Join the 1848 Society

The 1848 Society recognizes and honors individuals who have included the Boston Public Library Fund in their long-term financial and estate plans through a charitable bequest, beneficiary designation, gifts through retirement accounts, and other legacy gifts.

In 1848 the Massachusetts state legislature established the first free municipal library in the U.S.—right here in Boston. As early as 1852, a wealthy banker pledged $50,000 to fund the acquisition of new books. Today the Boston Public Library Fund has established the 1848 Society to build upon that legacy by honoring donors who make a gift to the library in their will or estate plans. Planned gifts may enable you to make a gift much larger than you might think possible. They can be changed at any time.

Your gift will:

• Unlock opportunity by helping newly unemployed look for work or make a career change, children and families search for great books, teens receive needed homework help, immigrants learn a new language, or seniors explore a newfound passion.
• Activate democracy by supporting programming that enriches our perspectives on the world and ensures that every voice is welcomed and respected.
• Share treasures by preserving and making available online and in person the trove of art works, historical documents, and objects that help educators reimagine learning and spark conversations about our collective history.

While city funding provides the Boston Public Library with a strong base of support, your gift is critical to promoting innovation, testing new ideas, and responding to evolving community needs. Planned gifts can be designated to support a specific branch of the library or a system-wide program most important to you.