John Boynton Kaiser, City Librarian, and Susie E. Taylor, a stenographer, sit at a work table in the City Librarian's office in the Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Avenue South. As City Librarian, Mr. Kaiser was head of the Tacoma library staff from 1914 to 1924; the Library did not have a director at that time. During that time, for one year he was literary editor of the Tacoma Daily Ledger, signing his work "Diogenes." When the United States entered the first World War, he applied for war service, and served as a librarian at several army bases. He also amassed a large collection of posters, books and pamphlets published during the war. This space is still used for offices by the Library's Northwest Room staff. TPL-2876

Public libraries--Tacoma--1910-1920; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Librarians; Kaiser, John Boynton; Taylor, Susie;

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;

Mayor John Anderson addresses the crowd during the March 20, 1951, ground breaking for the new main branch of the Tacoma Public Library to be located at 1102 Tacoma Avenue South. The mayor's speech would be broadcast over KTNT radio. Behind the mayor was a giant billboard message donated by Foster & Kleiser urging the use of the public library for information, education and recreation. Among those in attendance was Thomas J. Porro, Library Board president (seated third from left). ALBUM 14.

Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anderson, John H.; Public speaking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Ground breaking ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Porro, Thomas J.; Billboards--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Thomas J. Porro, president of the Tacoma Public Library Board of Trustees, addresses the crowd on the occasion of groundbreaking for the new central building at the Main Library. The March 20, 1951, event began at 4 p.m. and included speeches by Mr. Porro, Mayor John Anderson, and Silas E. Nelsen, library architect. In attendance were members of the city council, library board of trustees, library employees and building contractors. Behind the speaker's podium was an oversized billboard expressing how the library's resources could be used by patrons of all ages and interests. The public service message is a timeless one which still resonates in today's culture. The new portion of the Main Library, built with a concrete frame with Walker-cut stone facing, would be officially dedicated on November 2, 1952. (TNT 3-18-1951, A-6-article on new library)

Ground breaking ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Porro, Thomas J.; Billboards--Tacoma--1950-1960; Public speaking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Mayor John Anderson lifts the first shovel of dirt during the ground breaking for the new main branch of the Tacoma Public Library. Assisting Mayor Anderson is Library Board president Thomas J. Porro with Library director Howard M. Rowe observing. ALBUM 14. (TNT 3-21-1951, p. 1-alt. photo)

Mayors--Tacoma--1950-1960; Anderson, John H.; Porro, Thomas J.; Rowe, Howard M.; Ground breaking ceremonies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Basement storage at the new Tacoma Public Library Main branch with unstocked shelves. These shelves would provide the library with extra shelving space freeing up more space on the upper floors for movement. These shelves would also allow the library to house a larger collection.

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

Looking down storage bins, Tacoma Public Library Main branch. View down one long row of shelves.

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

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;

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 in from the deck on the third floor of the addition to the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch shows the administrative area with desks, file cabinets, typewriters, table, chair and counter. The main telephone switchboard is the taller, dark object near the center of the photograph. The library was furnished with all new blonde casework.

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

The addition to the Tacoma Public Library Main branch is shown at night aglow from interior lights which reflect off the wet pavement of Tacoma Avenue. The building was designed by the Silas E. Nelsen firm of architects.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

The main floor of the addition to the Tacoma Public Library's main branch showing the receiving counter on the left and the charging counter on the right of the Tacoma Avenue entry. A public bulletin board is seen near the receiving counter.

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

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 Tacoma Avenue entrance of the addition to the Tacoma Public Library Main branch is an invisible wall of glass with two sets of double glass doors at the center. Charging and receiving counters are seen on either side with magazine racks off the central entry that extends to the back wall. BU-11796

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Doors & doorways;

A second fireplace was located in the Story-Hour room in the north-east corner of the second floor of the addition to the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch. It was back-to-back with a larger fireplace that faced into the children's area on the second story. Goodyear vinyl tile provided an attractive appearance and required no waxing.

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

The addition to the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch was a three-story, modern building with expansive use of plate glass windows designed by the Silas E. Nelsen firm of architects. Nelsen maintained an on-site office behind the library. The ground-breaking ceremony was held on March 20, 1951, and razing of the Lien & Selvig Drug Store and the old apartment building which stood on the corner had already been started as of that date. (TNT, 3/9/1952, p.A-10) BU-11814

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

This is the new addition to the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch as it appeared just before its dedication on November 2, 1952. The building was designed by the Silas E. Nelsen firm of architects. Silas Nelsen was a major architect in Tacoma for over 50 years. Besides the Main Branch libary, he was the architect for 150 homes, 15 churches, four branch libraries, the City Light building, and most of the buildings on the campus of the University of Puget Sound. The Main Branch Library was remodeled between 1987 and April of 1990.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

Several administrative offices were located on the third floor of the addition to the Tacoma Public Library's main branch. Windows in the walls of the offices provided natural light during the day. A small table and four chairs are seen in this workroom.

