Salem Women's
History and
Business Community
History and
Business Community
The Salem Athenaeum
337 Essex Street — Open to the public
Formed in 1810 by the union of the Social and Philosophical Libraries, (the former organized in 1760 and the latter in 1781), the Salem Athenæum occupied several locations in Salem before taking up residence in the original Plummer Hall that was constructed from 1856 to 1857 with a bequest from Caroline Plummer (1780–1850). Today, the first Plummer Hall is part of the Phillips Library of the Peabody Essex Museum.
For almost fifty years, the Athenæum shared the building with the Essex Institute until the Athenæum constructed the new building on Essex Street in 1905. They designed a second Plummer Hall for their new home, and placed a bronze plaque in the entranceway of the library to commemorate the original benefaction of Caroline Plummer.
Today, the Salem Athenæum houses more than fifty thousand volumes of rare books, nineteenth- and early twentieth-century titles and recent acquisitions, and runs a variety of educational programs. They also continue a book club, an offshoot of the one begun in 1848 by Susan Burley.
Formed in 1810 by the union of the Social and Philosophical Libraries, (the former organized in 1760 and the latter in 1781), the Salem Athenæum occupied several locations in Salem before taking up residence in the original Plummer Hall that was constructed from 1856 to 1857 with a bequest from Caroline Plummer (1780–1850). Today, the first Plummer Hall is part of the Phillips Library of the Peabody Essex Museum.
For almost fifty years, the Athenæum shared the building with the Essex Institute until the Athenæum constructed the new building on Essex Street in 1905. They designed a second Plummer Hall for their new home, and placed a bronze plaque in the entranceway of the library to commemorate the original benefaction of Caroline Plummer.
Today, the Salem Athenæum houses more than fifty thousand volumes of rare books, nineteenth- and early twentieth-century titles and recent acquisitions, and runs a variety of educational programs. They also continue a book club, an offshoot of the one begun in 1848 by Susan Burley.
