Providence Athenaeum

A Brief History: The Providence Athenaeum is located at 251 Benefit Street Providence, Rhode Island, and was founded in1836 after a previous Providence Athenaeum and the Providence Library Company could not agree on terms for a merger. Both organizations dissolved and formed a new library, which included the collections of both earlier institutions. This new organization, known as The Athenaeum, would later change its name to the Providence Athenaeum in 1850. Originally housed in the Arcade downtown on Weybosset Street, the Athenaeum opened the doors on July 11, 1838.  In 1872, the Athenaeum hired its first female employee, Mary Angell, as assistant librarian. As part of her duties, she began working on the card catalog, which still sits on the library’s main floor. Her handwritten cards from the nineteenth century can still be found inside. There are nearly 56,000 books in the collection.

The Athenaeum expanded twice, once in 1914 with an addition designed by local architect Norman Morrison Isham and once in 1979 with an addition designed by award-winning architect Warren Platner. Both expansions were a result of a need for increased storage for the collection and to create space for the library’s ever-popular children’s service.

Haunted History: The Athenaeum has a star studded haunted history. It has been said that Edgar Allen Poe still wonders the halls. He and Sarah Helen Whitman had a relationship and much time was spent here. This is also where Sarah broke off the relationship with Poe. So if you are ever there looking at some books you may have somebody reading over your shoulder.