A two-volume set containing the writings of William Penn and published in London in 1726 has found a new permanent home in the Reading Public Library.
The books titled “A Collection of the Works of William Penn” are a gift of the Reading Central Library of Reading, Berkshire, England.
The set is a comprehensive compilation of the writings of William Penn, 1644 to 1718, the English Quaker and founder of the Pennsylvania colony. It includes a variety of his works, such as essays, letters and sermons, which offer insights into his religious beliefs, political ideas and vision for a just and peaceful society.
The books were presented by Tony Jones, a former mayor and alderman of Reading, England, during a brief ceremony recently at the library, 100 S. Fifth St.
“Now you might think, ‘But what’s the point of bringing a couple of battered books across the pond, across the Atlantic?’” Jones said of the volumes, which contain essays, sermons, letters and other writings of Penn, the English writer, religious thinker and influential member of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, who founded Pennsylvania during the British colonial era. “Well, if I was more high-minded, I might say, ‘Well, they’ll be there as a scholastic reference.’”
More simply put, he said, the gift is an act of friendship between the two Readings.
Tony Jones, a former mayor of Reading, Berkshire, England, reads from one of two volumes of the writings of William Penn, published in 1726. The nearly 300-year-old books were presented to the Reading Public Library by the Reading Central Library of Reading, Berkshire, England. (MICHELLE LYNCH – READING EAGLE)
Melissa Adams, library executive director, accepted the books on behalf of the citizens of Reading.
Initially, the books were to be a loan, but Jones surprised Adams by announcing the permanent gift.
“We are excited for this historic partnership with the Reading Libraries and Museum,” Adams said, accepting the volumes and thanking Jones and Simon Smith, libraries and museum manager, Reading, England, who joined the ceremony virtually.
Penn lived in Pennsylvania for less than three years from 1682 into 1684, when he returned to England. From 1710 until his death, he lived in Ruscombe, Berkshire.
Jones pointed out the similarity of the names of several places in Berks County to those in Penn’s home of Berkshire.
He also read from a letter reprinted in one of the volumes in which Penn reported on the plentiful natural produce of Pennsylvania.
In the letter, Penn also described the native Lenape as tall, straight and well built, and noted Dutch, Swedish and Finnish settlers preceded the English in settling what became Pennsylvania, Jones said.
The library will display the books through the end of 2025 and will feature displays and programs that connect the volumes and their significance to the history of the city and Pennsylvania, Adams noted.
Formerly a frontier town, Reading was laid out in 1748 by two of Penn’s sons, Thomas and Richard Penn.
Part of the library’s display will include two documents recently discovered in the library’s archives: a land grant indenture and a letter from King George III of England to William Penn’s sons.
Those interested in reading Penn’s writings have no need to worry about damaging the dusty and fragile set.
Adams said a link for viewing a digital version of the books will be available on the library’s website at readingpubliclibrary.org.
Michael Sninsky, deputy chief of the Reading Fire Department’s EMS unit, accepts a friendship plaque from Tony Jones, public governor of the Reading, England, ambulance service and a former mayor of the borough in England. (MICHELLE LYNCH – READING EAGLE)
Jones, who now serves as public governor of the Reading, England, ambulance service, has visited the city several times in the last 25 years, helping to strengthen the ties between the two Readings.
Following the book presentation, he presented a friendship plaque from the chief executive of the emergency medical service unit of Reading, England, to Michael Sninsky, deputy chief of the Reading Fire Department’s EMS unit.