List of libraries in Connecticut in the 18th century

This is a list of libraries in 18th-century Connecticut. It includes subscription, rental, church, and academic libraries. In general, it excludes book collections of private individuals.

Abington Social Library Association of Abington[1] Barkhamsted Barkhamsted Library (est.1797)[2] Berlin Kensington Parish Library, Berlin (est. ca.1788)[2] Bristol First Society in Bristol (est.1792)[2] Brooklyn Union Library, Brooklyn (est.1774)[2] Chatham Republican Library Company, Chatham (est.1795)[2] Chelsea T. Hubbard's circulating library, Chelsea[3] Cheshire Cheshire Library Society (est.1792)[2] Library in Salem Society, Cheshire (est.1783)[2] Library in the Society of Columbia, Cheshire (est.1793)[2] Cornwall United Proprietors Library, Cornwall (ca.1799-1804)[2] Danbury Franklin Library, Danbury (1770–1833)[2] Library in Bethel Society, Danbury (est.1793)[2] Durham Book Company of Durham (1733–1856) Ethosian Society, Durham (1787–1793)[2] New Library Company, Durham (est.1788)[2] East Haddam Hadlyme Society, East Haddam (est.179)[2] East Hartford First Library Company, East Hartford (est.1794)[2] Union Library, East Hartford (est.1791)[2] East Haven Union Library, East Haven (est.1796)[2] East Windsor Federal Library, East Windsor (est. ca.17890[2] Social Library in East Windsor (est.1791)[2] Farmington Library in First Society, Farmington (est.1795)[2] Northington Public Library, Farmington (1789-ca.1799)[2] Franklin Franklin Library, Franklin (est.1790)[2] Griswold North Preston Parish Library, Griswold (est.1761)[2] Union Circle of Friends, Griswold (1795–1821)[2] Guilford Library of Killingworth, Lyme, Saybrook and Guilford (est.1737; located in Guilford)[2] Library of Saybrook, Lime, and Guilford[4] Library in First Society, Guilford (est.1790)[2] Hadlyme Hadlyme Library (est.1789)[2][5] Hartford Hartford Library Company[6][7] Harwinton Episcopalian Society Library, Harwinton (est.1793)[2] Juvenile Library, Harwinton (est.1797)[2] Union Harwinton Library (1798–1857)[2][8] Lebanon Philogrammatican Society, Lebanon[9] Litchfield St. Paul's Lodge Library, Litchfield (est.1781)[2][10] Madison Farmer's Library, Madison (est.1793)[2] Mansfield Proprietors Library North Society, Mansfield (est.1795)[2] Proprietors Library South Society, Mansfield (est.1795)[2] Middletown Library Company in Middletown (est.1765)[2] Middletown Library[11][12] Milford Associate Library, Milford (1761–1820)[2] Milford Library (est.1745)[2]

Naugatuck Library in Salem Society, Naugatuck (est.1783)[2] New Haven Mechanic Library Society of New-Haven (est.1793)[13] New Haven Library Company[14] Yale College Library[15] New London S. Green's Circulating Library, New London[16] New Milford Union Library, New-Milford (est.1796)[2] Newington Book Company in Newington (est.1752)[2] Charity Library, Newington (est.1787)[2] North Haven Northill Library, North Haven (est.1792)[2] Northington Northington Public Library[17] Norwich Franklin Library Company, Norwich[18] Library in First Society, Norwich (est. 1796)[2] Norwich Library Company (est.1793)[19] John Trumbull's circulating library, Norwich (est.1796)[20] Samuel Trumbull's circulating library, Norwich[21] Pomfret Social Library of Abington in Pomfret (est.1793)[2] United English Library for the Propagation of Christian and Useful Knowledge, Pomfret (1739–1805)[2] Saybrook Library of Second Society, Saybrook (est.1795)[2] Southington Union Library Society, Southington (1797–1847)[2] Stonington Stonington Point Library (est.1793)[2] Suffield Suffield Library (est.1791)[2] Tolland Tolland Proprietary Library (est.1787)[2] Torrington Public Library of Torrington and Winchester (est.1787; located in Torrington)[2] Warren Free Mason Lodge Library, Warren (est.1799)[2] Public Library in Warren (est.1770)[2] Warren library[22] Waterbury Library in First Society, Waterbury (est.1771)[2] Union Library, Waterbury (est. ca.1797)[2] Watertown Union Library Society, Watertown (est.1799)[2] West Simsbury Friendship Library, West Symsbury (est.1793)[23] Weston North Fairfield Library, Weston (est. ca.1790)[2] Wethersfield Social Library in Stepney Parish, Wethersfield (est.1794)[2] Union Library Society of Wethersfield (1783–1850)[2][24] Winchester Society of Winsted, Winchester (est.1799)[2] Windham Library Company in Scotland, Widham (1791–1830)[2] Library in First Society, Windham (ca.1795-1798)[2] Wolcott Library in Farmingbury, Wolcott (est.1779)[2] Woodbridge Library in Woodbridge (est.1787)[2][25] Woodbury Union Library, Woodbury (est.1772)[2] Woodstock Library of First Society, Woodstock (est.1797)[2] United Lyon Library of Woodstock,[26] also called: United Lynn Library (est.1768)[2]

