The Interlibrary Loan Department at the Boston Public Library serves as headquarters for interlibrary loan activity in the Boston Regional Library System. The Department receives requests from the six regional libraries in Massachusetts. These libraries send requests on behalf of their member libraries. These libraries send in requests for books and journal articles. They also can send reference and subject requests. The staff of the Interlibrary Loan Department searches for these requests in...
Topic: BPL Interlibrary Loan
Anti-Slavery collection (approximately 40,000 pieces). In the late 1890's, the family of William Lloyd Garrison, along with others closely involved in the anti-slavery movement, presented the library with a major gathering of correspondence, documents, and other original material relating to the abolitionist cause from 1832 until after the Civil War. The major holdings consist of the papers of William Lloyd Garrison, Maria Weston Chapman and Deborah Weston, Lydia Maria Child, Amos Augustus...
Topics: Anti Slavery, William Lloyd Garrison, Abolition
The Thomas Pennant Barton Collection is acknowledged as one of the largest and most comprehensive collections in a public institution focusing on the writings of William Shakespeare and his contemporaries. The collection was the first in the United States to include the first four folios of the collected works of William Shakespeare, as well as some 45 early quarto editions of individual plays, many published during Shakespeare’s lifetime. As the preeminent Shakespeare collection from...
Topics: shakespeare, Thomas Pennant Barton, Boston Public Library
The BPL’s incunabula collection embodies the varied output of the 15th-century European printing press. As of February, 2020, the collection is comprised of 583 physical items printed during the 15th century, the majority of which are books (issued either individually or as parts of multi-volume sets). The collection also contains a small number of single-sheet publications, blockbooks, and fragments of books that merit individual cataloging. In total, there are 555 discrete 15th-century...
The Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library cares for more than a quarter million cartographic and geographic objects, ranging from the fifteenth century to the present, with a global scope and a focus on Boston and New England. Created in 2004 as a private-public partnership between the philanthropist Norman B. Leventhal and the Boston Public Library, the LMEC is located in the McKim Building at the BPL ’ s Central Library in Copley Square. The LMEC features a...
Comprised chiefly of individual editions of English stage plays issued between 1594 and 1799, the Boston Public Library's collection of early English playbooks is extensive and diverse. Numbering well over 1,500 items, the collection also includes masques, pageants, and other dramatic entertainments. Critical funding to support long-term preservation of and enhanced public access to Boston Public Library collections, including this one, was provided by the Associates of the Boston Public...
This collection provides access to materials published by the Boston Public Library, critical administrative records of the library, and collection documentation, including printed finding aids, card catalogs, procedural guidelines, etc.
The Houghton Mifflin Company Trade Book Archival Collection is comprised of Trade Division materials that were originally kept in the Park Street building, which the company occupied from 1880 to 1994, before being donated to the Boston Public Library. The company’s editors used this collection as their working library. The collection includes adult and juvenile titles as well as reference materials, audio, and kits from Houghton Mifflin, Clarion, and other Houghton Mifflin Harcourt imprints.
The Boston Public Library has an extensive collection of original manuscripts from the American Revolutionary War era. The letters and documents were drafted by John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, James Otis, Joseph Warren, George Washington and other important Revolutionary War figures. The materials are mostly of American origin, but also include British, European, and West Indian sources. Some of the topics covered include the war’s political origins, the unfolding of military and...
The Ticknor Library of Spanish and Portuguese literature is a 10,000-volume collection that covers many aspects of Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American literature and history, including books on art, science, law, and theology. As a collection, the Ticknor Collection is remarkable for its completeness in all that pertains to Spanish literature and belles lettres. Many of these volumes are first editions and handwritten manuscripts that are exceedingly rare. The materials are primarily in...
Material for this collection has been contributed by the Boston Public Library.
Covering the years 1780 through 1821, this collection of Boston tax records is organized by year and ward. Beginning in 1802, the records for each year are generally divided into three main categories: taking books, tax books, and transfer books. Taking books (referred to as “valuation books” beginning in 1818) follow the order of the tax assessors' progress through each ward, street-by-street, and record names of individual residents or businesses, assessed values of realty and personalty,...