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

Patrons peruse periodical racks and shelves of books on the spacious reading room on the main floor of the New Tacoma Public Library Main Branch. Recessed "egg crate" style florescent lights reflect off the modern vinyl floor tile. The vinyl plastic floor was durable, lustrous and easy to maintain throughout the buildilng. (TNT 10-31-1952, C-13-alt. photo)

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Shelving;

The addition to the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch provided one floor below street level for book stacks, two floors for service and work areas, and administration offices on the third floor. The addition provided much-needed space since Tacoma had outgrown the Carnegie Library built in 1903. The facing of Walker-cut stone consisted of random ashlar on the horizontal lines and large slabs covering the central tower that housed the ventilating system mechanism. TPL-6565

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

This is the children's area on the second floor of the addition to the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch as it appeared just before its dedication on November 2, 1952. A large fireplace is seen near the center of the photograph. Doors to the right of the fireplace led to the Handforth Gallery. Doors to the right led to the Story Hour room and a second fireplace. The open area is filled with tables and chairs with shelving for books around the walls.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

A view of the front elevation of the addition to the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch from the southeast with a small section of the Carnegie Library building visable on the far left The addition is a three-story building on the northwest corner of South 11th Street and Tacoma Avenue designed by the Silas E. Nelsen firm of architects.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

The order department was located on the second floor of the addition to the Tacoma Public Library's main branch. A woman believed to be Phyllis Brown is looking at the "Shelf List" which was kept in a non-public card catalog in the order department. Other workers are seen at desks working to maintain the smooth flow of orders being placed, books arriving at this central location, being cataloged and prepared to be distributed to all library locations. BU-11804

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Office furniture; Card catalogs--Tacoma;

Architect Silas E. Nelsen is flanked by the contractors involved in building the new Tacoma Public Library Main Branch. Silas E. Nelsen was so eager to have the building just right that he even drove to the stone quarries at Wilkeson to oversee the choice of stone for the exterior and fireplaces. L-R, William O. Proby of Seattle, lighting; B.H. Raymond of Tacoma, electrical contractor; Silas E. Nelsen, architect; Robert C. Wing and F.R. Worthen, Lakewood consulting engineers. (TNT, 11/1/1952, p.C-4)

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Nelsen, Silas E.; Proby, William O.; Raymond, Burt H.; Wing, Robert C.; Worthen, F.R.;

This close-up of the main entrance to the addition to the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch shows the display windows on either side of the glass doors and the pierced concrete trellis on the third floor. An exhibit of old and new furniture fills the window on the right and a sign in the left display window reads: "Books are Basic."

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Window displays--Tacoma;

An angular view from the corner of South 11th Street and Tacoma Avenue of the addition to the Tacoma Public Library Main branch. The International design was executed with a cantilevered marquee and roof, and a stone and glass fascade. Design by the Silas E. Nelsen firm of architects. BU-11795

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma; Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

Five men in the Children's Department at the new Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Ave. So., October of 1952. They are the contractors involved in building the new library. Seated from left to right are architect Silas E. Nelsen and electrical contractor B.H. Raymond. Standing from left to right are Lakewood consulting engineers F.R. Worthen and Robert C. Wing with lighting contractor William O. Proby at far right. The room was well lit with Panelux lighting fixtures designed for soft reading illumination and filled with furniture built for small children. Note the fireplace in the background. (TNT 10-31-1952, C-6-Ad.)

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Nelsen, Silas E.; Proby, William O.; Raymond, Burt H.; Wing, Robert C.; Worthen, F.R.;

The women's rest room in the 1952 addition to the Tacoma Public Library. The modern plumbing fixtures were supplied by the Crane Co. Installation was performed by Tacoma's F.C. Grosser & Co. who was the mechanical contractor on the job. They also installed the heating, ventilation as well as the plumbing for the new addition to the library. Photograph ordered by the Crane Company. (TNT 10-31-1952, C-5-Ad)

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Rest rooms;

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 view of the Order Department in the new addition to Tacoma Public Library's Main Branch where clerks added the names of incoming copies of books to the "Shelf List". Book shelves line the walls, two large desks with typewriters are on the left, with one in the center, and a smaller desk on the right. Overhead egg-crate light fixtures are seen against the ceiling. Ordered by Hendricksen & Kent.

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