Appointments are now required to conduct research in both of our reading rooms.
Explore
Donate
For Scholars
For Educators
Library Company Announces Plans for Semiquincentennial
The Library Company of Philadelphia, founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin, opened its collections to the delegates to the First Continental Congress in September 1774. At the time, its collections held virtually every significant work of political theory, history, law, and statecraft to be found in the American colonies. That privilege was extended to delegates to subsequent Congresses, the Constitutional Convention, and the early Federal Congresses while Philadelphia was the national capital until 1800. This heritage as the first, though unofficial, Library of Congress places the Library Company in a unique position to shed light on the Revolutionary era. Plans for the Semiquincentennial center on two exhibitions.
Appointments are now required to access the Scheide reading room and the Graphic Arts Department reading room.
For text materials (Scheide reading room), appointments are required. Click here to learn more.
For visual materials (Graphic Arts Department reading room), appointments are required. Click here to learn how to make an appointment.
Join Our Mailing List!
Thank you for joining the The Library Company of Philadelphia mailing list. We look forward to keeping you informed.
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Current Exhibitions
Current Month
July
No Events