The Architecture Index Collection at the Boston Public Library’s Arts Department is an extensive card index of architectural resources created over 45 years by BPL Fine Arts librarians. In 1968, realizing the wealth and depth of the architectural information contained within the Arts collections, the department began collecting and indexing this information on cards, at the time referred to as “the Boston Index,” comprised of references to written descriptions, critiques, histories,...
Defoe & Defoeana The William P. Trent Collection of Defoe and Defoeana is one of the most comprehensive collections of Daniel Defoe and his contemporaries. In addition to writing some of the first English novels, Defoe was a prolific political pamphleteer and is considered by many to be a founder of modern journalism. The nucleus of this 30,000-volume collection is a set of first editions of Defoe’s works, bound in 77 volumes and formerly owned by Henry Labouchère. There are hundreds of...
109,577
110K
1921
1921
by
Lutz, Edwin George, b. 1868
texts
eye 109,577
favorite 619
comment 2
OCLC number: ocm07014379
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 2 reviews )
Topic: Drawing
For piano
Topic: Piano music
Source: bplill
2 volumes ; 24 cm
Topics: Registers of births, etc. -- Colombia -- Antioquia (Department), Registers of births, etc. --...
The Philip Hale scrapbooks contain letters and programs, along with clippings with reviews and criticisms written by Hale and others, all compiled by Hale. There are 60 volumes organized by year, as well as two separate index volumes.
3,657
3.7K
1989
1989
by
Parks, Roger N; Hall, David D; Taylor, Alan, 1955-; Committee for a New England Bibliography
texts
eye 3,657
favorite 7
comment 0
Includes bibliographical references and index
Topic: Union catalogs
The Benton Collection of Editions of the Book of Common Prayer was bequeathed by Josiah H. Benton in 1919. Benton was a trustee of the Boston Public Library from 1894 until his death on February 6, 1917, and served for many years as President of the Trustees of the Library. He bestowed much of his fortune to purchase books of “permanent value and authority, desirable for scholarly research and use,” and an equal amount of money for additions and improvement to the Library building. In...
991
991
1878
1878
by
Moss, Edward L. (Edward Lawton)
texts
eye 991
favorite 4
comment 0
The plates are mounted chrome-lithographs, each preceded by leaf with descriptive letterpress
Topics: Nares, George S. (George Strong), 1831-1915, Alert (Ship), Discovery (Ship)
Source: folio
These Catholic directories provide information about the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers.
A collection of book lists created and curated by Boston Public Library Librarians. It includes: Black Is... (1973-), published in observance of Black History Month and featuring books concerning the African American experience; Latinx Life (2003-), published in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month and featuring books concerning the Latinx experience; We Are Pride (2017-), published in observance of Pride Month and featuring books concerning the diverse experiences of the LGBTQ+...
125,509
126K
1921
1921
by
Johnson, Samuel, d. 1901; Johnson, O. (Obadiah)
texts
eye 125,509
favorite 67
comment 3
OCLC number: ocm07397140
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Topic: Yoruba (African people)
1,018 pages : 25 cm
Topics: Germans -- Soviet Union, Germany -- Emigration and immigration -- 18th century -- 19th century,...
The Boston Public Library holds a significant collection of books from the earliest years of English printing, including works from the presses of William Caxton, Richard Pynson, Wynkyn De Worde, and others.
39,638
40K
The Chapman family: or The descendants of Robert Chapman, one of the first settlers of Say-brook, Conn., with genealogical notes of William Chapman, who settled in New London, Conn.; Edward Chapman, who settled at Windsor, Conn.; John Chapman, of Stonington, Conn.; and Rev. Benjamin Chapman, of Southington, Conn
1854
1854
by
Chapman, F. W. (Frederick William), 1806-1876
texts
eye 39,638
favorite 8
comment 0
414 p. 23 cm
Topics: Chapman family, Chapman, Robert, 1616-1687, Chapman, William, d. 1699, Chapman, Edward, d. 1675,...
