The building Committee reported, That the first stone of the edifice was laid on the thirty-first of August last; that upon the suggestion of Doctor Benjamin Franklin a large stone was prepared and laid at the south-west cornor of the building with the following Inscription, composed by the Doctor, except so far as relates to hemself, which the committee have taken the liberty of adding to it:
| Be it remembered, |
| In honor of the Philadelphian Youth, |
| Then chiefly Artificers |
| That in mdccxxxi, |
| They cheerfully, |
| at the Instance of Benjamin Franklin, |
| one of their Number, |
| Instituted the Philadelphia Library; |
| which, tho’ Small at first, |
| Is become highly valuable & extensively useful, |
| And which the Walls of this Edifice |
| Are now destined to contain and preserve; |
| The first Stone of whose Foundation, |
| was here placed |
| The thirty-first Day of August, Anno Domini mdcclxxxix |
| Benjamin Gibbs, | Thomas Parke, |
| Josiah Howes, | Joseph Paschall, |
| then being |
| John Kaighn, | Benjamin Poultney, |
| the directors |
| Mordecai Lewis, | Richard Wells, |
| Thomas Morris, | Richard Wistar, |
| Samuel Coats, Treasurer |
| William Rawle, Secretary |
| Zachariah Poulson, Junr., Librarian |