Lincoln Heights Branch
Encyclopedia
Lincoln Heights Branch is the second oldest branch library in the Los Angeles Public Library
system. Located in the Lincoln Heights
section of Los Angeles, California
, it was built in the Classical Revival and Italian Renaissance Revival styles in 1916 with a grant from Andrew Carnegie
. One of three surviving Carnegie libraries in Los Angeles, it has been designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument and listed in the National Register of Historic Places
.
In 1911, the Los Angeles Public Library received a $210,000 donation from Andrew Carnegie to build six new branch libraries, including the Lincoln Heights Branch. Plans for the new branch in Lincoln Heights were approved in 1915, with a design by Lester H. Hibbard and H.B. Cody. Hibbard and Cody based the design on the Italian Renaissance Villa, Papa Guilia near Rome.
The new library opened in August 1916 and was initially known as the Northeast Branch Library. The building is in the form of a quarter circle, with an extension of fourteen feet at each end. It is a combination of Italian Renaissance and Colonial styles. The end extensions are Colonial in design, and the main structure is of Italian Renaissance design. One of the unusual features of the new branch was an outdoor reading garden, an arbor in which benches were placed "for those who wish to read in the open." The new facility also included an auditorium with a stage and seating for 340 persons, and old English oak woodwork and shelves.
By 1919, the area had been renamed Lincoln Heights, and the library was designated at the Lincoln Heights Branch. A bas relief of Abraham Lincoln executed by Mrs. William Wendt was presented to the library in 1922 as a gift of the Auxiliary, B. of L.E.
In 1975, a community vote in the predominantly Latino area renamed the facility the "Biblioteca del Pueblo de Lincoln Heights."
, and Vermont Square
."
The Lincoln Heights Branch was designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument (#261) by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission in 1983. In 1987, the Lincoln Heights Branch and several other branch libraries in Los Angeles were added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of a thematic group submission. The application noted that the branch libraries had been constructed in a variety of period revival styles to house the initial branch library system of the City of Los Angeles. With respect to the Lincoln Heights Branch, the application described the building as being designed in the Classical Revival style with strong Beaux Arts influence. "The building's most unusual feature is its floor plan which is in the shape of a segment of a circle. ... The arched entry is centered in the middle and three series of concrete walkways with landings leading up to it. This tall one-story design features high clerestory windows which are inset between pilasters."
Los Angeles Public Library
The Los Angeles Public Library system serves the residents of Los Angeles, California, United States. With over 6 million volumes, LAPL is one of the largest publicly funded library systems in the world. The system is overseen by a Board of Library Commissioners with five members appointed by the...
system. Located in the Lincoln Heights
Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, California
-Geography and transportation:Lincoln Heights is bounded by the Los Angeles River on the west, the San Bernardino Freeway on the south, and Indiana Street on the east; the district's Eastern border is unclear due to the area's uneven terrain...
section of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, it was built in the Classical Revival and Italian Renaissance Revival styles in 1916 with a grant from Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
. One of three surviving Carnegie libraries in Los Angeles, it has been designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument and listed in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Early history and architecture
The history of the Lincoln Heights Branch began in 1900 with the establishment of a delivery station at Daly Street and Pasadena Avenue. In 1907, the Daly Street station merged with the East Main Branch to form the East Los Angeles Branch. That branch operated out of rented space at 2603 North Broadway starting in 1913.In 1911, the Los Angeles Public Library received a $210,000 donation from Andrew Carnegie to build six new branch libraries, including the Lincoln Heights Branch. Plans for the new branch in Lincoln Heights were approved in 1915, with a design by Lester H. Hibbard and H.B. Cody. Hibbard and Cody based the design on the Italian Renaissance Villa, Papa Guilia near Rome.
By 1919, the area had been renamed Lincoln Heights, and the library was designated at the Lincoln Heights Branch. A bas relief of Abraham Lincoln executed by Mrs. William Wendt was presented to the library in 1922 as a gift of the Auxiliary, B. of L.E.
In 1975, a community vote in the predominantly Latino area renamed the facility the "Biblioteca del Pueblo de Lincoln Heights."
Historic designations
Carnegie paid for a total of six libraries in Los Angeles, and only three of the Carnegie libraries remain: Lincoln Heights, CahuengaCahuenga Branch
Cahuenga Branch is the third oldest branch library in the Los Angeles Public Library system. Located at 4591 Santa Monica Boulevard in the East Hollywood section of Los Angeles, it was built in 1916 with a grant from Andrew Carnegie...
, and Vermont Square
Vermont Square Branch
Vermont Square Branch is the oldest branch library in the Los Angeles Public Library system. Located about a mile southwest of the University of Southern California campus, in the Vermont Square district, it was built in 1913 with a grant from Andrew Carnegie...
."
The Lincoln Heights Branch was designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument (#261) by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission in 1983. In 1987, the Lincoln Heights Branch and several other branch libraries in Los Angeles were added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of a thematic group submission. The application noted that the branch libraries had been constructed in a variety of period revival styles to house the initial branch library system of the City of Los Angeles. With respect to the Lincoln Heights Branch, the application described the building as being designed in the Classical Revival style with strong Beaux Arts influence. "The building's most unusual feature is its floor plan which is in the shape of a segment of a circle. ... The arched entry is centered in the middle and three series of concrete walkways with landings leading up to it. This tall one-story design features high clerestory windows which are inset between pilasters."
Earthquake damage and renovation
The library suffered structural damage in the 1987 Whittier earthquake, and in March 1990, the branch was closed when it was determined to be out of compliance with earthquake safety requirements. A $3 million renovation project was completed with re-opening of the branch in June 1996. The building underwent seismic reinforcment work and was also renovated and expanded from 10912 square feet (1,013.8 m²) to 12912 square feet (1,199.6 m²). Carpeting and air conditioning were added, and a skylight covered for more than 50 years was uncovered and renovated, lighting the reference area. Computer workstations were also installed, and ceramic works of art by local artist Ricardo Rodriguez Duffy were placed on and above the columns.See also
- Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments on the East and Northeast Sides
- List of Registered Historic Places in Los Angeles
- Los Angeles Public LibraryLos Angeles Public LibraryThe Los Angeles Public Library system serves the residents of Los Angeles, California, United States. With over 6 million volumes, LAPL is one of the largest publicly funded library systems in the world. The system is overseen by a Board of Library Commissioners with five members appointed by the...