Darby Free Library

On the tenth day of March 1743, a group of Quaker farmers and merchants residing in 'the village of Darby, Province of Pennsylvania", met to organize the area's first cultural institution. This institution was named the Darby Library Company. On that day, twenty-nine townsmen signed an article of agreement founding one of America's first public libraries.An unrecorded amount of money was subscribed by the organizers for the purchase of books and forty-five volumes at a cost of 11 Pounds, 10 Shillings, Sterling were purchased.  Forty-three of those original volumes are on display at the Darby Free Library.

John Pearson was elected the first Librarian, Joseph Bonsall, Secretary, and Nathan Gibson, Treasurer. With the assistance of botanist, John Bartram, a member of the Darby Friend Meeting, arrangements were completed to purchase the books in London. Funds for the purchase were transferred in the form of a bill of exchange to Lawrence Williams, to be paid on sight to Peter Collison of London. On the 14th of April 1743, the original Library Company Minutes (which still exist today) recorded a letter to Peter Collison which was written by John Bonsall.