This volume provides a comprehensive history of the Boston Public Library from its founding in 1848 to the early 20th century. Drawing on a range of primary sources, including archival materials and contemporary accounts, Wadlin offers a detailed and engaging narrative of the library's growth and development over the years, as well as its impact on the intellectual and cultural life of Boston. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.