“New England Living TV” dove into the stacks and the facts at the magnificent Providence Athenaeum.
By Lisa Cavanaugh
Photography by Nat Rea
In the ancient world, the word “Athenaeum” referred to structures devoted to Athena, the goddess of wisdom, and, later, to a school founded in Rome by Emperor Hadrian to promote literary and scientific studies. In modern parlance, an athenaeum is a specialized membership library dedicated to the advancement of learning and communal discourse.
New England is blessed with several of these temples of learning, which beckon the public to their reading rooms and collections. One such is Rhode Island’s Providence Athenaeum, a circa 1838 Greek Revival masterpiece on Benefit Street, the only New England building designed by the renowned Philadelphia architect, William Strickland.
“Years ago, I lived on Hope Street in Providence for a while—not too far from the Athenaeum—and I never knew it was there!” says Rachel Holt, host of New England Living TV, who visited the Providence Athenaeum for a recent episode. “Even though it’s in a central area in Providence that gets a lot of foot traffic, it seems a lot of people passing the building don’t realize what it is or the fact that the library is open to the public,” she says. “I think it’s because, from the outside, it has an awe-inspiring and almost intimidating appearance.”
“It is one of those places that, if you have the opportunity, I would recommend seeing in person,” says Holt. “Pictures don’t do it justice.” She appreciates its historical significance, but notes that the Athenaeum also has a modern, approachable feel.
“We gave her a tour of the library and showed her some of the treasures of our collection,” says Executive Director Matt Burriesci. “The Athenaeum has grown substantially in the last few years, so we encourage people to come visit.” Two skillfully designed additions, in 1914 and 1978, have seamlessly enlarged the building’s capacity, housing its varied collection—such as rare books, natural history, and children’s literature— and special exhibitions.
“We learned so many fun things about the library’s past,” says Holt. “For instance, the card catalog used to be entirely handwritten, with some of them dating back to the 1880s.” Cards handwritten by the library’s first female employee, Mary Angell, are still in use. “After seeing her writing, I really need to step up my penmanship game!” she says with a laugh.
Holt was intrigued to learn that writer Edgar Allan Poe used to go to the library. “We got some insight into what his visits were like, and what books he had checked out from there.” She was also delighted to hear that, after a miniature painting titled The Hours was stolen from the library in the nineteenth century, it has since been safely returned and is on display. “Although now it is behind glass and much more secure,” she says.
These types of fascinating details are part of the reason NEL TV chose it as a destination. “It is a very cool place,” says Executive Producer Evan Berenson. “When I look for places to feature on the show, I look for great visuals, an interesting story, and a bit of a “hidden gem” factor—and this place checked all those boxes. There was something fascinating around almost every corner.”
In addition to being wowed by the books and art, Holt was equally impressed by the staff’s dedication and passion. “What really stood out to me was their exceptional knowledge and their genuine enthusiasm for sharing the Athenaeum’s stories,” she says. “It’s obviously a very special place to everyone.”
As an independent, member-supported library, you do need to be a member to check out materials. “But non-members are encouraged to visit all three floors of the building and learn about its history, and use the Athenaeum as a resource,” says Holt. The building is also a popular venue for weddings and other functions.
“We would love for people to drop by, take a look, and engage with our wonderful collection,” says Burriesci. “Our mission is to enrich the mind, inspire the spirit, and elevate the public discourse, which I think is a very vital thing for us to be doing.”
