The Collection
A collection with an origin story as adventurous as the tales on our shelves, created out of passion for knowledge and adventure.
The Athenaeum has been continuously collecting books of current interest to members since 1760. In addition to 50,000 volumes, the collection includes select paintings, maps, periodicals, and manuscripts, most notably an original duplicate of the Massachusetts Bay Charter of 1628/9.
Most volumes circulate and new releases arrive every week. Staff select the titles based on current member interest and welcome member requests.
Collecting has evolved to reflect membership and culture over time. We continue to collect as our founding members did to share available knowledge for self-improvement and the betterment of society.
Our Books
A Little History: In 1781, the Philosophical Library was founded from the spoils of war. During the American Revolution, the privateer ship Pilgrim, out of Beverly, captured the Duke of Gloucester, carrying the library of Richard Kirwan (1733–1812) and a load of kelp. His library of 116 scientific volumes was seized, transferred to the Pilgrim, and auctioned in Salem on April 12, 1781, becoming a foundational collection of the Salem Athenaeum.
Learn more about the Philosophical Library and our history.
Historical Collections
What were once circulating collections of periodicals on natural history and science, religion, literature, philosophy, and travel in the 18th and 19th centuries, have become our historical collections. We continue to hold these materials in trust for generations to come.
Books were sourced locally and from Boston, New York, and as far away as London and Paris with the goal of collecting materials of general and specific interests for members.
Our historical collections include materials from the Social Library and Philosophical Library which merged and incorporated as the name Salem Athenaeum in 1810. Of note, books belonging to the personal family library of our first Athenaeum president, Edward Augustus Holyoke, including major works from the Age of Enlightenment, can still be accessed today.
We preserve these materials to provide a direct connection to the past and opportunities to inspire new thought and creativity now and in the future.
Additional Special Collections
The Athenaeum has a sizable collection of books published in the latter half of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century featuring exquisite examples of early graphic design influenced by the Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau movements. A cherished section is the illustrated children’s books and periodicals.
Sermons, political pamphlets, and other early printed materials present ample opportunities for researchers to gain insight into the knowledge and culture of the colonial era and Early Republic.
Archival records of the Salem Athenaeum and the predecessor libraries are currently on deposit at the Phillips Library of the Peabody Essex Museum. See https://pem.org/phillips-library for more information.
Readers' FAQs
How long may I check books out and do I need to renew? We offer a three-week loan period that automatically renews. We encourage you to finish reading your book and enjoy it rather than rushing to return it by its due date. If another member has requested the book, we will notify you via email and request that you return the book by its due date or as soon as possible if that date has passed.
What kinds of books do you have and what may I check out? The Athenaeum collection reflects the intellectual interests of our members from 1760 until today. We receive new books every week.
Our circulating collection is over 30,000 volumes strong – from mysteries to science, biographies to literary fiction, gardening to fantasy, we have titles on a wide variety of topics. Feel free to explore the two reading rooms and the main and lower levels of the stacks on your own.
The special collections number more than 15,000 items. Strengths include natural history, natural sciences and technology, literature, children’s literature, theology, philosophy, travel and discovery, and books and pamphlets about Salem.
I can’t find the book I’m looking for. Where can I double check if the Athenaeum has it? Staff is always happy to help and usually the quickest method is to ask for assistance.
Our digital catalog has all new books, all the circulating fiction, and non-fiction added since 1945. If you know it’s an older book, you can check our card catalog under the author. There are several classification systems in use
What are the fines for overdue books? There are no past due fees, so enjoy your books and get them back to us when you are finished. We will contact you if someone else is looking for a book you have out. If you lose a book, there is a flat $25 replacement fee.
Where do you keep fiction, non-fiction, and biographies? Currently, you will find most circulating fiction housed in the main level stacks. You will find newly acquired fiction on top of the card catalogue in the main level reading room as well as on the bookshelf behind it. Most of our main level reading room is non-fiction, with new non-fiction and biographies on the shelves to the left of the back doors. In the upstairs reading room, you will find biographies to the left, and additional non-fiction in the rest of the room. You’ll find serial publications (newspapers, journals, and magazines) on the large table and in a magazine rack on the right side of downstairs reading room, with back issues located in the upstairs reading room.
Do you have a children’s collection? In one corner of the main reading room are picture books, early readers, middle grade chapter books, general non-fiction and biography and a small collection of young adult novels. Many of the books in the circulating children’s collection are classics such as Beatrix Potter, but we also add new materials regularly. The children’s corner has child-size seating and puzzles and blocks to entertain little ones while their grown-ups select books for themselves.
Children’s Literature is also one of our special historical collections available for research and study. First editions of Louisa May Alcott and Frank Baum are features, as well as early illustrated chap books dating to the mid-nineteenth century.
Our Artwork
Paintings by notable 19th-century artists from the Barbizon and Hudson River Schools grace our main reading room walls.
These works were generously given by Thomas Forest Farb-Horch and his son, Peter Forest Valhouli-Farb, between 2014–2017. The collection was assembled principally from the 1920s-1960s by Louis and Nettie Horch, patrons of the arts and ardent believers in art education.
Other works in the building include a wall covering that depicts a cascading waterfall by Michele Felice Corné and Telling the Bees by local artist Ross Sterling Turner.
Access Our Collection
The Salem Athenaeum collects paper-based materials. At the moment, digital collections are not a focus. Circulating materials are available to members for three weeks with no late fees.
The reading rooms are open to the public. Members may browse the stacks. Special Collections are available to researchers and members by appointment upon request with advanced notice. Materials over 100 years old are evaluated for circulation on a case-by-case basis. Please email staff@salemathenaeum.net to enquire about availability.
Please note: The Athenaeum building is not currently wheelchair accessible. Walking a flight of stairs is required to enter and exit.
Consult the Accessibility Guide for details about accommodations to use the building and access collections.
Online Catalogue
The Salem Athenaeum uses Library Thing as our online catalog. Search our catalog. Library Thing does not indicate whether something is currently checked out. Contact staff@salemathenaeum.net or call 978-744-2540 to check availability. Click here for a tutorial about Library Thing.
Please note that we are in the process of entering our special collections into an electronic system for the first time and not all holdings are described in Library Thing.
Book Pickup Hours
Tuesday – Friday, 11 AM – 6 PM. Saturday, 11 AM – 4 PM
Search the Catalog for books.
Submit your request on the form, indicating your delivery/pick up preferences. We will contact you to confirm availability of the books and to finalize delivery/pickup arrangements. Please do not arrive at the Athenaeum for pickup until we confirm availability.
Please send questions to books@salemathenaeum.net.