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...
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.
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...
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,...
111,314
111K
1921
1921
by
Lutz, Edwin George, b. 1868
texts
eye 111,314
favorite 655
comment 2
OCLC number: ocm07014379
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 2 reviews )
Topic: Drawing
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...
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...
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...
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.
Boston Public Library (Research Library) copy bound with: Report on farm and agricultural schools and colleges in France, Germany, and Belgium -- Education and peasant industry: some state and state-aided trade schools in Germany -- The playground movement in America and its relation to public education -- The experiment in rural secondary education conducted at Knaresborough -- An experiment in industrial research -- A rural special subjects centre -- The Admiralty method of training dockyard...
Topic: Greek language
Source: bplill
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...
These Catholic directories provide information about the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers.
1,018 pages : 25 cm
Topics: Germans -- Soviet Union, Germany -- Emigration and immigration -- 18th century -- 19th century,...
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+...
60,899
61K
1922
1922
by
Spraker, Ella Atterbury, b. 1883; Crump, Jesse Procter, 1867-
texts
eye 60,899
favorite 37
comment 0
691, [7] p. 27 cm
Topics: Boone family, Boone, Daniel, 1734-1820
2,449
2.4K
1878
1878
by
Moss, Edward L. (Edward Lawton)
texts
eye 2,449
favorite 19
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
viii, 414 pages ; 19 cm
Topics: Liguori, Alfonso Maria de', Saint, 1696-1787 -- Translations into English, Catholic Church --...
40,013
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 40,013
favorite 8
comment 0
414 p. 23 cm
Topics: Chapman family, Chapman, Robert, 1616-1687, Chapman, William, d. 1699, Chapman, Edward, d. 1675,...
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...
126,205
126K
1921
1921
by
Johnson, Samuel, d. 1901; Johnson, O. (Obadiah)
texts
eye 126,205
favorite 69
comment 3
OCLC number: ocm07397140
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 3 reviews )
Topic: Yoruba (African people)
6,356
6.4K
1798
1798
by
Caslon, William, 1754-1833
texts
eye 6,356
favorite 101
comment 0
Issued with: 'A specimen of cast ornaments', London, 1798
Topic: Printing
34,698
35K
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 34,698
favorite 41
comment 0
Includes bibliographical references and indexes
Topics: Magalhães, Fernão de, d. 1521, Voyages around the world
Source: bplgrhum
14,583
15K
1926
1926
by
Boston Public Library
texts
eye 14,583
favorite 7
comment 0
Title from cover
Topics: Boston Public Library, Bibliography, Classified catalogs, Catalogs
19,996
20K
1923
1923
by
Johnson, Henry Lewis
texts
eye 19,996
favorite 329
comment 2
''Book reference list'':p. [192-193]
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 2 reviews )
Topics: Printing, Book ornamentation, Decoration and ornament
"List of works consulted": v. 1, p. [iii]-iv
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topics: Antigua -- Genealogy, Antigua -- History
Source: bplill
[4] p., 130 leaves of plates : 37 cm
Topics: Monograms, Initials
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.
7,543
7.5K
1913
1913
by
Wright, William Henry, b. 1843; Ketchum, Gertrude Wright
texts
eye 7,543
favorite 5
comment 0
Index: p. 227-235
Topic: Wright family
Boston Public Library Interlibrary Loan
4,656
4.7K
The expositor; or, Many mysteries unravelled. Delineated in a series of letters, between a friend and his correspondent, comprising the learned pig, invisible lady and acoustic temple, philosophical swan, penetrating spy glasses, optical and magnetic, and various other curiosities on similar principles: also, a few of the most wonderful feats as performed by the art of legerdemain, with some reflections on ventriloquism
1805
1805
by
Pinchbeck, William Frederick
texts
eye 4,656
favorite 15
comment 0
100 p. : 19 cm
Topic: Magic tricks
24,140
24K
1908
1908
by
Nesfield, John Collinson
texts
eye 24,140
favorite 33
comment 0
Includes index
Topic: English language
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....
