Thomas Crane Public Library

Crane, Thomas, Public Library
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
	U.S. National Historic Landmark
	The original building (1882), front view, architect H. H. Richardson
	;
Location:	Quincy, Massachusetts
Coordinates:	42°15′6″N 71°0′5″W / 42.25167°N 71.00139°W
Built/Founded:	1881
Architect:	Richardson,Henry Hobson
Architectural style(s):	Richardson Romanesque
Governing body:	Local
Added to NRHP:	October 18, 1972
NRHP Reference#:	72000143

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The Thomas Crane Public Library is a city library in Quincy, Massachusetts. It is noted for its architecture. It was funded by the Crane family as a memorial to Thomas Crane, a wealthy stone contractor who got his start in the Quincy quarries. The Thomas Crane Library has the second largest municipal collection in Massachusetts after the Boston Public Library. Also, the library hosts many community programs, performances, and lectures as well as housing Quincy's local cable access channel, QATV.

[edit] Architecture

The Thomas Crane Public Library was built in four stages: the original building (1882) by architect H. H. Richardson; an additional ell with stack space and stained glass (1908) by William M. Aiken in Richardson's style; a major expansion (1939) by architects Paul and Carol Coletti, with stone carvings by sculptor Joseph A. Coletti of Quincy; and a recent addition (2001) by Boston architects Childs, Bertman, and Tseckares, which doubled the size of the library. H. H. Richardson considered this library among his most successful civic buildings, and Harper's Weekly called it "the best village library in the United States". The library was ranked 43rd in a national poll conducted in 2007 by the American Institute of Architects of the favorite buildings in the nation.

In addition to its architecture, the original building contains a 30 x 10 inch stained glass window by noted American artist John LaFarge in memory of Thomas Crane, entitled the Old Philosopher. To the left of the elaborate carved fireplace is a second LaFarge window, "Angel at the Tomb", given in memory of Crane's son Benjamin Franklin Crane. The library's grounds were designed by landscaper Frederick Law Olmsted.