References

1. Alice S. McQuaid (1895). "Sketches of Libraries". Report of the Board of Education of the State of Connecticut ... 1895. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
2. R. Malcolm Sills (1938). "The 'Trumbull Manuscript Collections' and Early Connecticut Libraries". Papers in honor of Andrew Keogh, librarian of Yale University (New Haven: Privately printed).
3. The Courier (Norwich CT); Date: 07-12-1798
4. A catalogue of books, which belong to the Library of Saybrook, Lime, and Guilford. Connecticut : s.n., 1787?
5. Record books of the Hadlyme Library, one volume, 1789-1830s. American Antiquarian Society. James Terry Papers, 1733-c. 1910.
6. Connecticut Courant (Hartford), March 15, 1774
7. The constitution of the Hartford Library Company; extracts from the by-laws, and a catalogue of the books. Hartford: printed by Hudson & Goodwin, 1797
8. Record books of the Union Harwinton Library, four volumes, 1798-1850s. American Antiquarian Society. James Terry Papers, 1733-c. 1910.
9. Martha Williams Hooker. Booklovers of 1738: one of the first libraries in America. Connecticut Magazine 10:4, 1906
10. Litchfield Monitor; Date: 01-21-1795
11. Middlesex Gazette (CT), 09-29-1797; Middlesex Gazette, 09-27-1799
12. Constitution and regulations of the Middletown library. Middletown [Conn.]: : Printed by T. Dunning., 1797.
13. The constitution and bye-laws of the Mechanic Library Society of New-Haven, with a catalogue of books and list of the proprietors. New Haven: printed by Abel Morse, 1793
14. Connecticut Journal (New Haven); Date: 12-07-1785;
15. A catalogue of the library of Yale-College in New-Haven. New London: Printed by T. Green, 1743.
16. Connecticut Gazette (New London); Date: 04-23-1796
17. Catalogue of books, belonging to Northington Public Library. Printed at Pittsfield [Mass.]. : s.n., 1798
18. The constitution of the Franklin Library Company. Also, subscribers names, and catalogue of books. Norwich: printed by John Trumbull, 1794
19. A catalogue of books belonging to Norwich Library Company: To which are annexed, extracts from the bye-laws of said company. Norwich [Conn.]: Printed at the press of J. Trumbull, for the Company, [1796?]
20. Norwich Packet; Date: 07-14-1796
21. Norwich Packet; Date: 05-18-1797
22. Record books of the Warren library, one volume, 1791-c. 1809. American Antiquarian Society. James Terry Papers, 1733-c. 1910.
23. Record books of the Friendship Library in West Symsbury, one volume, c. 1793-c. 1805. American Antiquarian Society. James Terry Papers, 1733-c. 1910.
24. The constitution and by-laws of the Union Library Society of Wethersfield, with a catalogue of books, the property of said society. Hartford: printed at Hudson & Goodwin, 1784
25. Record books of the Woodbridge, one volume, 1787-1790s. American Antiquarian Society. James Terry Papers, 1733-c. 1910.
26. United Lyon Library. Records, 1790-1826. American Antiquarian Society.

External links

• Princeton University. Davies Project. American Libraries before 1876.