274 The Smithsonian Institution 



"To procure a complete collection of the memoirs and 

 transactions of learned societies throughout the world, and an 

 entire series of the most important scientific and literary 

 periodicals." 



This may be said, in brief, to have been the policy of the 

 Institution, with regard to its library, from the beginning to 

 the present day ; although while making this its primary 

 object the Institution has acquired many valuable works 

 other than serials and journals, in almost every department 

 of human knowledge. 



The first librarian of the Smithsonian Institution was 

 Charles C. Jewett, who was nominated Assistant Secretary 

 acting as Librarian, by the Secretary, which nomination 

 was approved at a meeting of the Board of Regents held 

 on January 21, 1847. 



While it is beyond the purpose of this chapter to discuss 

 the personnel of the library of the Institution, Mr. Jewett is 

 so unique a figure in the history of library work in America, 

 and so much of his activity in behalf of the libraries of the 

 country is contemporaneous with his stay in the Institution, 

 that a brief reference to him is essential. 1 



Charles Coffin Jewett was born in Lebanon, Maine, on 

 August 12, 1816. He studied in the Latin School in Salem, 

 Massachusetts, and entered Dartmouth College in 1831, 

 leaving it in his sophomore year for Brown University, and 

 graduating in 1835. For two years (1835 to 1837) he was 

 principal of the Academy in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. In 



1 The first biographical sketch of Professor also by Doctor Guild, being a memorial 



Jewett was a brief address by Doctor Reuben sketch of Professor Jewett, published in The 



Guild, printed in the Providence Evening Library Journal, Volume XII, November, 



Press, Friday, February 10, 1868, two days 1887, pages 507-511. See also "Historical 



after Mr. Jewett's death. This notice was Catalogue of Brown University," Providence, 



reprinted in Providence, in octavo form, and R. I. (1764-1894), Providence, 1895, page 



also in the " Smithsonian Report" for 1867, 116; New England Historical and Genealogi- 



page 128. The most extended notice was cal Register, Volume xxn, 1868, page 365. 



