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Located on the eastern side of Mersey Estuary, adjacent to the Irish Sea, and a mere 178 miles from London, Liverpool, England was established in 1207 but quickly developed into the second city of the British Empire after King John needed a port from which to send his troops to Ireland. The city attracts visitors worldwide each and every year, but a lesser known fact is that Liverpool holds more historical links to the USA than any other city except London. In honor of the milestone anniversary we honored just last year, join us in welcoming members of the Liverpool Athenaeum for a stateside visit, and very special “amuse-bouche” of the historical and literary links between America and the great city of Liverpool.

About the Liverpool Athenaeum

During the last decade of the 18th Century, England was embroiled in a long and costly war with France. As the major port on the western seaboard of England, Liverpool played a key role in this war. If Liverpool’s merchants and other professionals were to carry on trade and assist the port’s growth, they were in vital need of commercial and political information. Thus, a number of the leading citizens conceived the idea of founding a club and in 1797, circulated a document entitled ‘Outlines of a plan for a library and newsroom’. The prospectus proposed “to procure a regular supply of newspapers, both town and country; all the periodicals of any value, and all the pamphlets that have reference to subjects of local or general polity or commerce and the institution was to provide books for the acquisition of general knowledge and for entertainment”. The library opened on 1st May 1800. The heart of the Athenaeum is undoubtedly its library. This is one of the greatest proprietary libraries in the UK containing books, prints, maps, and charts as well as one of the most important regional history resources in the country. Although the privileges are primarily reserved for its Proprietors (members), arrangements can be made, for researchers and others to make use of the library.