Thursday, October 30, 2008

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library of Yale University

"... Located in New Havem, Connecticut. Believed to be the largest building in the world entirely devoted to this purpose. The building of marble and granite is an architectural "conversation piece".
The building, of Vermont marble and granite, bronze and glass, was designed by Gordon Bunshaft, of the firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill; the George A. Fuller Construction Company was the general contractor. Work began on the building in 1960 and was completed in 1963. The white, gray-veined marble panes of the exterior are one and one-quarter inches thick and are framed by shaped light gray Vermont Woodbury granite. These marble panels filter light so that rare materials can be displayed without damage. From the exterior, however, the building's powerful stone geometry serves to dominate the space it occupies in Hewitt University Quadrangle, amidst neo-Classical and neo-Gothic neighbors. [SOURCE] [LIB1884]
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Public Library DAYTON OHIO

Two views of the Library from the early 20th century.

[LIB1883]

Library CALEDONIA NY


[LIB1882]

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

1961 Public Library ANTIGO WISCONSIN

"One of the oldesty constructions in the city of Antigo built in 1904, which houses 32,000 volumes."

Antigo Public Library Website

[LIB1881]

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]

Friday, October 24, 2008

1906 Flower Memorial Library WATERTOWN NY

Beautiful vintage postcard published by the Rotograph Company, no. H6242a.

ERECTED BY MRS. EMMA FLOWER TAYLOR
IN MEMORY OF HER FATHER, EX-GOVERNOR FLOWER.
Cost of building with decorations, $250,000.
The cornerstone was laid JULY 11, 1903, by MRS. TAYLOR,
with a prayer by REV. Archdeacon Joiner and address by MR. S.F. BAGG. The building was completed and presented to the city of Watertown NOVEMBER 10, 1904. The building was designed by the architectural firm of ORCHARD, LANSING & JORALEMON. [SOURCE] On the National Register of Historic Places: Flower, Roswell P., Memorial Library (added 1980 - Building - #80002628)

Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library Website

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