ca. 1975. Librarians Jack Rasmussen and Karen (Goettling) Kelley in Lit. Dept., Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library. Mrs. Kelley was a former Daffodil Festival Queen.

Rasmussen, Jack; Kelley, Karen; Goettling, Karen Jane; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Librarians; Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

ca. 1951. Excavation work started soon after the late March, 1951, groundbreaking for the new Tacoma Public Library located at 1102 Tacoma Ave. So. Trucks are pictured above removing dirt and debris from the site. The original Main Library is directly next to the excavation site. It would be used for meetings and storage after the new library was completed in 1952 and not reopened for general library use until 1978.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Excavation--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1975. Sue Connolly in General Services Dept., Main Branch Tacoma Public Library. Mrs. Connolly later became part of the library's Quick Information telephone reference staff.

Connolly, Susan; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

ca. 1975. Miss Elfriede Gudelius, Head of General Services Dept., Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library. Staff member Sue Connolly is seated on the left.

Gudelius, Elfriede; Librarians; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Connolly, Susan; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

ca. 1975. Librarian Clayton Kirking in Fine Arts Dept., Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library.

Kirking, Clayton; Librarians; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

ca. 1975. Librarian Sumi Takahasi in Business, Science and Technology Dept., Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library. At that time the Main Library was separated into various departments including General Services, Literature, Fine Arts and Business, Science & Technology.

Takahasi, Sumi; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Librarians; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Japanese Americans--Tacoma;

ca. 1951. Buildings on 11th St. across from future Tacoma Public Library circa 1951. These structures would eventually vanish, making way for the new County-City Building. In the foreground are three dump trucks and an earthmover that were photographed on the excavation site for the new Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Ave. So. After many decades and much discussion, the Main Library was expanding from the original Carnegie Library to a more spacious, accommodating building. Groundbreaking had occurred in March of 1951 and the library would be completed and finally dedicated in November of 1952. BU-11779

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Excavation--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1904. Interior of Tacoma Public Library. Originating in Grace Moore's South Tacoma home in 1886 from the donated volumes of 18 women friends, Puget Sound's first circulating library grew towards this ornate structure. In 1893, the 2,000 volumes in Mrs. Moore's Mercantile Library were given for free to the city of Tacoma as a public library. The library was housed in a series of buildings until it moved to City Hall. In 1901, the Reverend Calvin Stewart, a Presbyterian minister, obtained for the city a promise of $75,000 from industrialist Andrew Carnegie for the construction of a library. The donation was made on the condition that the city provide a suitable site and $7,500 yearly in maintenance. Tacoma would soon have the 85th Carnegie library built in the United States and the first in the state of Washington. It was designed by the New York architectural firm of Jardine, Kent and Jardine in the Renaissance style. The building featured a grand staircase of White Vermont marble, an ornate copper clad dome, decorative ceiling stenciling, Ionic columns and high ceilings. It was dedicated June 4, 1903. At the rear of the photograph behind the columns is the public reading room, the area is now occupied by the rare book room. To the right is the wooden structure that housed the librarian, who retrieved books from the closed stacks behind them. Potted plants and ornate lighting fixtures complete the opulent setting. ("A History of Pierce County Washington" volume 3, pg. 99)

Public Libraries--Tacoma; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma);

ca. 1975. Sue Connolly at General Services desk, Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library. Mrs. Connolly, in purple sweater, is assisting a pair of patrons at the desk. Seated at the Information desk is Rosa McClatcher, who also manned the switchboard.

Connolly, Susan; McClatcher, Rosa; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

ca. 1975. Karen (Goettling) Kelley in Literature Dept., Tacoma Public Library. A smiling Mrs. Kelley is obtaining information over the telephone in this circa 1975 photograph.

Kelley, Karen; Goettling, Karen Jane; Librarians; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

ca. 1975. Librarians Lin Holverstott and Bob Pankl at General Services desk, Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library. At that time the library was divided into several departments and nearly each department had work desks in clear view of the library's patrons. Those with questions would proceed to the specific department for answers.

