Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Roots of Madras libraries

Staff Reporter

``The earliest set up in 15th century''

CHENNAI : The earliest libraries in Madras were probably established towards the end of the 15th century during the Portuguese occupation, said S. Muthiah at Connemara Library here on Wednesday.

Columnist and author of several books on the history of Madras, Mr. Muthiah delivered a lecture on the `Early Libraries of Madras', organised by the Madras Library Association and the Connemara Public Library. He traced the historical roots of libraries and their precursors in the city. The Portuguese and the succeeding Dutch occupation of the region were poorly researched, he lamented.

The earliest known library was established in 1662, exactly 23 years after Fort St. George was established, and was run by the chaplain employed by the East India Company to provide services to its employees. The library was moved to St. Mary's Church and its collection expanded by exchanging bales of calico for books.

The College Road got its name from the College of Fort St. George located where the DPI campus currently stands, he said. The Madras Literary Society's collection was first shared with the Asiatic Literary Society in 1812 and was a part of the college, which was established to teach the British native languages. The library now still exists on College Road but several of its old books are missing, Mr. Muthiah said. The Connemara Library was part of the Government museum in 1859. After the receipt of a surplus of books from Britain, the administration for the two units was separated.

Henry Irwin designed the building with its spectacular reading room in 1896 and the library, currently a national library, became independent in 1939.

Other noteworthy libraries established during the colonial rule included the Government Oriental Manuscripts Library, currently located in the University of Madras, and the Adyar Library and Research Centre of the Theosophical Society, an eclectic collection with a focus on philosophy.

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