Astor Library

<p>The Astor Library was a free <a href="/facts/Public_library/VDjIpJS8">public library</a> in the <a href="/facts/East_Village%2c_Manhattan/axb5xfCs">East Village, Manhattan</a>, developed primarily through the collaboration of <a href="/facts/New_York_City/YlyvFmVC">New York City</a> merchant <a href="/facts/John_Jacob_Astor/J8CLqr1T">John Jacob Astor</a> and <a href="/facts/New_England/ufw2BmSl">New England</a> educator and bibliographer <a href="/facts/Joseph_Cogswell/9lbPzcfn">Joseph Cogswell</a> and designed by <a href="/facts/Alexander_Saeltzer/BwgyEDrw">Alexander Saeltzer</a>. It was primarily meant as a research library, and its books did not circulate. It opened to the public in 1854, and in 1895 consolidated with the <a href="/facts/Lenox_Library_(New_York_City)/6fFxYr0E">Lenox Library</a> and the <a href="/facts/Tilden_Trust/46P9nU9w">Tilden Foundation</a> to become the <a href="/facts/New_York_Public_Library/2BfpGN3P">New York Public Library</a> (NYPL). During this time, its building was expanded twice, in 1859, and 1881.
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Astor Library open-in-new

Astor Library