[p. 77] the United States.
Franklin, in his autobiography, speaking of the benefits derived from them, says: ‘They have improved the general conversation of the Americans; have made the common tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen in other countries; and, perhaps, have contributed in some degree to the stand so generally made throughout the colonies in defence of their privileges.’
In Brooks' ‘History of Medford’ it is stated that our own library had its origin in the Medford Social Library, which was founded in 1825 by a society whose design, as set forth in their constitution, was to collect books ‘promotive of piety and good morals,’ and to aid in the ‘diffusion of valuable information.’
We find that the first thought of the library for the people here arose in the mind of the pastor of the ‘First Congregational Church’ in Medford in 1825, the Rev. Andrew Bigelow.
In the records of that church is to be found the following account.
Mr. Bigelow's letter to the church is as follows:
This text is part of:
Medford, MA. 1900.
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