Dedication of the new building and hall of the Boston Medical Library Association, 19 Boylston Place, December 3, 1878 : order of exercises, address by the President, Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, report of the building committee, remarks by Dr. J.S. Billings ... [et al.].

  • Boston Medical Library Association.
Date:
1881
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dedication of the new building and hall of the Boston Medical Library Association, 19 Boylston Place, December 3, 1878 : order of exercises, address by the President, Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, report of the building committee, remarks by Dr. J.S. Billings ... [et al.]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    REPORT OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. BY DR. CHARLES P. PUTNAM, CHAIRMAN. The lot on which this building stands is twenty-seven and one half feet broad and sixty feet deep. The original house, which was for- merly occupied by the late Dr. Howe, extended to the first beam in the ceiling west of the skylight. To obtain this hall, the first floor was removed together with that part of the rear wall of the house which corresponded to the two lower stories ; a strong iron beam was carried across to support the upper part of the rear wall, and the yard was roofed over. The hall thus covers the whole lot, and is eighteen and one half feet high. The excellent results obtained here and in the rooms above testify to the skill and taste of our architect, Mr. Henry Van Brunt. The arrangement of seats at the west end of the hall on grades not only makes it easier to see from that end, but gives room below for a steam furnace, a coal bin, and four large air-boxes, arranged to admit any pro- portion of hot and cold air. Almost the whole of the wall is lined with books, the upper parts being made accessible for this purpose by a gallery carried round three sides, which also serves to accommo- date a considerable number of seats. The gallery is reached by a few steps from the rear platform, and by the circular staircase on the north side. This staircase also serves to connect the hall directly with the reading-rooms above. Your attention is particularly called to the admirable arrangements for heating and ventilation. The plan consists in general of admitting a large volume of air over steam-pipes at the west end of the room, and carrying it off through a large ven- tilating shaft at the east end. A strong draught is maintained in this