Holverstott, Lin; Pankl, Robert; Librarians; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

ca. 1975. Marile Creager in Lit. Dept., Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library. Mrs. Creager, pictured on the telephone, was named assistant director of the library in October of 1975.

Creager, Marile; Librarians; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

ca. 1975. Anne Heller in Literature Dept., Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library. Mrs. Heller (now Seago) later became the supervisor of Quick Information and manager of Technical Services. Retired, she was on the library's Board of Trustees.

Heller, Anne; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

Tacoma Public Library; two book shelves in the cataloging room. These 42 volumes published by Yale University Press were an anonymous gift to the library in the memory of George Fitch Stacy of Tacoma, Yale class of 1885. This donation was received in 1943 and was in addition to the George Stacy memorial gift of 258 volumes received March 4, 1937.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Books;

An unidentified young woman, dressed in a flowered calf-length frock, exits the Main branch of the Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Ave So., in July, 1954. Book in hand, she has pushed open the glass door leading to the small foyer. There is an arrangement of music sheets and scales with a stringed instrument in the side display window. The new main library building had opened in 1952. Photograph ordered by the Crane Co.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Window displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1954. Directly below an enormous circular skylight is a matching circular stage. Both were located in the Tacoma Public Library's Main Branch circa 1954. This auditorium was located in the library's older Carnegie Building portion and was used for public and staff meetings. The skylight has since been beautifully restored and a focus point in what is now the library's Northwest Room which houses special collections including Northwest history, Genealogy, and a Rare Book Room.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Skylights--Tacoma; Stages (Platforms); Auditoriums--Tacoma; Chairs;

ca. 1954. An elevated view of what may be the basement of the Tacoma Public Library was taken possibly in the summer of 1954. There are rows of shelving, most filled with books and manuals. This may be the reference section of the basement. Photograph ordered by the Crane Co.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Bookstacks--Tacoma; Books;

ca. 1954. There was ample space for meetings in the Carnegie Library building, a part of the Tacoma Public Library's Main branch. Rows of chairs face a semi-circle around the circular stage. An enormous skylight is situated directly above the stage. The room pictured here is now part of the library's Northwest Room; the skylight has been restored and is the room's focal point. The Northwest Room houses a large and extensive collection of northwest history in addition to genealogy resources. Photograph ordered by the Crane Co.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Skylights--Tacoma; Stages (Platforms); Auditoriums--Tacoma; Chairs;

A man and a young girl approximately two-years old sit on a bench built into a large stone fireplace surround built of stone. The fireplace was included in the children's library on the second story of the new addition to the Tacoma Public Library built in 1952. The fireplace was removed during the complete remodeling of the building in 1987. Ordered by Ann E. (Mrs. Thomas J.) Porro, Tacoma Public Library.

Public libraries--Tacoma; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Fireplaces--Tacoma;

ca. 1952. Librarian Elfriede Gudelius displays one of the many bound volumes of the Tacoma News Tribune stored in the basement of the Tacoma Public Library's new Main Library. The library kept copies of the News Tribune, Daily Ledger and Tacoma Times on rows of metal shelving. The volumes could be retrieved for use by patrons and/or staff.

Gudelius, Elfriede; Librarians; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Newspapers--Tacoma; Bookstacks--Tacoma;

ca. 1952. Arlys Olson, a clerical worker in the Order Department, kneels next to the Official Seal of the Tacoma Public Library which was located in the floor at the main entrance to the building. The date 1894 refers to the year the City of Tacoma took over financing the library.

Olson, Arlys; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Seals (Insignia)

Father Time Has a New Face. Mrs. Betty Overland, clerk in the Fine Arts department of the Tacoma Public Library, stands on a ladder next to a wall clock placed high above book stacks. This photograph was included in a special section of the October 31, 1952 News Tribune filled with articles and photographs of the new Main Library. The clock shown above was embedded in the wall with stainless steel rectangles and triangles appearing as its "numerals." It, and other clocks, was an example of modern features now prevalent throughout the new structure. (TNT 10-31-1952, C-2)

