The Library Company of Philadelphia

Philadelphia is a city rich in history, and history museums, and the Library Company fits into this historical tradition perfectly. Founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin, the Library Company was the first ever successful lending library in America, and it continues to be a great success to this very day. On my most recent visit they had an exhibit called «Capitalism by Gaslight» which displayed early America’s more unsavory ways of making money (pickpocketing, prostitution, gambling, etc…), and like everything else at the Library Company, admission is completely free.
Their «year-​round» collection consists of texts from the early 1700’s all the way to the mid 1900’s, and with an appointment anyone is able to read whichever text they wish (some are even scanned online already!). My favorite part of the entire Library Company’s collection is what they call their «cabinet of curiosities» which consists of such pieces as a mummified hand, a cuneiform tablet, an electrical machine designed by Ben Franklin, and the original mask taken of Napoleon shortly after his death. Books and oddities aren’t the only things the Library Company has however, they also have a very impressive collection of paintings and scuplted busts, with an extensive collection of paintings.
If you’re a lover of a history, a tourist looking for an affordable (free) way to experience Philly’s vibrant museum scene, or just someone looking to kill a little time, The Library Company of Philadelphia is the place for you.

If you’re working in anything in the arts, and you require old documents, especially old photos, this is a great place to begin. They work fairly with non-​profits, and have a number of services that can benefit any research. It’s been a few years since my dealings, but I never forgot how helpful they were, and what a valuable resource they were to my own research.