60,527
61K
1922
1922
by
Spraker, Ella Atterbury, b. 1883; Crump, Jesse Procter, 1867-
texts
eye 60,527
favorite 36
comment 0
691, [7] p. 27 cm
Topics: Boone family, Boone, Daniel, 1734-1820
The Improper Bostonian was a glossy lifestyle magazine first published in August 1991 "highlighting the people and places that make Boston a world-class city." After 28 years, publisher Wendy Semonian Eppich announced that the magazine ceased publication effective April 25, 2019. The magazine came out bi-weekly and reported on the area trends in a young and entertaining way. The magazine was a staple in Greater Boston, distributed free at kiosks within city limits, and available via a...
[4] p., 130 leaves of plates : 37 cm
Topics: Monograms, Initials
12,735
13K
1922
1922
by
Joyce, James, 1882-1941; Rodker, John, 1894-1955, publisher; Darantière, Maurice, printer; Egoist Press, publisher
texts
eye 12,735
favorite 58
comment 0
"This edition is limited to 2000 copies on handmade paper numbered from 1 to 2000"--Prelim. p. [9]
Topics: City and town life, Married people, Jewish men, Artists
14,257
14K
1926
1926
by
Boston Public Library
texts
eye 14,257
favorite 6
comment 0
Title from cover
Topics: Boston Public Library, Bibliography, Classified catalogs, Catalogs
19,436
19K
1923
1923
by
Johnson, Henry Lewis
texts
eye 19,436
favorite 319
comment 2
''Book reference list'':p. [192-193]
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 2 reviews )
Topics: Printing, Book ornamentation, Decoration and ornament
54,757
55K
1905
1905
by
Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles, 1871-1928
texts
eye 54,757
favorite 40
comment 1
Photocopy
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topic: Heraldry -- Great Britain
5,929
5.9K
1906
1906
by
Harris, Joseph S. (Joseph Smith), 1836-1910
texts
eye 5,929
favorite 2
comment 0
Preface signed: Joseph S. Harris
Topic: Smith family
"List of works consulted": v. 1, p. [iii]-iv
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topics: Antigua -- Genealogy, Antigua -- History
Source: bplill
5,968
6.0K
1798
1798
by
Caslon, William, 1754-1833
texts
eye 5,968
favorite 92
comment 0
Issued with: 'A specimen of cast ornaments', London, 1798
Topic: Printing
18,396
18K
1917
1917
by
United States. War Dept
texts
eye 18,396
favorite 46
comment 1
270 p. :
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topics: Cookery, Military, cbk
6,946
6.9K
1915
1915
by
Jacobson & Company
texts
eye 6,946
favorite 63
comment 0
On cover: Architectural and decorative ornaments
Topics: Plaster, Decoration and ornament, Architectural
Source: BPL_scan_for_me
Boston Public Library Interlibrary Loan
18,360
18K
1898
1898
by
Camden, William, 1551-1623; Philipot, John, 1589?-1645; Hovenden, Robert, 1830-1908; Harleian Society
texts
eye 18,360
favorite 18
comment 0
Includes index
Topics: Visitations, Heraldic, Heraldry
23,819
24K
1899
1899
by
Phelps, Oliver Seymour, b. 1816; Servin, Andrew Tinkey, b. 1857
texts
eye 23,819
favorite 20
comment 0
Paged continuously
Topics: Phelps family, Phelps, William, 1599-1672
30,919
31K
1923
1923
by
Culbertson, Lewis R. (Lewis Rogers), b. 1867
texts
eye 30,919
favorite 9
comment 0
Blank pages for "Family records" ([468]-478)
Topics: Culbertson family, Culberson, John, fl. 1712
Source: bplsocsci
This collection contains scans of the manuscript main entry catalog for the Boston Public Library Rare Books & Manuscripts Department. The main entry catalog is the best place to search for manuscripts. It contains approximately 130,000 cards, filed in alphabetical order by author name. Where no author is known, cards are filed alphabetically by title. Manuscripts related to certain special subjects, like “abolitionism,” or “music” are filed under author's name, as well as subject....
