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Charleston Library Society History

The Charleston Library Society, the third oldest private library in the United States, was founded in 1748. It is one of the few remaining private libraries in the U.S. today.


Charleston Library Society Building

Courtesy of Charleston County Library

50 Broad Street, constructed 1797

Home of the Charleston Library Society from 1836 to 1914



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South Carolina Library History Project


This page created by Teresa Newman
Updated January 17, 2000.
Copyright 2000 by the
Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina