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PEABODY INSTITUTE.
687
GEORGE PEABODY.
Perceiving this, Mr. George Peabody, a wealthy American merchant, born in
Massachusetts, but residing in London—whose services to Maryland in
supporting her credit abroad in 1837, have already been recorded—placed in
the hands of trustees the munificent sum of two million dollars to found
and support schools throughout the Southern
States. But Mr. Peabody was an adopted son of
Maryland, having long resided, and laid the foundation of his great fortune in the City of Baltimore,
and in the distribution of his bounties Maryland
was not forgotten. Here there was already ample
provision of the means of primary education; he
therefore thought the best service would be done jj
by founding an institution which should place the
means of higher culture within the reach of all.
This had been for years a favorite plan of his, and
as early as February 12, 1857, he had explained
the object and character of his intended foundation, in a letter to a number of
prominent gentlemen whom he appointed trustees for the purpose, and placed
in their hands the sum of $300,000 towards the preparation of a suitable
building and appliances. The corner-stone of the Peabody Institute was
laid on the 16th of April, 1859, and the building was dedicated in the
presence of its founder, and of an immense concourse of people, including
about eighteen thousand children, pupils of the public schools, on October
25,1866. Mr. Peabody, by various donations, increased the endowment of
the Institute to $1,400,000. It included provisions for a free public library,
•courses of lectures, a school of music, and a gallery of art. He also presented
a handsome donation to the Maryland Historical Society, to which he had at
various times rendered valuable services. He gave large sums in other States
for similar purposes, and in London, to ameliorate the condition of the poor;
bestowing in these acts of beneficence the bulk of his great fortune.
The first wing of the Peabody Institute was ready for use in May, 1861,
and in October, 1866, the library was first formally opened to the public.
The building was finally completed in 1879. The library is entirely used
for reference, and contains about sixty thousand volumes, and about ten
thousand pamphlets.1
1 Baltimore also contains the Mercantile Library Association; organized in November,
1839, and incorporated in January, 1842. It is
"both a circulating and reference library, and
contains about 32,000 volumes of books and
about 8,000 pamphlets. The Maryland Historical Society was organized in January, 1844,
and was chartered by the Legislature in December, 1845. The library contains about 15,000
volumes and several thousand valuable pamphlets and newspapers. Among other libraries in
"the city are: The Maryland Institute, for the
promotion of the mechanic arts, with 17,000
volumes; School of Design; Maryland Academy
of Sciences, 700 volumes; Maryland State Normal School, library 2,000 volumes; Library
Company of the Baltimore Bar, 7,000 volumes ;
Library of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 20,000 volumes; Baltimore Colored Normal School,l,000 volumes; Friends' Elementary
and High School, 3,000 volumes; City Library,
5,000 volumes; Archiepiscopal Library, 10,000
volumes; Baltimore Academy of the Visitation, 4,500 volumes ; Baltimore College of Den-
| Title | History of Maryland - 3 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000722 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | PEABODY INSTITUTE. 687 GEORGE PEABODY. Perceiving this, Mr. George Peabody, a wealthy American merchant, born in Massachusetts, but residing in London—whose services to Maryland in supporting her credit abroad in 1837, have already been recorded—placed in the hands of trustees the munificent sum of two million dollars to found and support schools throughout the Southern States. But Mr. Peabody was an adopted son of Maryland, having long resided, and laid the foundation of his great fortune in the City of Baltimore, and in the distribution of his bounties Maryland was not forgotten. Here there was already ample provision of the means of primary education; he therefore thought the best service would be done jj by founding an institution which should place the means of higher culture within the reach of all. This had been for years a favorite plan of his, and as early as February 12, 1857, he had explained the object and character of his intended foundation, in a letter to a number of prominent gentlemen whom he appointed trustees for the purpose, and placed in their hands the sum of $300,000 towards the preparation of a suitable building and appliances. The corner-stone of the Peabody Institute was laid on the 16th of April, 1859, and the building was dedicated in the presence of its founder, and of an immense concourse of people, including about eighteen thousand children, pupils of the public schools, on October 25,1866. Mr. Peabody, by various donations, increased the endowment of the Institute to $1,400,000. It included provisions for a free public library, •courses of lectures, a school of music, and a gallery of art. He also presented a handsome donation to the Maryland Historical Society, to which he had at various times rendered valuable services. He gave large sums in other States for similar purposes, and in London, to ameliorate the condition of the poor; bestowing in these acts of beneficence the bulk of his great fortune. The first wing of the Peabody Institute was ready for use in May, 1861, and in October, 1866, the library was first formally opened to the public. The building was finally completed in 1879. The library is entirely used for reference, and contains about sixty thousand volumes, and about ten thousand pamphlets.1 1 Baltimore also contains the Mercantile Library Association; organized in November, 1839, and incorporated in January, 1842. It is "both a circulating and reference library, and contains about 32,000 volumes of books and about 8,000 pamphlets. The Maryland Historical Society was organized in January, 1844, and was chartered by the Legislature in December, 1845. The library contains about 15,000 volumes and several thousand valuable pamphlets and newspapers. Among other libraries in "the city are: The Maryland Institute, for the promotion of the mechanic arts, with 17,000 volumes; School of Design; Maryland Academy of Sciences, 700 volumes; Maryland State Normal School, library 2,000 volumes; Library Company of the Baltimore Bar, 7,000 volumes ; Library of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 20,000 volumes; Baltimore Colored Normal School,l,000 volumes; Friends' Elementary and High School, 3,000 volumes; City Library, 5,000 volumes; Archiepiscopal Library, 10,000 volumes; Baltimore Academy of the Visitation, 4,500 volumes ; Baltimore College of Den- |
