Introduction to the David Library book collection at the David Center for the American Revolution

^{Header image: Part of the David Library book collection residing at its new home at the APS Library}

Histories can be considered as living records of the past—interactive stories, always in flux, and often enfolded into versions befitting changes in time, space, and circumstance. Libraries, both physically and otherwise, are no exception to this phenomenon. Presentation of and access to information is constantly being revised and tailored to the present. As institutional custodians of information, libraries are living histories themselves.

The year 1959 marked the beginnings of two libraries I currently have the pleasure of working with and in as the Project Cataloger for the David Center for the American Revolution at the American Philosophical Society’s Library & Museum. It is a mouthful to say and write for good reason. The summary: 1959 was the year the David Library for the American Revolution at Washington Crossing, PA  was founded by philanthropist Sol Feinstone. It was also the year in which APS’s Library Hall, a replica of the original 1791 Library Hall built on the same site, was completed and opened. Sixty years later in 2019, the contents of the David Library at Washington Crossing were moved and merged into the APS’s collections, where the material is currently being cataloged and made accessible in a new, yet relevant, setting.

The David Library collection, while focused on the American Revolution, is varied and rather eclectic, both bibliographically and in content. These qualities seem to fall in line naturally with the early American history collections that were already held at the APS, which also have this balance of focus and variety. The following are some examples from the David Library’s general book collection which illustrate the qualities I’ve mentioned.

The History of the War of the Independence of the United States of America, an English translation of the original work published in 1809 in Italian by Charles Botta, caught my attention immediately because of the dedication to the APS that follows its title page. Botta was elected a Member of the APS in 1816. While the APS holds several copies of this work, including the original Italian edition, the David Library copy is a new and welcome addition. The David Library copy is bibliographically whole in that its printed dedication denotes it as the fourth edition, which this copy actually is. The APS copy, on the other hand, is a sixth edition of this translation with the same dedication page printed referring to it as the fourth edition. Both copies are wonderful to have in the same library.

Next is an example of an unusual re-binding on one of William Livingston’s memoirs. Consulting with Renée Wolcott, Assistant Head of Conservation and Book Conservator at the APS, the binding note I used in the catalog record reads “Bound in leather with gold tooling including panels, decorative gilded spine, marbled paper pastedowns and rebacked in the 20th c. with thick leather.” At first glance Renée thought it was rebacked with parchment. Upon further inspection, however, she judged it to be unusually thick leather.  

What was special about the David Library was the fact that it openly served the public at large as well as scholars in the field of early American history. The Liberty Bell, its History and Significance is a well worn volume that attests to a library for all. While not rare, this book has been well loved and will continue to be at the APS.

For more information about the David Center for the American Revolution at the American Philosophical Society, please visit https://www.amphilsoc.org/david-center-american-revolution