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 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...
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 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 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...
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...
92,776
93K
1921
1921
by
Lutz, Edwin George, b. 1868
texts
eye 92,776
favorite 407
comment 1
OCLC number: ocm07014379
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topic: Drawing
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...
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.
Material for this collection has been contributed by the Boston Public Library.
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...
13,946
14K
1861
1861
by
Jacobs, Harriet A. (Harriet Ann), 1813-1897; Child, Mrs. (Lydia Maria), 1802-1880, ed
texts
eye 13,946
favorite 23
comment 0
Preface signed: Linda Brent
Topic: Erotic literature
Source: bplill
12,798
13K
1918
1918
by
Swedenborg, Emanuel, 1688-1772
texts
eye 12,798
favorite 24
comment 1
Translation of: Drömmar
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topic: Dreams
14,877
15K
1923
1923
by
Johnson, Henry Lewis
texts
eye 14,877
favorite 199
comment 2
''Book reference list'':p. [192-193]
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 2 reviews )
Topics: Printing, Book ornamentation, Decoration and ornament
9,538
9.5K
1922
1922
by
Joyce, James, 1882-1941; Rodker, John, 1894-1955, publisher; Darantière, Maurice, printer; Egoist Press, publisher
texts
eye 9,538
favorite 34
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
9,762
9.8K
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 9,762
favorite 7
comment 0
"November 1987"--Cover
Topics: Iran-Contra Affair, 1985-1990, Military assistance, American, Military assistance, American,...
Source: bplgovdocs
Also includes ''The story of Topsy'' from Uncle Tom's Cabin
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 2 reviews )
Source: bplill
47,585
48K
1908
1908
by
Smith, Jacqueline Harrison
texts
eye 47,585
favorite 76
comment 2
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 2 reviews )
Topics: Cookery, American, cbk
17,362
17K
1949
1949
by
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities
texts
eye 17,362
favorite 31
comment 5
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 5 reviews )
Topic: Communism -- United States
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...
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.
[4] p., 130 leaves of plates : 37 cm
Topics: Monograms, Initials
56,356
56K
1922
1922
by
Spraker, Ella Atterbury, b. 1883; Crump, Jesse Procter, 1867-
texts
eye 56,356
favorite 28
comment 0
Topics: Boone family, Boone, Daniel, 1734-1820
28,075
28K
1724
1724
by
Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731; Johnson, Charles, fl. 1724-1731
texts
eye 28,075
favorite 70
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
36,348
36K
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 36,348
favorite 5
comment 0
Topics: Chapman family, Chapman, Robert, 1616-1687, Chapman, William, d. 1699, Chapman, Edward, d. 1675,...
20,664
21K
1899
1899
by
Phelps, Oliver Seymour, b. 1816; Servin, Andrew Tinkey, b. 1857
texts
eye 20,664
favorite 14
comment 0
Paged continuously
Topics: Phelps family, Phelps, William, 1599-1672
121,066
121K
1921
1921
by
Johnson, Samuel, d. 1901; Johnson, O. (Obadiah)
texts
eye 121,066
favorite 53
comment 3
OCLC number: ocm07397140
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 3 reviews )
Topic: Yoruba (African people)
Bound in gold cloth ; stamped in gold and brown ; decorated endpapers
3,404
3.4K
1850
1850
by
Agassiz, Louis, 1807-1873; Cabot, James Elliot, 1821-1903
texts
eye 3,404
favorite 27
comment 1
Includes bibliographical references
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topics: Natural history -- Superior, Lake, Superior, Lake
11,017
11K
1864