32,262
32K
1724
1724
by
Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731; Johnson, Charles, fl. 1724-1731
texts
eye 32,262
favorite 117
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
31,162
31K
1923
1923
by
Culbertson, Lewis R. (Lewis Rogers), b. 1867
texts
eye 31,162
favorite 9
comment 0
Blank pages for "Family records" ([468]-478)
Topics: Culbertson family, Culberson, John, fl. 1712
Source: bplsocsci
47,033
47K
1894
1894
by
Carr, Edson I. (Edson Irving), b. 1831
texts
eye 47,033
favorite 14
comment 0
540 p. 24 cm
Topics: Carr family, Carr, William, 1597-1672
36,184
36K
1881
1881
by
Baldwin, C. C. (Charles Candee), 1834-1895
texts
eye 36,184
favorite 31
comment 1
974 p. 24 cm
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topic: Baldwin family
Translation of: L'âme humaine
Topics: Soul, Aura
Source: bplill
Also includes ''The story of Topsy'' from Uncle Tom's Cabin
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 4 reviews )
Source: bplill
51,821
52K
1908
1908
by
Jones, Emma C. Brewster, b. 1854
texts
eye 51,821
favorite 47
comment 0
2 v. 24 cm
Topics: Brewster, William, 1566 or 7-1644, Brewster family, Allerton family
35,822
36K
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 35,822
favorite 26
comment 0
Vol. 3-6 lack subtitle
Topics: Intelligence service, Civil rights
Source: bplgovdocs
14,061
14K
1904
1904
by
Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles, 1871-1928
texts
eye 14,061
favorite 114
comment 1
Title in red and black
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topic: Heraldry
Source: Gen Ref
34,745
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 34,745
favorite 9
comment 0
Includes index
Topics: Gentry, Nicholas, fl. 1709, Gentry family
Source: bplsocsci
21,909
22K
1907
1907
by
Foote, Abram William, 1862-1941
texts
eye 21,909
favorite 11
comment 0
Originally published: Rutland, Vt. : Marble City Press-Tuttle, 1907 (v. 1) ; Burlington, Vt. : Free Press Printing, 1932 (v. 2)
Topics: Foote, Nathaniel, 1593?-1644, Foote family
Source: bplsocsci
This collection contains scans of shelf list catalog cards for printed materials the BPL Rare Books and Manuscripts Department. Cards in this collection are organized by call number.
7,276
7.3K
1915
1915
by
Jacobson & Company
texts
eye 7,276
favorite 68
comment 0
On cover: Architectural and decorative ornaments
Topics: Plaster, Decoration and ornament, Architectural
Source: BPL_scan_for_me
The John Adams Library at the Boston Public Library
8,664
8.7K
1570
1570
by
John Adams Library (Boston Public Library) MB (BRL); Estienne, Henri, 1531-1598, printer; Estienne, Henri, 1531-1598, ed; Canter, Willem, 1542-1575, tr; Traversari, Ambrogio, 1386-1439, tr; Adams, John, 1735-1826, former owner
texts
eye 8,664
favorite 12
comment 1
John Adams Library copy has plate on verso facing t.p., v. 1: "Relie par crucifix Mtre. Relieur Rue St. Jean de Beauvais pres l'Eglise, A Paris." Inscribed on t.p., v. 1: "Petrus Colladon." Inscribed on first leaf, v. 1-2: "John Adams 1784 Paris."
