminate point after 1894, the Mercantile Library was absorbed into the Free Library of Philadelphia and became a public library branch.[4]

In 1952, the Mercantile Library moved to a newer building at 1021–1023 Chestnut Street,[6] the site of the former Chestnut Street Opera House.[7] In 1989, after 168 years of operation, the Mercantile Library was forced to close after asbestos was discovered in the building.[6][8][9] The Free Library of Philadelphia absorbed the collections of the Mercantile Library after its closure.[6]

Architecture

Initially, the Mercantile Library was housed at multiple different locations that are not clearly known and may no longer exist. From 1845 to 1869, the library was housed in a dedicated Greek Revival building at 125 South Fifth Street and Library Street,[3] designed by William L. Johnston.[4] After the library moved to its second location in 1869, the first building at Fifth Street was converted into offices, purchased by Horatio Nelson Burroughs in the 1870s as the Burroughs Building, and eventually demolished in 1925. Its former location is now an open area in Independence National Historical Park, with nothing indicating there was once a building there.[4]

The second Mercantile Library building was opened in 1869, designed by Frank Furness.[10] The library was converted out of a disused market building[10] and was renovated by Furness twice, first in 1873 (with George W. Hewitt) and again after the fire in 1877.[11] When the library moved to the Chestnut Street building in 1952, the now-vacant second building, which was located somewhat nearby, was demolished to construct a large parking garage for the area.[4] The third Mercantile Library building at 1021–1023 Chestnut Street was a two-story Modern building with a clean windowed front, designed by Martin, Stewart & Noble.[6]

Legacy

The Mercantile Library building is still standing at 1021 Chestnut Street, but remains vacant and boarded up.[6] It was placed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 1990, and was the first mid-20th century building on the list.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Philadelphia, Mercantile Library of (1850). A Catalogue of the Mercantile Library Company of Philadelphia. Mercantile Library Company.
  2. ^ John Thomas Scharf, Thompson Westcott. History of Philadelphia, 1609–1884, v.2. 1884.
  3. ^ a b "Mercantile Library [graphic]". Library Company of Philadelphia Digital Collections. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Strahan, Derek (June 1, 2021). "Mercantile Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania". Lost New England. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  5. ^ "A Disastrous Fire". The Philadelphia Inquirer. February 26, 1877.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Griffith, Shila Scarlet (January 20, 2016). "Marked Potential: Mercantile Library". Hidden City Philadelphia. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  7. ^ "Midcity Garage to Be Built Soon By Parking Unit". The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 14, 1952. p. 17.
  8. ^ Feldman, Vincent D. (2014). City Abandoned: Charting the Loss of Civic Institutions in Philadelphia. Paul Dry Books. p. 137. ISBN 9781589880825.
  9. ^ "Mercantile Library Closed". Philadelphia Daily News. August 22, 1989. p. 32.
  10. ^ a b Lewis, Michael J. (June 1, 2018). "Frank Furness and the Expandable Library". Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians. 77 (2): 138–145. doi:10.1525/jsah.2018.77.2.138. ISSN 0037-9808.
  11. ^ "Mercantile Library (built before 1873, architect unknown), Tenth Street above Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, exterior". JSTOR. 1887. Retrieved May 17, 2024. Alterations in 1873 (Furness and Hewitt, architects) and in 1877 (after a fire, Frank Furness, architect).
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