Several administrative offices were located on the third floor of the addition to the Tacoma Public Library's main branch. This office has been furnished with a blond wood desk, book shelves and a side chair.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Office furniture;

The third floor of the Tacoma Public Library's main branch provided an open office area with two blond-finish desks provided by Stationer's, Inc., including Hoosier desks, Gunlock chairs and two work tables. Office equipment includes standard typewriters, an adding machine and a safe. Against the divider on the right is the library's main switchboard.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Office furniture; Telephone switchboards--Tacoma; Safes; Stationers, Inc. (Tacoma);

An independent work station is shown in what is believed to be the Order Department in the new addition to Tacoma Public Library's Main Branch. Reference books are shelved behind the wooden desk that has a telephone, calendar, pen in its holder, a folding clock and possibly a radio. An Underwood typewriter sits to the side. The new addition would open officially on November 2, 1952, when more than 4,000 people attended dedication ceremonies.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Desks; Typewriters--1950-1960; Telephones;

The office of director Howard M. Rowe at the Tacoma Public Library's main branch has room for a desk with side table for a telephone and dictating machine and a long conference table. A wall of doors is seen beyond the talble and another door is seen on the wall at the left. Mr. Rowe has carefully placed his briefcase under the desk. The furniture even includes a wooden trash basket. (TNT, 11/1/1952, p.C-4)

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Office furniture; Offices--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The main branch of the Tacoma Public Library had a Fine Arts department, headed by Miss Carol Gander, on the library's second floor located adjacent to the Handforth Gallery. The books, magazines, pictures and record collection were to be developed to include painting, sculpture, interior decorating and flower arrangement. A listening room was also housed in this department with three turntables with earphones for individual listening for people to listen to phonograph records before borrowing them. Lucille Herian was the first assistant in the fine arts department and Mrs. F.L. Newnham worked as assistant between both the fine arts department and the business and technology departments. (TNT, 11/1/1952, p.C-6) BU-11797

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

The main entrance of the Tacoma Public Library's new addition separated the receiving counter on the left from the charging counter on the right. BU-11803

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

The children's area of the new addition to the Tacoma Public Library's main branch featured a large fireplace in the rear, several tables and chairs for reading and a separate card catalog. A circulation desk is seen on the right. Miss Dorothy Hairgrove headed the children's department at this time.

Public libraries--Tacoma; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Tables; Chairs; Card catalogs--Tacoma; Fireplaces--Tacoma;

The main floor of the new addition to the Tacoma Public Library's main branch provided several tables and chairs for reading near the periodicals area. The Tacoma Avenue entrance is seen along the left beyond the periodicals.

Public libraries--Tacoma; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Tables; Chairs;

Row upon row of books were stored in the basement stacks of the new addition to the Tacoma Public Library's main branch. It was not imaginable at the time these shelves were installed that they would not provide enough space for the books with limited circulation but at the time the addition to the main library was remodeled in 1987 these shelves were modified to become rolling shelves to accommodate the growing collection of materials at the main library.

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

View of the new Tacoma Public Library's main branch looking eastward towards Tacoma Avenue South. The library appears deserted on a January, 1953, evening although the building is still aglow with extensive lighting which reflects off the well-polished linoleum. The first floor is indicative of the spaciousness of the new facility; there is plenty of room for magazines, books, card catalogues and desks. Photograph ordered by General Electric.

Public libraries--Tacoma; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); General Electric Co. (Tacoma);

The Main branch of the Tacoma Public Library had a very well equipped Fine Arts department in the 1950's. Patrons pictured in this January, 1953, photograph enjoy the department's resources on the library's second floor. Large plate glass windows in addition to numerous light fixtures help provide more-than-adequate lighting. The Main library on Tacoma Avenue South was dedicated in November, 1952. Photograph ordered by General Electric.

Public libraries--Tacoma; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); General Electric Co. (Tacoma);

The catalog department of the new Tacoma Public Library's Main branch, headed by Phyllis Brown, was located on the second floor. It was in a large, open room with plenty of shelving and room to move carts of books. As in other parts of the building, the room was air conditioned and well lighted. The Main library was dedicated in November, 1952. Photograph ordered by General Electric.

