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History
of the Atheneum
Athena,
the Goddess of Wisdom, symbolizes the cultivation of Literature,
the Sciences, and the Arts in atheneums around
the world.
As
a private literary institution, the Nantucket Atheneum
was incorporated in 1834, more than one hundred sixty
years ago, with 3200 volumes. In the year 1900, the
Nantucket Atheneum became a free public library
which currently maintains a 40,000 volume collection.
The
Nantucket Atheneum continues to advance its original
ideals as a library, a museum with special collections,
and a cultural center. The 1996 renovation and restoration
reopened the second floor Great Hall for lectures and
research, provided gallery and conference space on the
lower level, and created the Weezie Library for Children.
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Designed
by architect Frederick Brown Coleman and completed
soon after the original building was destroyed in
the Great Fire of 1846, the Atheneum is an
impressive example of the Greek Revival style of
architecture. Its elegance is enhanced by the beauty
of historic columns, capitals, medallions, and moldings.
The Atheneum has had only six librarians
and an equally small number of building renovations.
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The
first Atheneum building about two
years before the great fire of 1846.
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A
history of the Nantucket Atheneum would not be complete
without mention of Maria Mitchell. At eighteen (1836),
she became the first librarian of the Nantucket Atheneum,
the library and cultural center for the island. While,
that achievement was remarkable enough, she went on
to other great achievements throughout her life. On
October 1, 1847 Maria Mitchell discovered a telescopic
comet, an accomplishment for which she received a gold
medal from King Frederick of Denmark. She was the first
woman elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences,
the American Association for the Advancement of Science,
and the American Philosophical Society. She was a Professor
of Astronomy at Vassar College. She founded and was
president of the American Association for the Advancement
of Women. She led one session of the Women's Congress.
Maria was given an honorary degree from Columbia College.
A crater on the moon was named for her. Posthumously,
a tablet with her name was put in the New York University
Hall of Fame, her name was carved in a frieze at the
Boston Public Library, and she was inducted into the
National Women's Hall of Fame.
Join
us as we celebrate this new era of the Nantucket
Atheneum. As you explore our Web site, be reminded
of its great history and the famous voices of Ralph
Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Horace Greeley,
Lucretia Mott, Frederick Douglass, and Maria Mitchell
that reverberate throughout the building from lectures
long ago. In addition consider the recent luminaries
such as Stephen E. Ambrose, Lisa Norling, Henry Louis
Gates Jr., David MacCullough, and Nathaniel Philbrick
that have been guests if the Atheneum over the last
five years
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