ACRL/NY NYC Section Tours the American Numismatic Society Exhibition

ACRL/NY NYC Section Tours the American Numismatic Society Exhibition at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the American Numismatic Society Library

On May 14, 2009, the ACRL/NY New York City Geographical Section was treated to two wonderful informative guided tours. Members first gathered at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for a private tour of the American Numismatic Society (ANS) exhibit, Drachmas, Doubloons, and Dollars: The History of Money. With over 800 numismatic objects, this is one of the most comprehensive collections from the ANS illustrating the history of money from the beginning of coinage to the present. Emphasizing important items in the exhibit, ANS numismatist, Michael Parrish, guided ACRL/NY members through the exhibit. Members gained a better understanding of the functions of money and its cultural and historical value.
ACRL/NY members then proceeded to the American Numismatic Society (75 Varick Street in NYC) for a guided tour of their library by ANS Librarian, Elizabeth Hahn. Information on how the numismatic literature is cataloged at the ANS was provided by ANS cataloger, Jared Camins-Esakov.
One of the oldest institutions and museums in New York and the United States, the ANS was founded on 15 March 15, 1858 by twelve collectors: Augustus B. Sage, Asher T. Atkinson, Alfred Boghton, Dr Thomas Dunn English, James D. Foskett, Dr Isaac Hand Gibbs, Edward Groh, Ezra Hill, Jacob J. Melber, John Cooper Vail, and Henry Whitmore. James D. Fosket organized its library in 1858. in accordance with the mission of the ANS, to foster academic scholarship in numismatics; to promote the scholarly study of coins, medals, and related objects.
The ANS holds one of the largest numismatic collections in the world and its library contains one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of numismatic literature. Besides thousands of offprints of numismatic articles, the ANS Library also contains over 100,000 books, manuscripts, periodicals, microfilms, auction catalogs, and photographs. The library also has a comprehensive reference and non-numismatic collection, e.g., literature on archaeology, art history, economic history and other related disciplines.
The ANS Library developed and ranks as one of the best and finest academic research institutions for numismatic scholars around the world. The Library’s collection not only serves the museum’s staff but also the annual ANS Graduate Student Seminar, members of the ANS and the general public.
Throughout its early history, from 1858 to 1907, the American Numismatic Society and its Library were constantly in search of a permanent home. As the Library and numismatic collections expanded, the need for larger quarters and a permanent home became more urgent. Between 1907 and 2004, the permanent home of the American Numismatic Society and its Library was at Audubon Terrace, 155th Street and Broadway, in the section of New York City called Washington Heights. But when the library and museum needed larger quarters due to the increase size of their numismatic and literature collections, they purchased a larger building at 96 Fulton Street in the Wall Street, which they named the Donald Groves Building. During the summer of 2004, the ANS relocated from Audubon Terrace to the Donald Groves Building.  Their doors opened to the public on 18 June 2004 and this would be the first cultural institution to open in lower Manhattan since the September 11 terrorist attacks. During the summer of 2008, the ANS relocated to 75 Varick Street in NYC.

For an image of the Library
http://www.numismatics.org/Library/ANSLibrary

Barbara Bonous-Smit
Queensborough Community College, CUNY