Thomas Crane Public Library

Coordinates: 42°15′6″N 71°0′4″W / 42.25167°N 71.00111°W / 42.25167; -71.00111
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Thomas Crane Public Library
The original building (1882), front view, architect H. H. Richardson
Thomas Crane Public Library is located in Massachusetts
Thomas Crane Public Library
LocationQuincy, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°15′6″N 71°0′4″W / 42.25167°N 71.00111°W / 42.25167; -71.00111
Built1881
ArchitectHenry Hobson Richardson
Architectural styleRichardsonian Romanesque
NRHP reference No.72000143[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 18, 1972
Designated NHLDecember 23, 1987
Wollaston Branch, Thomas Crane Public Library
The Wollaston Branch
Location41 Beale St., Quincy, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°16′0.44″N 71°1′4.48″W / 42.2667889°N 71.0179111°W / 42.2667889; -71.0179111
Area0.2 acres (0.081 ha)
Built1922
ArchitectWilliam Chapman
Architectural styleClassical Revival
MPSQuincy MRA
NRHP reference No.89001316[1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 20, 1989

The Thomas Crane Public Library (TCPL) 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.[2] The Thomas Crane Library has the second largest municipal collection in Massachusetts after the Boston Public Library.

In fiscal year 2008, the city of Quincy spent 1.41% ($2,690,878) of its budget on the library—some $29 per person.[3]

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 Martin Aiken in Richardson's style; a major expansion (1939) by architects Paul A. and Carroll 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 × 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.

The main library was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987, recognizing it as one of Richardson's finest library buildings.[4]

Branches

The Wollaston Branch is listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places. The library had two other branches as of October 2009: the North Quincy Branch on Hancock Street near North Quincy High School, and the Adams Shore branch on Sea Street in Hough's Neck. There had been four other branches until municipal budget cutbacks in 1981; two of these were the Atlantic Branch on Atlantic Street and the Quincy Point branch off of Washington Street.

Community

The library often hosts concerts, lectures and art exhibitions.[5][6] There are also private rooms available for rent free of charge to the public or to small community organizations.[7] Also, the library hosts Quincy's local Public-access television cable TV channel, QATV.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007. Cite error: The named reference "nris" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ Paula D. Watson. Carnegie Ladies, Lady Carnegies: Women and the Building of Libraries. Libraries & Culture, Vol. 31, No. 1, Reading & Libraries I (Winter, 1996)
  3. ^ July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008; cf. The FY2008 Municipal Pie: What’s Your Share? Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Board of Library Commissioners. Boston: 2009. Available: Municipal Pie Reports
  4. ^ "NHL nomination for Thomas Crane Public Library". National Park Service. Retrieved 2015-02-22.
  5. ^ http://thomascranelibrary.org/news/newsletter/newsletterarchive.shtml
  6. ^ http://thomascranelibrary.org/aboutus/policies/exhibit.shtml
  7. ^ http://thomascranelibrary.org/aboutus/policies/meetingroompolicy.shtml

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas Crane Public Library.
  • Side view, showing 1908 extension to the rear.
    Side view, showing 1908 extension to the rear.
  • Interior view of original building, with fireplace and "Angel at the Tomb".
    Interior view of original building, with fireplace and "Angel at the Tomb".
  • Interior with original details by Richardson.
    Interior with original details by Richardson.
  • Interior view of 1908 addition by Aiken.
    Interior view of 1908 addition by Aiken.
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