13,249
13K
1987
1987
by
United States. Congress. House. Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms Transactions with Iran; United States. Congress. Senate. Select Committee on Secret Military Assistance to Iran and the Nicaraguan Opposition
texts
eye 13,249
favorite 8
comment 1
"November 1987"--Cover
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topics: Iran-Contra Affair, 1985-1990, Military assistance, American, Political corruption
Source: bplgovdocs
2,419
2.4K
1995
1995
by
United States. Congress. House
texts
eye 2,419
favorite 0
comment 0
Issued in pts
Topics: United States. Congress. House, United States. Congress. House
Source: bplgovdocs
34,376
34K
1874
1874
by
Pigafetta, Antonio, ca. 1480/91-ca. 1534. Primo viaggio intorno al globo terraqueo. English; Stanley, Henry Edward John Stanley, Baron, 1827-1903
texts
eye 34,376
favorite 41
comment 0
Includes bibliographical references and indexes
Topics: Magalhães, Fernão de, d. 1521, Voyages around the world
Source: bplgrhum
The major part of this distinguished collection is comprised of religious and devotional texts, but there are also a number of secular and scientific titles. Many are superbly illuminated with exquisite miniatures illustrating the codices and single leaves. Some noteworthy volumes include a 10th-century Lectionary from the Benedictine Abbey of St. Allyre in Clermont, the earliest codex in New England; a Spanish Psalter consisting of 14 miniatures on vellum by Simon Bening, the most famous...
6,215
6.2K
1926
1926
by
Boston Public Library
texts
eye 6,215
favorite 4
comment 0
Title from cover
Topics: Boston Public Library, Boston Public Library, Bibliography, Classified catalogs, Catalogs
Translation of: L'âme humaine
Topics: Soul, Aura
Source: bplill
43,652
44K
1913
1913
by
Weeks, Lyman Horace
texts
eye 43,652
favorite 11
comment 0
Bibliography: p. 43-45
Topic: Bell family
"List of works consulted": v. 1, p. [iii]-iv
Topics: Antigua -- Genealogy, Antigua -- History
Source: bplill
35,490
35K
1976
1976
by
United States. Congress. Senate. Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities; Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
texts
eye 35,490
favorite 23
comment 0
Vol. 3-6 lack subtitle
Topics: Intelligence service, Civil rights
Source: bplgovdocs
46,774
47K
1894
1894
by
Carr, Edson I. (Edson Irving), b. 1831
texts
eye 46,774
favorite 14
comment 0
540 p. 24 cm
Topics: Carr family, Carr, William, 1597-1672
Also includes ''The story of Topsy'' from Uncle Tom's Cabin
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 4 reviews )
Source: bplill
31,346
31K
1912
1912
by
Avery, Elroy McKendree, 1844-1935; Avery, Catherine Hitchcock Tilden, 1844-1911
texts
eye 31,346
favorite 11
comment 0
2 v. 25 cm
Topics: Avery, Christopher, 1590-1679, Avery, James, 1620?-1700, Avery family
35,958
36K
1881
1881
by
Baldwin, C. C. (Charles Candee), 1834-1895
texts
eye 35,958
favorite 31
comment 1
974 p. 24 cm
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topic: Baldwin family
32,001
32K
1724
1724
by
Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731; Johnson, Charles, fl. 1724-1731
texts
eye 32,001
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comment 0
Attribution to Defoe is based on internal textual relationship to his works of proven authorship together with supporting external evidence. Cf. J.H. Moore. Defoe in the pillory. Bloomington, Ind., 1939, p. 126-188
Topic: Pirates
Source: bplsc
7,874
7.9K
1887
1887
by
Hughes, Thomas Patrick, 1838-1911; Munsell, Frank, b. 1857
texts
eye 7,874
favorite 5
comment 0
Special collection -- Munsell imprints
Topics: Albany (N.Y.) -- Genealogy, United States -- Genealogy, Columbia County (N.Y.) -- Genealogy
1,332
1.3K
1918
1918
by
King, Stanton H. (Stanton Henry), 1867-1939
texts
eye 1,332
favorite 6
comment 0
A-roving -- Blow, boys, blow -- Blow the man down -- Boney was a warrior -- The dead horse -- Farewell, and adieu to you -- Hanging Johnnie -- Haul away, Joe -- Haul the bowline -- High Barbaree -- Homeward bound -- Hoodah-day -- Johnny Boker -- Leave her, Johnny, leave her -- A long time ago -- One more day -- Paddy Doyle -- The plains of Mexico -- Reuben Ranzo -- Rio Grande -- Roll the cotton down -- Roll the Kaiser down -- Rolling home -- Sally Brown -- Storm-along -- Tom's gone to Ilo --...
