Centuries-old private libraries are bringing modern comfort and awe to book lovers and history buffs in New England.

When David Arsenault takes down a worn, leather-bound 19th-century book from the winding shelves of the Boston Athenaeum, he feels a sense of awe—like he’s handling a museum artifact. Many of the half ...

In 1861, the naturalist was acting in his role as a concerned father, seeking a respectable position for his son, William ...