1921 Carnegie Library, Mount Vernon, New York

[LIB11071] - 1904 - Present The Mount Vernon Public Library was chartered by the State of New York in March, 1896. Andrew Carnegie, the retired steel tycoon and benefactor of libraries, donated $50,000 in 1904 for the construction of the building. The library, a neoclassical revival style building, was designed by Edward L. Tilton, a noted architect in the design of libraries.

The Westchester Women's Club played a strong advocacy role in the establishment of the Children's Department. New additions were made to the Library in 1909 and 1925. The first was financed by another Carnegie gift of $20,000, and the second by a school bond issue of $125,000.

In 1929, another school bond issue of $125,000 was voted to purchase adjacent property to provide room for expansion. In the late 1930's a building program was undertaken that shaped the Library as we know it today. Ground was broken in 1937 for the third addition to the building, a new South wing. Work was completed in 1938.

In 1958, the library became the Central Library of the newly formed Westchester Library System. It is the largest Library in Westchester County and the sixth largest in New York State. Starting with about 5,000 books in 1896, the Library's collection now houses more than 500,000 volumes, and subscribes to approximately 800 current magazines, journals, and newspapers. [Website]

1904 Library and Lyceum, Morristown, NJ

[LIB3589]

The Morristown/Township Library was constructed in 1917 after a devastating fire destroyed the original Library and Lyceum. Grinnell Willis, a local philanthropist, personally funded the construction of Edward L. Tilton´s Gothic Revival design, and donated the facility to the town. The cornerstone, put in place on August 5, 1916, contains a copper box which included photographs of Mr. Willis, coins, newspapers, and photos of Morristown. In 1986, the architectural firm of Shor and Ford was hired to build an additional wing to accommodate the needs of this growing library.

1909 City Library, Manchester NH

[LIB3581]

Soon after the death of his wife Elenora Blood Carpenter in January, 1910, the president of Amoskeag Paper Mill Frank Pierce Carpenter offered to construct a library building in her memory.

Frank Carpenter spared no expense in the planning and construction of the new library building. He hired architects Edward L. Tilton of New York and Edgar A.P. Newcomb of Honolulu to design the Italian Renaissance style building which would serve not only the then present needs but growth over many subsequent decades. [SOURCE]

Sherburne Public Library, Sherburne NY

Sherburne Public Library was organized as part of the Sherburne Free Academy in 1838. In 1880 a new school building included a large room for the public library and contained 1,700 books. In 1885 New York State required all libraries to be separated from school libraries. On November 4, 1895 Sherburne Public Library began a legal existence. In 1909, with money from the Pratt family for the building and from D.H.G. Newton and others for the land, the library became a reality. The architect was Edward L. Tilton of New York City, and the master Workman was M. James Wilson of Rome, NY. The building was a gift to the town with the requirement that it only be used as a library. [SOURCE] [LIB2404]

Carpenter Memorial Library, Manchester, New Hampshire

"Carpenter Memorial Library is the gift of Frank P. Carpenter to the City of Manchester, N.H. in 1914. A memorial to his wife Elenora Blood Carpenter. Italian Renaissance in style. In beauty, utility and convenience it has few rivals throughout the country. Constructed of white Vermont marble."

Soon after the death of his wife Elenora Blood Carpenter in January, 1910, the president of Amoskeag Paper Mill Frank Pierce Carpenter offered to construct a library building in her memory.

Frank Carpenter spared no expense in the planning and construction of the new library building. He hired architects Edward L. Tilton of New York and Edgar A.P. Newcomb of Honolulu to design the Italian Renaissance style building which would serve not only the then present needs but growth over many subsequent decades. [SOURCE]

Edward L. Tilton designed many libraries in the United States including: Springfield (Massachusetts) Central Library; Wilmington (Delaware) Public Library; Bayonne (New Jersey) Public Library; Elizabeth (New Jersey) Public Library, and many more. For a wonderful 15 page overview of Tilton and his architectural accomplishments, read (available as a PDF) Edward Lippincott Tilton, A Monograph on His Architectural Practice, researched and written by Lisa B. Mausolf with Elizabeth Durfee Hengen for The Currier Museum of Art (2007).

[LIB1880]

MANCHESTER STREET CARS - IMAGES OF AMERICA [Manchester, New Hampshire]