The Library Company of Philadelphia’s rare collections

The Library Company of Philadelphia, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731, is an independent research library that holds extensive rare books, manuscripts, maps, and early American imprints. Many of its special collections and reading rooms are available primarily to researchers or by appointment, so the library’s rare holdings and historic interiors are not always visible to casual visitors. The library occupies a historic building on Locust Street near Rittenhouse Square and continues to function as a working research institution.