Topics: Sea songs, Sea songs
33,248
33K
1905
1905
by
Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles, 1871-1928
texts
eye 33,248
favorite 32
comment 1
Photocopy
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topic: Heraldry -- Great Britain
xvi, 236 p. ; 20 cm
Topic: Erotic literature
Source: bplill
Bound in gold cloth ; stamped in gold and brown ; decorated endpapers
favoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
43,207
43K
1903
1903
by
Babcock, Stephen, 1832-1916, comp
texts
eye 43,207
favorite 29
comment 2
xxx, 640 p. 24 cm
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 2 reviews )
Topics: Babcock family, Babcock, James, 1612?-1679
74,124
74K
-
-
by
United States. Adjutant General
texts
eye 74,124
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comment 0
This register is also issued, later, in the Congressional Documents series, kept in the Special Libraries, wherin particular volumes can be found by means of the indexes and checklist kept in the Statistical Department. One copy of the latest issue is kept in the Information Office
Topic: United States. Army and Navy
Source: bplgovdocs
11,888
12K
Jun 19, 2022
06/22
by
Mesureur, G
texts
eye 11,888
favorite 153
comment 1
Consists of designs for embroidery on linen
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topic: Embroidery
22,117
22K
1917
1917
by
Tolstoy, Leo, graf, 1828-1910; Chertkov, V. G. (Vladimir Grigorevich), 1854-1936
texts
eye 22,117
favorite 21
comment 0
Russian edition edited by V. Chertkov
Topics: Tolstoy, Leo, graf, 1828-1910, Novelists, Russian
38,870
39K
1880
1880
by
Bliss, John Homer, b. 1832
texts
eye 38,870
favorite 24
comment 1
810 p. 24 cm
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topics: Bliss family, Morris, Oliver Bliss, Bliss, Sylvester, 1814-1863
Scientific American began publishing its Architects and Builders Edition in 1885. From 1895 through 1901, it was known as the Building Edition, and then as the Scientific American Building Monthly from 1902 through 1905. It was replaced by American Homes and Gardens.
31,520
32K
1897
1897
by
Passmore, John Andrew Moore, 1836-1903
texts
eye 31,520
favorite 8
comment 0
2 v. 25 cm
Topics: Moore, Andrew, 1688-1753, Moore, David, d. 1726, Moore family
40,369
40K
1972
1972
by
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee to Investigate the Administration of the Internal Security Act and Other Internal Security Laws
texts
eye 40,369
favorite 1
comment 0
v. 1. A-K.--v. 2. L-Z
Topic: United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee to Investigate the...
34,511
35K
The Gentry family in America, 1676 to 1909 : including notes on the following families related to the Gentrys : Claiborne, Harris, Hawkins, Robinson, Smith, Wyatt, Sharp, Fulkerson, Butler, Bush, Blythe, Pabody, Noble, Haggard, and Tindall
1909
1909
by
Gentry, Richard, b. 1846
texts
eye 34,511
favorite 9
comment 0
Includes index
Topics: Gentry, Nicholas, fl. 1709, Gentry family
Source: bplsocsci
27,689
28K
1889
1889
by
Holden, Frederick A. (Frederick Augustus); Lockwood, James, 1714-1772
texts
eye 27,689
favorite 6
comment 0
xxv, 884 p. : 26 cm
Topic: Lockwood family
38,135
38K
1918
1918
by
Catchings, Fermine Baird, b. 1858
texts
eye 38,135
favorite 15
comment 0
230, [10] p. : 25 cm
Topic: Baird family
23,903
24K
1908
1908
by
Nesfield, John Collinson
texts
eye 23,903
favorite 32
comment 0
Includes index
Topic: English language
