ca. 1971. 1971 Richards color stock footage. View of the Tacoma Public Library, located at the corner of So. 11th & Tacoma Ave. So. The Carnegie Building, built in 1903 with funds donated by industrialist Andrew Carnegie, is center-left. It now holds the Special Collections including the Rare Book Room. The Main Library, with its Walker Wilkeson sandstone exterior, was built in 1952. It would be closed for remodeling in 1987 for nearly three years. In 2006 the Main Library is again undergoing remodeling with closure of the 11th St. entrance and several departments reorganized.

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

The American Institute of Steel Construction sponsored an exhibition in the Tacoma Public Library's Handforth Gallery on structural steel in architecture. Photographs and sculptures were on display in mid-May, 1958. View of portion of Handforth Gallery, bright fluorescent lighting was aided by the use of small spotlights further illuminating the photographs on the wall. Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation.

Exhibitions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Steel industry--Tacoma; Thomas S. Handforth Gallery (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma);

An exhibition of photographs and artwork was sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction and held in the Tacoma Public Library's Handforth Gallery in mid-May, 1958. All displays dealt with structural steel in today's architecture, including an metal art piece created by Glen Alps, professor of art at the University of Washington, entitled "Contours." Photograph ordered by Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Corporation.

Exhibitions--Tacoma--1950-1960; Steel industry--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Thomas S. Handforth Gallery (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma);

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);

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;

As his last official act on January 26, 1924, Tacoma City Librarian John Boynton Kaiser passed the keys of the Carnegie Library to his successor Miss Jacqueline Noel. Mr. Kaiser, who had served in the post for the past 10 years, had accepted the position of librarian at the University of Iowa. Miss Noel would hold the position until her retirement in 1947. At that time the City Librarian served as the chief administrator and director of the library. (TNT 1/26/1924, pg. 1) G39.1-079

Kaiser, John Boynton; Noel, Jacqueline; Public libraries--Tacoma--1920-1930; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Librarians; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

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;

ca. 1952. Work is almost complete on the 1952 Main branch of the Tacoma Public Library. To the left is the Carnegie Library, a Renaissance structure built in 1903 from a design by Jardine, Kent and Jardine and with funds donated by industrialist Andrew Carnegie. To the right is the Main Library, built in 1952 from a design by Silas E. Nelsen. Construction is ongoing on the three floor structure. To the rear of the library soar the memorable spires of the Romanesque Pierce County Courthouse at 1012 So. "G" St. The building was built in 1892 along grandiose lines. It was demolished in 1959 to provide space for a parking lot for the new County City building. To the left of the Courthouse, you can glimpse the Tacoma Vocational School (now Bates), built in 1941 at 1101 Yakima Ave., and the Washington National Guard Armory, built in 1908 at 715 So. 11th St. The large building in the back and to the right of the library is the Central Lutheran Church at 1001 So. "G" St. The church, built in 1889 as the First Presbyterian Church, was demolished to make room for the County City building.

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1950-1960; Building construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pierce County Courthouse (Tacoma); Central Lutheran Church (Tacoma);

Mrs. Joyce Ferguson, an employee at the Tacoma Public Library, was photographed in August of 1947 sitting behind the wheel of the library's new Plymouth wood panel station wagon. The new vehicle was purchased to be used to transport books and other library materials from one branch library to another. The library director, Aubrey F. Andrews, stated that any book in the library could be requested at any branch or station. If the book was not available at the local library, it would be secured and routed as soon as possible. The station wagon would also be used, as time permitted, to supply small collections of books to groups holding meetings or exhibits. (TNT 8-16-47, p. 2) TPL-217, TPL-9820

Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Ferguson, Joyce; Plymouth automobile;

ca. 1910. Staff of the Tacoma Public Library. Sepia picture taken in the library's Children's Room about 1910. A staff of almost all women sits at the round tables of the Children's Room. To the right appears to be a circulation desk. Franklin F. Hopper, the sole man in the photograph, was the librarian at that time. Other staff members were tentatively identified as Elena Claucey, Susan Crampton, Martha Snell, Hazel Esterbrook, Allene Nash, Izola Smith, Nell Unger, Jeanne Johnson, Emily Caskey, Leola Durkee, Hazel Erchinger, Jess Carson, Kate Firmin.

Public libraries--Tacoma--1910-1920; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Librarians; Hopper, Franklin F.;

In November of 1913 a large group of children gathered in the Order Department of the original Tacoma Public Library at 1102 Tacoma Avenue South to hear Miss Emily Caskey tell the tale of "The Little Jackal and the Alligator." Each Wednesday during the winter, stories were told to public school children up to 4th grade to cultivate in them an interest in books. The story hour was started by Miss Jessie Carson, head of the Children's Department in 1910. For each session, Miss Caskey selects two stories to tell, one a literary classic and the other more humorous. Although the library had a children's area, this story time was held in the much less ornate Order Department. Exposed pipes run along the ceiling and walls and light fixtures are utilitarian. (TDL 11/9/1913, pg. 41) TPL-4068

Public libraries--Tacoma--1910-1920; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Caskey, Emily; Book talks; Children--Tacoma--1910-1920;

ca. 1904. The Tacoma Public Library, built with funds from industrialist Andrew Carnegie, was dedicated in 1903. The stacks area, where most of the Library's books were shelved (shown at the rear of the picture,) was "closed," meaning that the librarian retrieved books for the patron. The librarians worked behind the wooden, windowed structure at the rear center of the picture much like tellers in a bank. Pictured in the foreground is the top of the white Vermont marble staircase. Above can be seen the decorative stained glass dome. Graceful Ionic columns support the high ceilings. The original glass dome was damaged in the 1949 earthquake. In 1952, a new main library was built adjoining the Carnegie building and the older building was used for storage and meeting rooms. A 5.1 million dollar renovation in 1990 remodeled the newer building and restored the Carnegie Library. This room is now home to the Library's NW Room/ Special Collection Department.

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

ca. 1975. Librarian Bob Pankl at General Services Dept. desk, Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library.

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

ca. 1975. Carolyn Wesley in General Services Dept. Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library. Ms. Wesley is perusing an article on new chemical plants that has been clipped out of the local newspaper. She and fellow staff member Judy Wilkins (not pictured) had spent many hours clipping and filing items of interest to Tacoma readers.

Wesley, Carolyn; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees; Clippings;

ca. 1975. Judy Wilkins in General Services Dept., Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library. Staff member Judy Wilkins points out a location on a relief map in this circa 1975 color photograph. Mrs. Wilkins later joined the Quick Information telephone reference department. A documents specialist, she was still with the library 35 years later.

Wilkins, Judy; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

ca. 1975. Librarian Randy Rafferty in Business, Science & Technology Dept., Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library.

Rafferty, Randy; Librarians; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma); Public libraries--Tacoma--1970-1980; Tacoma Public Library (Tacoma)--Employees;

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;