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Peabody Institute Library

address:82 Main Street Peabody, MA 01960 phone:978-531-0100 fax:978-532-1797 website:Peabody Institute Library

The Peabody Institute Library was begun with the June 16, 1852 donation from George Peabody.

George Peabody was born in South Danvers (now Peabody) in 1795 and by the year of 1851 had risen in the business world to become an investment banker in London.

Danvers Mechanic Institute's decision to name George Peabody as an honorary member Proud of their native son, the Danvers Mechanic Institute named George Peabody an honorary member on January 5, 1852. This subscription based institute, located in South Danvers , was both library and lyceum. Though the committee selected to inform Peabody of this honor waited until after Danvers was informed of the donation, it is possible his awareness of this institution influenced Peabody in deciding the type of institution he wished to create.