Overland, Betty; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Clocks & watches; Books;

ca. 1952. Mrs. Patricia Reed, a clerical worker in the Order Department, examines several cumulative book indexes in this circa 1952 photograph. The Order Department was located on the second floor of the new Tacoma Public Library building located at 1102 Tacoma Ave. So. Books and other materials would be ordered for the Main library and its other branches and once received, would be catalogued and delivered to the designated locations. (TNT 10-31-1952, C-6)

Reed, Patricia; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Books;

Somewhere in this stack of books must be the answer! Kenneth Morrison intently examines one of the many reference sources found in the Tacoma Public Library's new Main Library. Awaiting his perusal are copies of Granger's Index to Poetry, Columbia Encyclopedia, Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, Information Please Almanac, Index to Children's Poetry, Dictionary of Phrase and Fable and Twentieth Century Authors. Kenneth was looking for a quotation needed for school work. Students were urged to ask for assistance from library staff if they needed help with tough questions. The Main Library was dedicated on November 2, 1952 and provided residents with a much larger building and expanded collection of books. (TNT 10-31-1952, C-12)

Morrison, Kenneth; Books; Reading--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Agnes Martin, a clerical worker in the General Reference Department, looks over a hanging row of newspapers at the new Tacoma Public Library Main location in late 1952. Each paper was in its plainly marked niche. Four patrons are enjoying reading in the Newspaper area on the first floor, sitting at spacious tables with backstops that were designed to prevent personal belongings from falling to the floor. The area's new bright lighting was highly praised by readers. The smoking lounge is directly in the rear, next to the staircase. This room was set aside for people to relax and read while smoking. (TNT 10-31-1952, C-13)

Martin, Agnes; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Newspapers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Reading--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1952. Mrs. Constance Piccioni and Mrs. Charlotte Rafto, assistants in the Acquisitions Department, Catalog section of the Tacoma Public Library, are busy at work in this 1952 photograph. Each has her own desk, complete with typewriter. Facing them are rows of card catalogues. Charlotte (Mrs. John) Rafto was a graduate of the University of Wyoming and had obtained her library degree from Pratt Institute. She had previous library experience with Cornell University as a document cataloguer and with Harvard law library as an English law cataloguer. (TNT 8-21-1952, A-12-small article on new Tacoma librarians including information on Mrs. Rafto)

Piccioni, Constance; Rafto, Charlotte; Librarians; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Typewriters;

Northbound view of Tacoma Avenue South in the fall of 1952, showing newly completed Main Branch of the Tacoma Public Library and older Carnegie Library with impressive dome. The library's third-floor deck overlooks the Charles Geiger Building (formerly housing the Lein & Selig drugstore). It appears to now have the Sunshine Apartments on the top floors. Leeder's Grocery, Tacoma Meats, City Dye Works, the Carpenters Building and on the So. 8th St. block, Central School, are lined up on the same side of the street as the new library. The Geiger Building and businesses adjacent to it would be demolished later in the decade for the construction of the new County-City Building. The Main Library would be extensively remodeled in the late 1980's.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Charles Geiger Building (Tacoma); Central School (Tacoma); Carpenters Building (Tacoma); City Dye Works (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

A view of the children's area on the second floor in the new addition to Tacoma Public Library's Main Branch. A huge stone fireplace is seen against the far wall. Special reading tables with slanted tops and benches have been added for children. The librarian's desk is seen on the left. Ordered by Hendricksen & Kent, plastering contractor. Zonolite acoustical plastic ceilings, crack-free and fireproof, were installed by the Tacoma firm of Hendricksen & Kent; "sound controlled" for patrons' reading pleasure. (TNT 10-31-1952, C-4- Advertisement)

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Fireplaces--Tacoma;

A close-up view exterior of the new addition to the Tacoma Public Library shows the smooth stone surface with the name of the library and the seal of the City of Tacoma along the top.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Seals;

ca. 1952. Two unidentified library employees are transporting books the old-fashioned way--by hand, as they help in getting the new Tacoma Public Library Main building ready for opening in 1952. Library materials were moved from the old Carnegie building to the new facility next door while the interior was still under construction.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Books;