1864
by
Durrie, Daniel S. (Daniel Steele), 1819-1892
texts
eye 11,017
favorite 5
comment 0
Special collection -- Munsell imprints
Topics: Holt, Nicholas, 1602?-1685, Holt, William, 1610?-1683, Holt family
19,937
20K
1908
1908
by
Nesfield, John Collinson
texts
eye 19,937
favorite 18
comment 0
Includes index
Topic: English language
35,900
36K
1918
1918
by
Catchings, Fermine Baird, b. 1858
texts
eye 35,900
favorite 12
comment 0
49,013
49K
1908
1908
by
Jones, Emma C. Brewster, b. 1854
texts
eye 49,013
favorite 40
comment 0
Topics: Brewster, William, 1566 or 7-1644, Brewster family, Allerton family
50,824
51K
1905
1905
by
Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles, 1871-1928
texts
eye 50,824
favorite 30
comment 1
Photocopy
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topic: Heraldry -- Great Britain
43,095
43K
1894
1894
by
Carr, Edson I. (Edson Irving), b. 1831
texts
eye 43,095
favorite 12
comment 0
Topics: Carr family, Carr, William, 1597-1672
26,551
27K
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 26,551
favorite 21
comment 0
Includes bibliographical references and indexes
Topics: Magalhães, Fernão de, d. 1521, Voyages around the world
Source: bplgrhum
17,956
18K
1705
1705
by
Comenius, Johann Amos, 1592-1670; Hoole, Charles, 1610-1667
texts
eye 17,956
favorite 35
comment 0
Latin and English in parallel columns
Topics: Latin language, Natural history, Picture books for children
Source: bplsc
16,000
16K
1860
1860
by
Bond, Henry, 1790-1859; Jones, Horatio Gates, 1822-1893
texts
eye 16,000
favorite 35
comment 0
v. 1. Genealogies. v. 2. Additions, corrections, and early history
Topics: Watertown (Mass.) -- Genealogy, Watertown (Mass.) -- History, Massachusetts -- Genealogy, Waltham...
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....
31,774
32K
1908
1908
by
Jones, Emma C. Brewster, b. 1854
texts
eye 31,774
favorite 16
comment 2
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 2 reviews )
Topics: Brewster, William, 1566 or 7-1644, Brewster family, Allerton family
Norman B. Leventhal Map Center
14,004
14K
1570
1570
by
Ortelius, Abraham, 1527-1598; Diesth, Aegid. Coppenius (Aegidius Coppenius); Llwyd, Humphrey, 1527-1568. Mona druidum insula
texts
eye 14,004
favorite 51
comment 0
Catalogus auctorum includes 92 names. Epigram on t.p. verso has 16 lines
Topics: Atlases, Dutch, Geography
"List of works consulted": v. 1, p. [iii]-iv
Source: bplill
36,251
36K
1880
1880
by
Bliss, John Homer, b. 1832
texts
eye 36,251
favorite 24
comment 1
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topics: Bliss family, Morris, Oliver Bliss, Bliss, Sylvester, 1814-1863
32,186
32K
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 32,186
favorite 13
comment 0
Vol. 3-6 lack subtitle
Topics: Intelligence service, Civil rights
Source: bplgovdocs
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...
40,020
40K
1903
1903
by
Babcock, Stephen, 1832-1916, comp
texts
eye 40,020
favorite 27
comment 2
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 2 reviews )
Topics: Babcock family, Babcock, James, 1612?-1679
71,398
71K
-
-
by
United States. Adjutant General
texts
eye 71,398
favorite 7
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
40,866
41K
1913
1913
by
Weeks, Lyman Horace
texts
eye 40,866
favorite 11
comment 0
Bibliography: p. 43-45
Topic: Bell family
20,468
20K
1917
1917
by
Tolstoy, Leo, graf, 1828-1910; Chertkov, V. G. (Vladimir Grigorevich), 1854-1936
texts
eye 20,468
favorite 20
comment 0
Russian edition edited by V. Chertkov
Topics: Tolstoy, Leo, graf, 1828-1910, Novelists, Russian
"List of works consulted": v. 1, p. [iii]-iv
Source: bplill
32,408
32K
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 32,408
favorite 9
comment 0
Includes index
Topics: Gentry, Nicholas, fl. 1709, Gentry family
Source: bplsocsci
12,992
13K
1862
1862
by
Chapin, Orange, b. 1790
texts
eye 12,992
favorite 10
comment 0
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,...
