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Text Box: Salem Athenĉum The Salem Athenĉum, like other social or membership libraries, was born of the community’s need to supplement whatever education the residents had—whether that education was formal or self taught. The name Athenĉum derives from the temple of Athena and originally meant a literary club or scientific academy for the promotion of learning. Most of the Salem Athenĉum’s amazingly rich collection of books was collected to give the members access to the best literature and nonfiction material available anywhere. Early on, members of the Salem Athenĉum would gather to discuss books and subjects of current interest, much like members do today. Over the centuries the Athenĉum has evolved to the point where it now offers a rich assortment of book-related programs, music to suit varied tastes, and other social events. The rare books collection is one of the finest in all of New England. Some of these books date back to the 15th Century. Such books are sometimes referred to as incunabula. One such volume, the Iamblichus de Mysteriis was published in 1497. In addition to rare books the collection contains rare maps, old newspapers and important documents from Colonial Massachusetts. During 2006 and early 2007 the Athenĉum has put on programs about Shakespeare, the Mayflower and Islam. It has given courses on Irish literature and the Chinese language. It has offered Mozart and Dixieland concerts. These are just a smattering of the fascinating tableau of events at the new and vibrant Salem Athenĉum.  The roots of the Salem Athenĉum go back to 1760 with the founding of the Social Library. Sometime around 1750 the Monday Evening Club was organized in Salem to promote literature and philosophy. On the night of March 31, 1760, the Monday Evening Club, including men such as Edward Augustus Holyoke, the Reverend Thomas Barnard, Benjamin Lynde, Joseph Bowditch, Richard Derby Jr., William Brown and Nathaniel Ropes, met at the Ship’s Tavern in Town House Square. The club members subscribed 175 guineas for the creation of the Social Library. More than half of the group were Harvard graduates. Holyoke’s father had been president of Harvard.  Many of these men were Torys, and some of them would return to England during the coming Revolution.  Iamblichus de Mysteriis - Published 1497 By 1785 the library had more than 400 volumes. A share in the library cost 11 pounds at this time, and members were assessed an amount each year for the purchase of new books.  Four years earlier, in 1781, the Philosophical Library was born. As Cynthia Wiggin, former Salem Athenĉum librarian once said, “To say that good resulted from evil is a vast understatement.” Because of the conflict with England many ships left American ports as privateers. Vast fortunes were made from privateering.   Shippers Andrew and John Cabot of Beverly sent their ship Pilgrim out of Beverly in February 1781. The Pilgrim, like all of the Cabot ships, was armed. The Pilgrim encountered the British ship Mars on its way to Canada. After a bloody battle the Pilgrim sailed into Beverly harbor with the Mars as its prize. It happened that the Mars carried a remarkable collection of books belonging to the eminent Irish scientist Dr. Richard Kirwan of Dublin. The books, which included the Philosophical Transactions of the French Academy, the Royal Society of London and the French Academy of Arts and Sciences, were sold at auction and became the core of the collection of the new Philosophical Library of Salem. A share in the library was $45. Members could borrow up to four books at a time and keep them as long as three months. Interestingly, some years later, the trustees of the Athenĉum offered to reimburse Dr. Kirwan for the loss of his books. Kirwan wouldn’t accept, saying he glad that the books had found a home where they were appreciated.  In 1810, most of the members of the Philosophical Library were also Proprietors of the Social Library. The members decided that it made sense to merge and form one larger library. From this agreement came the Salem Athenĉum. Shares in the Athenĉum were $100.  Nearly 100 years later, in 1907, the Athenĉum moved from the building that now houses the Phillips Library to its new building at 337 Essex Street. Today the Salem Athenĉum’s collection has grown to 55,000 volumes and includes valuable maps and the original Massachusetts Bay Charter, which some say may be the third most important document in America after the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. □                                 The Boston Gazette for March 12, 1770 below: