An Explanation of Contributing Membership Categories

Many wonderful people have contributed to the Newtown Library Company in the last 249 years.  Some contributed time and effort to sustain the organization; others, directly or indirectly, increased the value of the library.

William Penn, although he died in 1718, which was 32 years before we were founded, had a set of six dining room chairs, three of which found their way to the Newtown Library Co.  They are valued at about $300,000.

Isaac Hicks helped the library by giving it land on Court Street in back of the White Hall to build the first library building.  His son, Edward Hicks, painted the library sign for the sum of $1.00.  The first building is gone but the sign is priceless. 

Joseph Barnsley gave us the land and built the current library building in 1911.  The Barnsley reading room contains many of his books. 

Luise Cornell was the first person to endow the library with a large bequest of about $300,000.  Some of this went to making much needed renovations on the current building.

Dorothy Fitzgerald, was our official librarian for over 25 years.  At her passing, she also endowed the library with a portion of her estate.