THE LIBRARY PIN WITH NAMES ASTOR AND LENOX
was a gift to participants in the opening of the new Public Library in N.Y.C.
Originally, J.J.Astor had donated monies to open the first “public” library in N.Y.C. It stood on the location, which is now the Public Theatre, on Astor Place in downtown N.Y.C.
A few years later, Lenox, another weather man who had migrated to N.Y.C. from Europe (as had J.J.Astor) donated his fabulous paper collection, which included what was thought to be the first Guttenberg Bible. Lenox’s library was more for bood experts, rather than a lending library. His texts were “under glass” and not to be thumbed thru.
In 1911, under the guidance of (then mayor of N.Y.C.) Taft, a library for the public was opened.
The library was not funded by N.Y.C., but was thought to be funded by private donors.
The pin described is thought to be a donor’s pin.
I hope that this information is helpful.
LINDA