Providence Athenaeum announces gift, fountain use prior to annual meeting

PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM announces the purchase of three plates depicting species of birds from the 19th century Description de l'Egypte collection to replace 14 stolen during the early 20th century. The acquisition was made using funds from a recent anonymous gift. / COURTESY PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM
PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM announces the purchase of three plates depicting species of birds from the 19th century "Description de l'Egypte" collection to replace plates stolen during the early 20th century. The acquisition was made using funds from a recent anonymous gift. / COURTESY PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM

PROVIDENCE – The Providence Atheanaeum has much to celebrate at its 2018 annual meeting, which will be held Friday.

In a statement made Monday, the nonprofit library announced a $100,000 anonymous gift had been made to benefit the collection and, after more than a decade of non-use, the organization has made plans to turn on its Benefit Street fountain.

The recent donation will be used to preserve items already in the library’s collection, said Kate Wodehouse, director of collections and library services, in a statement, but also through the acquisition of certain items “enhance the depth of our book and art collections.”

In fact, a portion of the fund has already been put to use. Three plates illustrated with Egyptian bird species from the “Description de L’Egypte” – a 19th century, 25-volume tome recording Napoleon’s discoveries in Egypt – were purchased by the library to complete a vandalized first-edition copy presented to the library in 1838.

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Between its acquisition and today, a vandal ripped the 14 color plates depicting species of birds from the binding leaving the tome incomplete. Librarians believe the pages were stolen in the early 20th century.

While the library hopes to one day replace all of the missing plates, with these anonymous funds it purchased plates 3, 5 and 6 which depict 15 birds including a pharaoh eagle-owl.

The Providence Athenaeum's Philbrick Rare Book room. / PHOTO BY Cat Laine / COURTESY PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM
The Providence Athenaeum’s Philbrick Rare Book room. / PHOTO BY Cat Laine / COURTESY PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM

The newly-purchased plates will be available for public viewing as part of “Observing Nature: Edna Lawrence & Cabinets of Curiosities” exhibit on display in the Philbrick Rare Book room from April 6 to June 17.

The re-ignition of the Benefit Street Fountain will be celebrated with a garden party hosted at the library on May 20 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

According to a library spokeswoman, in his nearly three years heading the Providence Athenaeum, Executive Director Matt Burriesci, has been “keen” to restart the fountain.

Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.

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