The Lion's Roar

In a world without the great usefulness of the Public Library, Benjamin Franklin rose to help educate the masses by creating the first library: The Library Connection. What better way to help educate the people then by asking them what books they wanted to read? Enter the “Lion’s Mouth” box.

Prior to the 1730s, books were too expensive for common people to have in vast quantities. In addition to books being expensive, they were also in very limited quantity since the printing press had yet to reach its full potential. Franklin, wanting to adapt the idea that “To support the common good is divine” (“The Library Company”), decided to create the first public library in United States history. To accomplish this goal, he created the “Junto,” which was an organization that discussed topics “from economics to solving social woes” (“The Library Company”), whose 50 members donated “40 shillings” each and agreed to donate an additional “10 shillings” each year to support its growth.

This group then began to import books and choose staff members to run the Library Company but something was always missing. The books that were imported and donated consisted mostly of books and subjects the founders and contributors of the Library Company thought would be beneficial. If the citizens of the United States wanted other books in the Library, they would either have to donate it themselves or find someone to donate it for them. It wasn’t until the creation of the “Lion’s Mouth” box that they could really have their requests heard.

The “Lion’s Mouth” box stands 5 ½ in. high and is 11 3/8 in. long by 7 ¾ in. wide (“‘Lion’s Mouth’ box”). It also had two open hinges hanging off the top where it could be placed on a wall and was transcribed with “Gentlemen are requested to deposit in the Lion’s Mouth The Titles of such Books As they may wish to have Imported” (“‘Lion’s Mouth’ box”). It was through a slot located in the “mouth” of the lion painted on the box that people could put their requests for certain books they would like the Library Company to acquire.

This “Lion’s Mouth” box was created around 1750 (“‘Lion’s Mouth’ box”) and the inscription on the box is definitely evident of this time frame. The mere word “Gentlemen” suggests a time when society was relatively homogenous and was very formal. Even the design of the box shows traces of this old lifestyle in the sense that the box itself was made of tin that was then painted both with black enamel and yellow paint for the lettering and the lion.

I work at the Pinole Library and our “suggestion box” is quite different than this. It is much less formal in the sense that it is a “treasure chest” made of cardboard-like material with different signs around it that entice people to place their ideas of the books we should hold in our library.

I find it interesting that the symbol they chose to put on the box was a lion. A lion generally represents courage and strength. The lion, according to “Symbolism –lion,” represents “noble nature and having the position and title of king” as well as a “valiant warrior.” Could this symbol of the lion be a prelude to courage that the Americans would soon display in the American Revolutionary War that was approaching quite quickly? Or could it have just symbolized the “noble nature” as “Symbolism – lion” suggests? If the lion, in this instance, does symbolize the “noble nature” of Americans, it is interesting that not only nobility were allowed to post their requests in the box. Although the outside of the box says “gentlemen,” it is not only referring to men of noble birth; anyone who went into the Library was given the opportunity to put their suggestions in the box.

The concept of this “Lion’s Mouth” box gave everyone equal opportunity for change. Sure, not everyone’s ideas for books to “import” (“‘Lion's Mouth’ box”) were chosen, but everyone had an equal opportunity to express their opinion. It is this very essence that gives rise to change; which is evidenced by the “comment cards” that various businesses hand out that rate the service of the business in areas of excellence and those that need improvement. This “Lion’s Mouth” box, whether it symbolized power or nobility, was an opportunity for the American citizens to bound together, support their local Library, and attempt to make a difference in how they controlled their lives.

Works Cited

"The Library Company." 20 Mar. 2009 <www.ushistory.org/FRANKLIN/philadelphia/library.htm>.

"‘Lion's Mouth’ box, ca. 1750." The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary. 20 Mar. 2009 <www.benfranklin300.org/frankliniana/result.php?id=563&sec=0>.

"Symbolism - lion." Coats of Arms (Family Crests) & Surname Histories. 20 Mar. 2009. 20 Mar. 2009 <www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp/keyword.lion/qx/symbolism_details.htm>.