Astor Library

The Astor Library

The Astor Library building in 1854
Country	United States
Type	Public research library
Established	1848
Location	Manhattan, New York
Collection
Size	294,325 (1895)
Access and use
Circulation	225,477 volumes consulted (1895)

Coordinates: 40°43′45.18″N 73°59′30.45″W / 40.7292167°N 73.9917917°W / 40.7292167; -73.9917917

The Astor Library was a free public library in East Village, Manhattan developed primarily through the collaboration of New York City merchant John Jacob Astor and New England educator and bibliographer Joseph Cogswell. 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 Lenox Library and the Tilden Foundation to become the New York Public Library (NYPL). During this time, its building was expanded twice, in 1859 and 1881.

In 1837, ill health had obligated Joseph Cogswell to abandon his teaching career and enter the family of Samuel Ward, a New York banker. Three of Ward's sons had been pupils at Round Hill School which Cogswell had administered. Ward introduced Cogswell to John Jacob Astor, who by then was in his 70s and had been retired for about 10 years. As the richest citizen of the United States, German-born Astor was considering what sort of testimonial he should leave to his adopted country.

Early in January 1838, Astor consulted Cogswell about the use of some $300,000–$400,000, which he intended to leave for public purposes. Cogswell urged him to use it for a library, which Astor agreed to. A public announcement of Astor's plan for the establishment of a public library appeared in New York in July 1838. At that point, the sum named was $350,000, and included a lot of land for the necessary building.