Public libraries--Tacoma; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); General Electric Co. (Tacoma);

Both children and adults enjoyed visiting the new children's room at the Tacoma Public Library's Main branch in January, 1953. There were always plenty of books and magazines to read. The children's room was located on the second floor and was furnished with book shelves, rectangular and round tables, a card catalog, and chairs. The large fireplace was apparently for decorative purposes only; it was never used. Photograph ordered by General Electric.

Public libraries--Tacoma; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); General Electric Co. (Tacoma);

A Tacoma Public Library employee can barely be seen at the end of long stacks of books in the Main library's basement. Bright fluorescent lighting helps the worker find the necessary items. It appears that he may be shelving in the documents/reference section. Photograph ordered by General Electric.

Public libraries--Tacoma; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Books; Bookstacks--Tacoma; General Electric Co. (Tacoma);

A well-dressed man in topcoat waits for his library book to be checked out to him in a January, 1953, photograph. The Tacoma Public Library employee is using a new charging machine in order to complete the transaction. There are books on the shelves beside her waiting for patrons to pick them up. Across from the charging area is the receiving department where returned books are discharged. The Main branch of the Tacoma Public Library had recently opened in their new location on Tacoma Avenue South. It was housed in a modern, three story building with extensive use of plate glass windows. Photograph ordered by General Electric.

Public libraries--Tacoma; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Books; General Electric Co. (Tacoma);

The administrative offices of the Tacoma Public Library were located on the third floor of the newly built Main library at South 11th and Tacoma Avenue South. A photograph taken on January 16, 1953, shows the board room where the Board of Library Trustees met regularly. Writing materials were placed at each seat on the rectangular table. The chairs appear to have been made of leather. As in other sections of the library, air conditioning units and bright lighting were standard equipment. Thomas J. Porro was the president of the library board during this period, from 1945-1952. He was succeeded in 1953 by J.E. Burkey. Photograph ordered by General Electric.

Public libraries--Tacoma; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Writing materials; Pens; Chairs; General Electric Co. (Tacoma);

Howard M. Rowe was the Tacoma Public Library Director at the time that the new Main library on South 11th and Tacoma Avenue South was built in the early 1950's. He is pictured working at his desk in this January, 1953, photograph. Mr. Rowe was appointed to replace Aubrey F. Andrews who had died in November of 1950 and assumed his new position in mid-January of 1951. He had been the chief librarian for the city-county library in Santa Barbara, California prior to his coming to Tacoma. His administrative offices were located on the third, and top, floor of the Main library. Besides having the boardroom nearby, there was a long, rectangular table in Mr. Rowe's office which was used for meetings with library personnel. Photograph ordered by General Electric. (TNT 1-12-51, p. 4-article on Mr. Rowe's arrival in Tacoma)

Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Rowe, Howard M.; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; General Electric Co. (Tacoma);

Several patrons enjoy the spacious new quarters of the Tacoma Public Library's main branch at 11th and Tacoma Avenue South. Abundant lighting made reading and looking for books an easier task. View of book shelves make it apparent that there is plenty of room for additional reading material. Flooring is linoleum, sturdy enough to hold up to many years of foot travel. Photograph ordered by General Electric.

Public libraries--Tacoma; Bookstacks--Tacoma; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); General Electric Co. (Tacoma);

Library employees are shown working at tasks on a winter evening in January, 1953. Rows of modern light fixtures and air conditioning units on ceilings help to provide a comfortable working environment. The new main library had recently opened at 11th and Tacoma Avenue South. Designed by architect Silas E. Nelsen and consulting architect Alfred M. Githens, the library was built by Dolph Jones, contractor, with the assistance of consulting engineers, Worthen & Wing. Groundbreaking occurred in March, 1951, and the cornerstone was laid in February, 1952. The Tacoma Public Library Main Branch was dedicated in November, 1952. Photograph ordered by General Electric.

Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; General Electric Co. (Tacoma); Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

Abundant lighting focuses attention to the many drawings on display in the Tacoma Public Library's Handforth Gallery in January, 1953. The gallery is named after Thomas Schofield Handforth, a noted local artist who specialized in painting, lithographs, sketchings and illustrations. He left much of his artwork to the Tacoma Public Library. Photograph ordered by General Electric.

Public libraries--Tacoma; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Galleries & museums--Tacoma; Thomas S. Handforth Gallery (Tacoma); General Electric Co. (Tacoma);

Patrons visiting the Tacoma Public Library's new Main branch were fortunate to be able to view collections of artwork in the Thomas S. Handforth Gallery. Mr. Handforth, a Guggenheim Fellow, left many pieces of his art to the library. The art gallery was named in his honor. View of Handforth Gallery with mounted artwork. Photograph ordered by General Electric.

Galleries & museums--Tacoma; Thomas S. Handforth Gallery (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; General Electric Co. (Tacoma);

When the new Main Branch of the Tacoma Public Library at 1102 Tacoma Avenue South was built in 1952 it offered more then just new shelves and fresh paint in its expanded building. One special new service for the Library's patrons was a separate, air conditioned smoking room located on the first floor by the check-out desk. There, seated on cushioned chairs, readers could light up cigarettes while enjoying the latest best sellers or the newest issue of the Tacoma News Tribune. In later years shelving was added to the room to hold part of the Library's reference collection including Chemical Abstracts. The smoking room was closed about 1979. (Photograph ordered by General Electric.)

Public libraries--Tacoma; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Smoking rooms--Tacoma; General Electric Co. (Tacoma);

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. 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. 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;

ca. 1921. Ole B. Lien, pioneer pharmacist on Tacoma Avenue since 1894, and partner Harry B. Selvig opened this drug store in 1901 in the 1888 Greer Building. The Queen Anne-style structure was designed by architects Farrell & Darmer and built by contractor H. M. Matheson. It was torn down in 1951 to make way for a modern addition to the Tacoma Public Library. B8252.

Drugstores; Pharmacists; Lien & Selvig (Tacoma);

On January 25, 1888, the Sheet Metal Workers Union was organized in Toledo, Ohio as the Tin, Sheet-Iron and Cornice Workers Association. Current members of the union posed in front of the Tacoma Public Library (now known as the Carnegie Building) in May of 1925. They were participants in the Sheet Metal Workers' Convention being hosted by Tacoma. The men were dressed in suits, ties and a variety of hats. The sign by the entry door of the library stated that this building is the "Tacoma Free Public Library" open "Weekdays 9 a.m-9 p.m., Sundays 2-9 p.m." G38.1-035

Meetings--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Sheet Metal Workers (Tacoma); Labor unions--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Warmed by a roaring fire in the fireplace, several children enjoy a good book in the children's reading room at the original Carnegie building of the Tacoma Public Library. During Childrens' Book Week, November 15-20th 1920, the room would be the center of the final oral contest of the campaign to introduce youngsters to the classics. 20,000 children in Pierce County would be participating in the written and oral competition based on "My Favorite Library Book." The prizes were beautifully bound copies of children's classics. The goal was to introduce great literature into the home, replacing the mass produced "dime novels." The Carnegie building was built in 1903 with funds donated by industrialist Andrew Carnegie. It was designed by the New York architectural firm of Jardine, Kent and Jardine. BU-11,819, G39.1-076, TPL-3846 (TDL 10/31/1920, pg. E-9)

Public libraries--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Children--Tacoma--1920-1930; Reading--Tacoma--1920-1930; Books; Fireplaces--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Posed in front of the Carnegie Building (then the Tacoma Free Public Library) on October 18, 1922, are members of the Guard Team from Everett of the Women's Benefit Association of the Maccabees. This was the ladies' auxiliary of the fraternal insurance group. The Everett team was part of the 17 lodges who had sent some 300 delegates to the Women's Benefit Association of the Maccabees of Western Washington's one-day convention. The gathering was held at Fraternity Hall, 1111-17 Tacoma Avenue South, which was near the library. G24.1-010 (TNT 10-18-22, p. 1-article on convention)

Women's Benefit Association of the Maccabees; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Flags--United States; Meetings--Tacoma--1920-1930;