Isaiah Thomas, the American Antiquarian Society, and the Future.

Surveys those portions of the life of Isaiah Thomas (d. 1831) that still have meaning for the American Antiquarian Society, which he founded in 1812. Traces the evolution of the society's collecting interests and mission since the days of Thomas. Thomas insisted that access to knowledge was central to the democratic ideal, and the society rests on that philosophy. Concludes with a call to help the society.