14,333
14K
texts
eye 14,333
favorite 11
comment 0
Last page is numbered in different style and typeface
Topics: Dreams, Fortune-telling
Source: bplsc
28,912
29K
1912
1912
by
Avery, Elroy McKendree, 1844-1935; Avery, Catherine Hitchcock Tilden, 1844-1911
texts
eye 28,912
favorite 11
comment 0
Topics: Avery, Christopher, 1590-1679, Avery, James, 1620?-1700, Avery family
Boston Public Library Interlibrary Loan
14,598
15K
1898
1898
by
Camden, William, 1551-1623; Philipot, John, 1589?-1645; Hovenden, Robert, 1830-1908; Harleian Society
texts
eye 14,598
favorite 10
comment 0
Includes index
Topics: Visitations, Heraldic, Heraldry
15,278
15K
1917
1917
by
United States. War Dept
texts
eye 15,278
favorite 23
comment 1
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topics: Cookery, Military, cbk
10,345
10K
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 10,345
favorite 111
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
32,502
33K
1893
1893
by
Morrison, Leonard Allison, 1843-1902
texts
eye 32,502
favorite 5
comment 0
Topics: Allison, Samuel, 1690-1760, Allison family
1,520
1.5K
1880
1880
by
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616; Ebsworth, Joseph Woodfall, 1824-1908, ed; Griggs, William
texts
eye 1,520
favorite 1
comment 0
Contains facsmile of original title-page
22,280
22K
1889
1889
by
Harvey, Cornelius Burnham, 1839-
texts
eye 22,280
favorite 8
comment 0
Topics: Buck family, genealogy
6,442
6.4K
1908
1908
by
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616; Hudson, Henry Norman, 1814-1886; Black, Ebenezer Charlton, 1861-1927, ed; George, Andrew Jackson, 1855-1907, joint ed
texts
eye 6,442
favorite 6
comment 0
Includes bibliographical references
The John Adams Library at the Boston Public Library
2,641
2.6K
1726
1726
by
Willard, Samuel, 1640-1707; Sewall, Joseph, 1688-1769; Prince, Thomas, 1687-1758; Van der Gucht, Gerard, 1696-1776, engraver; Adams, John, 1735-1826, former owner. BRL; Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848, former owner. BRL; Boston Public Library) John Adams Library BRL
texts
eye 2,641
favorite 8
comment 0
Signatures: A***²B-VX²Y1 2A-3Z*3A-*3P*3Q²4A-5T
Topics: Willard, Samuel, 1640-1707, Willard, Samuel, 1640-1707, Westminster Assembly (1643-1652),...
Boston Public Library (Rare Books Department) ex libris (bookplate): S.V.R. Mallory; (inscription) L.C. Mallory
Topics: Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895, Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879, Slavery, African American...
Source: bplscas
14,818
15K
1859
1859
by
Frazer, Augustus Simon, Sir, 1776-1835; Sabine, Edward, Sir, 1788-1883, ed
texts
eye 14,818
favorite 1
comment 0
OCLC number: ocm04732734
Topics: Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821, Peninsular War, 1807-1814, Waterloo, Battle of,...
Source: BPL_scan_for_me
17,487
17K
1906
1906
by
Pigafetta, Antonio, ca. 1480-ca. 1534; Robertson, James Alexander, 1873-1939, editor, translator
texts
eye 17,487
favorite 10
comment 0
A limited edition of 350 copies
Topics: Magalhães, Fernão de, d. 1521, Voyages around the world
Source: bplgrhum
31,958
32K
1881
1881
by
Baldwin, C. C. (Charles Candee), 1834-1895
texts
eye 31,958
favorite 27
comment 1
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topic: Baldwin family
41,321
41K
1899
1899
by
Bailey, Gertrude E; Ellsworth, Abbie F; Reed, William H; Bailey, Hollis R. (Hollis Russell), 1852-1934
texts
eye 41,321
favorite 19
comment 0
30,934
31K
1905
1905
by
Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles, 1871-1928
texts
eye 30,934
favorite 26
comment 1
Photocopy
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Topic: Heraldry -- Great Britain
9,314
9.3K
texts
eye 9,314
favorite 6
comment 0
The work by Doctor Thebussem is catalogued separately
Topics: Cookery, Spanish, cbk
20,506
21K
1882
1882
by
Dresser, Christopher
texts
eye 20,506
favorite 98
comment 1
( 1 reviews )
Topics: Architecture -- Japan, Art, Japanese, Decorative arts -- Japan, Japan -- Description and travel
23,210
23K
1911
1911
by
Molyneux, Nellie Zada Rice
texts
eye 23,210
favorite 9
comment 0
Topics: Eaton, Francis, d. 1633, Eaton, John, d. 1658, Eaton, William, d. 1673, Eaton, John, d. 1668, Eaton...
Source: bplsocsci