Many renowned museums began as private collections of affluent individuals, exemplified by New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, conceived in 1866 by wealthy Americans. The Brooklyn Museum, on the other hand, originated from the Apprentices' Library established in 1824, designed to provide free access to books for the underserved workforce in Brooklyn. Founders, including Augustus Graham, recognized the need for education to uplift the community financially. The foundation of these institutions illustrates the evolving purpose of art access and educational resources in society, from exclusive collections to public repositories.
The idea and the money for the library came from a small group that included Augustus Graham. He and his brother John owned a very lucrative business manufacturing white lead.
The Apprentices' Library was established on November 24, 1824. It was the first free library in Brooklyn, laying the foundation for a future museum.
Augustus and others realized that the general workforce of the day didn't have funds to buy books or other learning materials, all of which could propel them into higher paying work.
The Met was always meant to be a public museum and was first housed in a building on 5th Avenue near 54th Street, serving a broader community.
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