History of Libraries By kasiejoe103 Period: 299 to Jan 1, 1877 History of Libraries 300 Sumerians then created pictographs 330 Around this time, the Egyptians started using Hieroglyphics 350 Cuneiform was first invented by the Sumerians 400 The earliest known illuminated manuscripts was created sometime during 400 B.C. 500 Around this time historians believe ideograms began Jan 1, 1000 The Egyptians created papyrus to write on Jan 1, 1050 The Phoenicians developed a 20-30 letter alpabet Jan 1, 1450 Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press Jan 1, 1636 The first university in the Colonies was established in Boston, MA Jan 1, 1639 Elizabeth Glover left England with the first printing press and brought it to the Colonies Jan 1, 1731 The Subscription library was created in PA because of the contrution of Benjamin Franklin Jan 1, 1800 Thomas Jefferson donated a portion of his personal collection to form the Library of Congress Jan 1, 1876 The whole year of 1876 is called the banner year for libraries