Founders

The first public library was actually created by a donation to the city from Abijah Fisk upon his death in 1845.  “I give, devise and bequeath to the city of New Orleans my house at the corner of Customhouse and Bourbon streets, on condition that it shall be applied to the keeping of a library for the use and benefit of the citizens of said city, and to be used for no other purpose.” (Fisk, 1843).  His brother, Alvarez, purchased several thousand dollars of books several years later and pushed to open the library.  Even in the 1840’s politics were causing problems with the implementation of Abijah’s wonderful donation.  It seems that  the smaller towns within New Orleans could not agree on what to do so nothing was getting done. 

This picture is of Abijah Fisk and is courtesy of the New Orleans Public Library website.

This is Alvarez Fisk, brother of Abijah and is also courtesy of the New Orleans Public Library Website.

Once the three towns were consolidated into one city, Alvarez was able to convince the council to proceed with the library open to everyone.  Finally, the city and Alvarez agreed to allow the Mechanics Society to house and manage the library but in a new building.  Thank goodness!  The library was finally open but not in the house that Abijah Fisk left to the city.