18th Century Miscellany

When the Boston Athenaeum was founded in 1807, the eighteenth century had only just ended. The Revolutionary War was still within living memory. From its very beginning, the Athenaeum has played a role in preserving history as it was happening, and bringing cultural insight to Boston from around the world. Here are some highlights from the Athenaeum’s rich holdings of eighteenth-century materials, including items that entered the collection in the institution’s earliest years.