Stanford University, J. Henry Meyer Library, California, 1969

Stanford University’s J. Henry Meyer Memorial Library was built as the university’s undergraduate library. It was named after J. Henry Meyer, a successful San Francisco businessman whose family donated funds for its construction. The library was designed to support undergraduate studies with a large general collection, study spaces, and various academic resources. For decades, Meyer Library was a key part of Stanford’s academic landscape, offering students a place to study and conduct research. However, as digital resources grew in prominence and the building’s infrastructure aged, the university decided to demolish Meyer Library in 2015. Its functions were largely transferred to Lathrop Library, which opened in 2014 in a renovated building nearby, providing modern study spaces and access to technology-driven resources.

Carmel-By-The-Sea, California, Harrison Memorial Library, c1960s

 

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1950s, Marin County Free Library Bookmobile, Marin County, California

 

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Public Library, San Jose, California

 

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Public Library, Veterans Park, Redondo Beach, California

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Designed by the noted architect Lovel Bearse Pemberton, the new Spanish/Dutch colonial building in Veterans Park on the Esplanade (above, center) was dedicated on July 2, 1930, and this iconic structure served as the main library for the city for sixty years. In 1981 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Library, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California

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Library, University of California, Berkeley, California

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Library, Salinas, California, 1908

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Carnegie Library, San Jose, California

[LIB11284] - This library opened in 1908 and is the last Carnegie library in Santa Clara County still operating as a public library. It is a part of the San José Public Library.

1906, Santa Ana, California

[LIB11277]

Carnegie Library, Santa Rosa, California

[LIB11270] - Santa Rosa's library history includes several short-lived libraries between 1859 and formation of the Santa Rosa Library Association in 1875. An 1878 offer of this library to the city under the Rogers Act was declined; it was 1884 before the combined efforts of women's organizations and the newspaper editor succeeded in the city taking over the library and providing space in City Hall. In 1890 Santa Rosa hired the county's first professional librarian, Bertha Kumli, who guided the Carnegie project through from the application for $35,000 and acceptance of the offered $20,000 in March, 1902. Community leaders purchased a lot and Sacramento architect E. M. Hoen designed the building in the Romanesque style. The builder was William Peacock of San Francisco. The cornerstone was laid on April 14, 1903 and the building opened on March 10, 1904. Miss Kumli next joined the State Library and achieved a statewide reputation for her work for the county library system and in helping small communities establish public libraries. The Carnegie building was extensively damaged in the 1906 earthquake, and Carnegie provided $6,900 in additional funding for repairs. The building then served as library until 1960 when it was condemned as unsafe. The books were moved to temporary quarters, the old building was demolished in 1964. A new library on the same site was completed in 1967. [Website]

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Carnegie Library, Long Beach, California

[LIB11260]

The books of an early WCTU library became the nucleus of the Long Beach Library Association in 1895. The city incorporated two years later and the library, which had occupied a succession of locations, moved to city hall in 1899. It became a free and tax-supported library in 1902, the same year that a Carnegie inquiry was first made. In 1908 the city was offered $12,500. After much controversy a site was purchased, and the city committed itself to $3,000 annually from city taxes. There followed an extensive correspondence with Carnegie, and finally the amount was increased to $30,000; the library ultimately cost $34,000. The architect, F. P. Burnham designed the building in the Classical Revival style. The builder was Weymouth Crowell. The cornerstone was laid September 5, 1908, the building was opened to the public on May 19, 1909, and was dedicated on June 15. A new library was already being planned in 1972 when the old library was damaged by fire; the old building was then demolished to make way for the new structure. [Website]

Long Beach California postcard by camillacalle
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Library, Paso Robles, California

1907 The Ladies Auxiliary petitions Andrew Carnegie for funds to erect a suitable building. They are granted $10,000 if the city guarantees $1,000 yearly support for the library. The Trustees agree. Plans by architect W. H. Weeks of Watsonville are adopted and a construction contract is awarded to R. O. Summers of San Jose. Work begins in November. 1908 The cornerstone of the Carnegie Library is laid on January 28. The old library is now home to the Historical Society. A new library building was opened 1995.

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Library Interior, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California

[LIB11228] - Following the 1906 resignation of Charles Hodges as University architect, the Beaux Arts-trained firm of John Bakewell and Arthur Brown Jr. was selected to design the new library and a new quadrangle adjacent to the Main Quadrangle.

Packard Library, Marysville, California

[LIB11193] - This structure was a gift from John Q. Packard to the City of Marysville in appreciation of his successful business. Marysville had the first municipal library west of the Mississippi in 1857. [Website]

1927, Blanchard Memorial Library, Santa Paula, California

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Carnegie Library, Grass Valley, California

[LIB11187] - Opened in 1916, still in use as a public library.

Dean Hobbs Blanchard Library, Santa Paula, California

[LIB11180] - Mr. Blanchard was one of the charter members of the Central Pacific Railroad and a moving spirit in every project destined to prove of benefit.  He and Mrs. Blanchard gave to the town of Santa Paula the Dean Hobbs Blanchard Memorial Library in honor of their first child. [Website]

Public Library, Martinez, California

On the National Register of Historic Places, the contemporary image is from Wikipedia, 2009.

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Public Library, Julian, California

[LIB11146] Part of the San Diego Library System.