Boston Athenaeum Proprietors
Becoming a Proprietor is one of the most meaningful ways an individual can engage with the Boston Athenaeum. Through lifelong participation, Proprietors help shape what it means to be a historic Shareholder, further the humanities in America, and ensure the Athenaeum’s future success.
Proprietors were the Athenaeum’s first members and the sale of Proprietors’ Shares served as the library’s most dependable funding mechanism for this growth. Culture-minded Bostonians claimed the initial offering—150 shares—within a month. Under the leadership of Josiah Quincy, the Athenaeum added 100 new shares in 1821 and fifty more in 1826. By 1858, after funding the construction of the current building at 10½ Beacon Street, the total number of shares had reached 1,049 where it remains today.
“When you love a place, the same thing applies to that relationship as to human relationships: real love is giving, not taking. I fell in love with the Atheneum as a place to write, a place to meet my daughter to work together when she was at boarding school nearby, a place to make an occasion out of finishing books and articles (touching the building is like good luck). Even though I have never had the good fortune to live in Boston, I wanted to always be moving towards the Atheneum. Becoming a proprietor is a great way to feel connected to what I feel is the greatest member-supported library in the United States, one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, and a place where any writer–or reader–can feel inspired, seen, and supported.”
-David Netto, Author & Designer
With the acquisition of a Share comes a responsibility to vote to elect the Officers and Trustees who govern our extraordinary institution, to approve amendments to our By-Laws, and to serve as an ambassador for all we do. Shares can be passed down through generations within families or transferred between friends with a shared love of the humanities.
A tax-deductible contribution of $5,000, and your annual membership dues, secures your Proprietor Share and serves as an investment in both the Athenaeum’s storied past and its dynamic future. The true value of a Share lies not in dollars, but in its legacy and impact. As a Proprietor, you become part of a centuries-old tradition, ensuring the Athenaeum’s vitality for generations to come.
For more information on becoming a Boston Athenaeum Proprietor, contact the Development office at 617-720-7680 or Development@BostonAthenaeum.org.