1848 
1850 
1851 
1852 
1853 
1854 
1855 
1856 
7 
HISTORICAL SUMMARY. 
Suggestion by the Rev. Canon A. Hume at a meeting of the Roscoe Club, 
February 1848, that a Free Public Library be established in Liverpool. 
Committee appara by Town Council, 3rd April, on the motion of 
Councillor James A. Picton, to consider and report upon the establish- 
ment of a Public Library for Liverpool. 
Negotiations with the Trustees of the Royal Institution, Colquitt Street, 
and Report of the Provisional Committee, 4th September, recom- 
mending that an Act of Parliament be obtained for the transfer of 
the Royal Institution and its contents (paintings, casts, natural history 
specimens, books, etc.) to the Corporation, and that a Public Library, 
Museum, and Gallery of Art be established in that building. 
An Association of Citizens formed, 10th December, to promote the 
formation of the proposed Library, Museum, and Gallery of Art, 
and to solicit subscriptions, books, and specimens. 
The Bequest by the Right Honourable Edward-Smith, 13th Earl of Derby, 
K.@., F.L.S., of his collections of Natural History Specimens intimated 
to the Corporation of Liverpool by the Right Honourable Edward- 
Geoffrey, 14th Earl of Derby, k.e., F.u.s. 
Mr. Thomas J. Moore appointed first Curator of the Museum. 
The ‘Liverpool Royal Institution (Transfer of Property) Bill’ sub- 
mitted to Parliament and withdrawn, May 1851. 
The purchase of the Union News Room, Duke Street, for the purposes 
of a Free Public Library and Museum decided upon, 9th September. 
Act of Parliament, 3rd May, to establish a Public Library, Museum, 
and Gallery of Art, and to provide Public Lectures. Councillor James 
Allanson Picton became first Chairman of the Library, Museum, and 
Arts Committee. 
Mr. John Stuart Dalton appointed first Chief Librarian. 
Collection of maps, views, portraits, documents, etc. illustrative of 
the history of Lancashire (particularly Liverpool), purchased from 
the Executors of Mr. Thomas Binns. 
Reference Library, Duke Street, opened by the Mayor of Liverpool 
(Councillor Thomas Littledale), October 18th. The Library, Museum, 
and Arts Committee were also charged with the management and 
maintenance of the Botanic Gardens and Park. 
The Museum of Natural History, bequeathed to the town by the Earl of 
Derby, was opened to the public by the Mayor of Liverpool (Councillor 
Samuél Holme), Duke Street, 8th March. 
Two Branch Lending Libraries opened: in (1) the North Corporation 
Schools, Bevington Bush, 18th October; and (2) the South Corporation 
Schools, Park Lane, 1st November. 
A Superintendent of Branch Libraries decided upon. Mr. W. Roulston 
appointed. 
The South Branch Lending Library transferred from the South 
Corporation Schools to premises in Hardy Street, December 1854. 
Parliamentary powers obtained, 16th July, to appropriate a site on Shaw’s 
Brow (now William Brown Street) on which to erect a new Public 
Library and Museum building. 
The North Branch Lending Library transferred from the North Corporation 
Schools to special premises in Great Nelson Street, June 1855. 
Offer of Mr. William Brown, m.p., Merchant of Liverpool, to erect a 
new Public Library and Museum on Shaw’s Brow. 
