Pronounced Grove-ner, our name comes from the Grosvenor Library that existed in Buffalo from 1871 until 1963. For most of its existence, the library occupied a building at Franklin & Edward Streets. Part of the collection was later housed in the nearby Cyclorama building. For many years it maintained one of the largest genealogy collections in the country. The Buffalo & Erie County Public Library inherited this collection, and it forms the core of the current Grosvenor Room Genealogy collection.
Seth Grosvenor, 1786-1857
The old Grosvenor Library was originally named in honor of the “City’s Greatest Benefactor”—Seth Grosvenor. As a young man, he helped defend Buffalo during the War of 1812, and played a prominent role in helping to rebuild the devastated community. Later, as a merchant in New York City, Grosvenor kept his ties to the city by maintaining investments and philanthropic efforts in Buffalo. He died in 1857, leaving $40,000 to the city that was intended to help establish a public library.
Source: Rooney, Paul M. 150 years, 1836-1986 : Buffalo and Erie County Public Library. [Buffalo, N.Y. : Grosvenor Society, 1986]. Buffalo Collection Z733.B93 R58 1986.
