search archive

browse archive Up

Oakland Carnegie Libraries: 23rd Avenue Branch

Object Type: Folder
In Folder: Oakland History Center

▲

Expand to show object metadata

Oakland Carnegie Libraries: 23rd Avenue Branch

The 23rd Avenue Branch Library's Carnegie building opened in 1918. The Spanish Colonial Revival style building was designed by architects Charles W. Dickey and John J. Donovan, and constructed by builders Nielsen & Bertelsen. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building served as a branch library until 1976. Colloquially known as the Miller Avenue Branch, it was officially renamed the Ina D. Coolbrith Branch in 1968 and repurposed as the Latin American Library in 1972. The building was used as a school and for other non-library purposes before it was completely vacated in the early 1990s. It was destroyed by a fire and razed in 2018. In the early 20th Century Andrew Carnegie donated funds for the construction of 1,681 library buildings throughout the United States. The 23rd Avenue Branch was one of five "Carnegie Libraries" constructed as part of the Oakland Public Library system. In 1900, Carnegie gave $50,000 to fund construction of a new Main Library, which opened at 659 14th Street in 1902. In 1916, Carnegie gave an additional $140,000 to fund new buildings for four branch libraries in Oakland: Melrose, 23rd Avenue, Golden Gate, and Alden (renamed Temescal in the 1940s). The Melrose Branch opened at 4805 Foothill Boulevard in 1916. The three other branches opened in 1918: Golden Gate at 5606 San Pablo Avenue, Alden/Temescal at 5205 Telegraph Avenue, and 23rd Avenue at 1449 Miller Avenue. The Golden Gate, Melrose, and Temescal Branch Libraries have been continually in use as branch libraries since they opened.

Dublin Core Metadata

title:

creator:

subject:

description:

publisher:

contributor:

date:

type:

format:

identifier:

source:

language:

relation:

coverage:

rights:

Show more ▼

View Gallery

Title

Description

Date ▲ ▼

Children sitting in the audience of the auditorium at the 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

7/9/24, 8:55 PM

Empty auditorium decorated with plants and an American flag, in the lower level of the 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

7/9/24, 8:45 PM

Class from Manzanita School reading with teacher Miss Huff, at 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library. Large decorations of Alice in Wonderland, a “rainbow library” building, and Dr. Doolittle are behind the children.

7/9/24, 8:55 PM

Celebration of New Book Week on the front steps of 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library. “Around-the-World-Book children,” some of whom have received their awards for Summer Reading, with Miss Parkhurst and Mrs. Overstreet (top right).

7/9/24, 8:55 PM

Mrs. Overstreet presenting Summer Vacation Reading Awards to a group of children on the lawn outside the 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

7/9/24, 8:55 PM

Miss Barton and her five assistants from the East Oakland Community House with the characters from the book play “Prickly Prince,” presented as part of Book Week at 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library. Characters include Tom Sawyer, Peter Pan, etc.

7/9/24, 8:55 PM

Teacher Margaret Macdonald leads an English class for foreign women, in the study room of the 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

7/9/24, 8:55 PM

Puppet show “Landing of the Pilgrims,” by Rollin Wilson, age 9. Puppets Priscilla Mullins and Miles Standish in action in a puppet theater built by the Tom Thumb Hobby Club on the lawn at the 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

7/9/24, 8:55 PM

Mr. and Mrs. W. Scott with their marionettes, the queen, the headsman, and Sir Little Boy performing in the puppet show “Six Who Pass While the Lentils Boil” in a puppet theater on the lawn of 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

7/9/24, 8:55 PM

The Ballad Singer and Little Boy from the puppet show “Six Who Pass while the Lentils Boil” given by Mr. and Mrs. Scott’s Marionettes at 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

7/9/24, 8:55 PM

Oakland Carnegie Libraries: 23rd Avenue Branch

Children sitting in the audience of the auditorium at the 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

Empty auditorium decorated with plants and an American flag, in the lower level of the 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

Reading room in the 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

Exterior of 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library, at 1449 Miller Ave.

Exterior of 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library, at 1449 Miller Ave.

Front entrance of 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

Reading room decorated with World War I posters, 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

Reference desk inside of 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library, decorated with plants and World War I posters.

Front entrance of 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

Miss Elliott telling Christmas stories at 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

Class from Manzanita School reading with teacher Miss Huff, at 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library. Large decorations of Alice in Wonderland, a “rainbow library” building, and Dr. Doolittle are behind the children.

Celebration of New Book Week on the front steps of 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library. “Around-the-World-Book children,” some of whom have received their awards for Summer Reading, with Miss Parkhurst and Mrs. Overstreet (top right).

Mrs. Overstreet presenting Summer Vacation Reading Awards to a group of children on the lawn outside the 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

Miss Barton and her five assistants from the East Oakland Community House with the characters from the book play “Prickly Prince,” presented as part of Book Week at 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library. Characters include Tom Sawyer, Peter Pan, etc.

Teacher Margaret Macdonald leads an English class for foreign women, in the study room of the 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

Puppet show “Landing of the Pilgrims,” by Rollin Wilson, age 9. Puppets Priscilla Mullins and Miles Standish in action in a puppet theater built by the Tom Thumb Hobby Club on the lawn at the 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

Mr. and Mrs. W. Scott with their marionettes, the queen, the headsman, and Sir Little Boy performing in the puppet show “Six Who Pass While the Lentils Boil” in a puppet theater on the lawn of 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.

The Ballad Singer and Little Boy from the puppet show “Six Who Pass while the Lentils Boil” given by Mr. and Mrs. Scott’s Marionettes at 23rd Avenue Branch, Oakland Public Library.