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topics: Philosophers, Ancient, Philosophy, Ancient, Pythagoras and Pythagorean school
xvi, 236 p. ; 20 cm
Topic: Erotic literature
Source: bplill
14,519
15K
1658
1658
by
Porta, Giambattista della, approximately 1535-1615; Gaywood, Richard, active 1650-1680, engraver; Young, Thomas, active 1658, publisher; Speed, Samuel, -1681, publisher
texts
eye 14,519
favorite 231
comment 0
Two states are noted. State 1 has pages misnumbered as follows: p. 113 misnumbered 120; p. 120 misnumbered 113; p. 129 misnumbered 131; p. 385-392 misnumbered 381-388. In state 2, the first 2 errors have been corrected
Topics: Science, Industrial arts, Magnetism, Magic tricks, Alchemy
6,473
6.5K
1926
1926
by
Boston Public Library
texts
eye 6,473
favorite 6
comment 0
Title from cover
Topics: Boston Public Library, Bibliography, Classified catalogs, Catalogs
"List of works consulted": v. 1, p. [iii]-iv
Topics: Antigua -- Genealogy, Antigua -- History
Source: bplill
24,023
24K
1899
1899
by
Phelps, Oliver Seymour, b. 1816; Servin, Andrew Tinkey, b. 1857
texts
eye 24,023
favorite 20
comment 0
Paged continuously
Topics: Phelps family, Phelps, William, 1599-1672
"List of works consulted": v. 1, p. [iii]-iv
Topics: Antigua -- Genealogy, Antigua -- History
Source: bplill
55,126
55K
1905
1905
by
Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles, 1871-1928
texts
eye 55,126
favorite 42
comment 1
Photocopy
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topic: Heraldry -- Great Britain
39,082
39K
1880
1880
by
Bliss, John Homer, b. 1832
texts
eye 39,082
favorite 24
comment 1
810 p. 24 cm
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topics: Bliss family, Morris, Oliver Bliss, Bliss, Sylvester, 1814-1863
4,254
4.3K
1912
1912
by
Hammond, Edith Cary
texts
eye 4,254
favorite 76
comment 0
1 p. l.,5-103 p. : 23 m
Topics: Clothing and dress, Decoration and ornament
Source: Fine Arts
36,327
36K
1965
1965
by
Crollalanza, G. B. di (Giovanni Battista di), 1819-1892
texts
eye 36,327
favorite 16
comment 0
Reprint of 1886-1890 ed
Topics: Heraldry, Nobility
43,409
43K
1903
1903
by
Babcock, Stephen, 1832-1916, comp
texts
eye 43,409
favorite 30
comment 2
xxx, 640 p. 24 cm
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 2 reviews )
Topics: Babcock family, Babcock, James, 1612?-1679
12,445
12K
1874
1874
by
Papworth, John W. (John Woody), 1820-1870; Morant, Alfred William Whitehead, 1828-1881, ed
texts
eye 12,445
favorite 16
comment 0
Photocopy
Topic: Heraldry -- Great Britain
Boston Public Library Interlibrary Loan
18,563
19K
1898
1898
by
Camden, William, 1551-1623; Philipot, John, 1589?-1645; Hovenden, Robert, 1830-1908; Harleian Society
texts
eye 18,563
favorite 19
comment 0
Includes index
Topics: Visitations, Heraldic, Heraldry
4,346
4.3K
1889
1889
by
Scott, Robert Pittis
texts
eye 4,346
favorite 26
comment 0
305 p. 19 cm
Topics: Cycling, Bicycles
Source: bplgrhum
74,377
74K
-
-
by
United States. Adjutant General
texts
eye 74,377
favorite 13
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
6,133
6.1K
1906
1906
by
Harris, Joseph S. (Joseph Smith), 1836-1910
texts
eye 6,133
favorite 2
comment 0
Preface signed: Joseph S. Harris
Topic: Smith family
8,038
8.0K
1887
1887
by
Hughes, Thomas Patrick, 1838-1911; Munsell, Frank, b. 1857
texts
eye 8,038
favorite 5
comment 0
Special collection -- Munsell imprints
Topics: Albany (N.Y.) -- Genealogy, United States -- Genealogy, Columbia County (N.Y.) -- Genealogy
18,034
18K
1860
1860
by
Bond, Henry, 1790-1859; Jones, Horatio Gates, 1822-1893
texts
eye 18,034
favorite 44
comment 0
v. 1. Genealogies. v. 2. Additions, corrections, and early history
Topics: Watertown (Mass.) -- Genealogy, Watertown (Mass.) -- History, Massachusetts -- Genealogy, Waltham...
21,845
22K
1887
1887
by
Conant, Frederick Odell, b. 1857
texts
eye 21,845
favorite 13
comment 0
"350 copies, octavo. 10 copies quarto."
Topics: Conant family, Conant, Roger, 1592-1679
Source: bplsocsci
18,742
19K
1917
1917
by
United States. War Dept
texts
eye 18,742
favorite 50
comment 1
270 p. :
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topics: Cookery, Military, cbk
43,960
44K
1913
1913
by
Weeks, Lyman Horace
texts
eye 43,960
favorite 12
comment 0
Bibliography: p. 43-45
Topic: Bell family
Topics: Bibliography, Tolkien, J. R. R. (John Ronald Reuel), 1892-1973, Fantasy literature
