Oakland History Center

OHR009

Images from an 1892 album of photogravures reproducing photographs by Adolph Witteman depicting municipal, commercial (chiefly hotels) and religious buildings (chiefly churches) in Oakland, with some street scenes, views of boating, bird's-eye views and educational institutions. Pages contain either one or two photographs, with captions.

OHR013

Documents pertaining to the Peralta family's Spanish- and Mexican-era land grants and their subsequent adjudication in United States courts.

OHC020

The Melrose Branch opened at 4805 Foothill Boulevard in 1916. The Classical Revival style building was designed by architect William H. Weeks and constructed by builder C. Chistensen. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the early 20th Century Andrew Carnegie donated funds for the construction of 1,681 library buildings throughout the United States. The Melrose Branch is 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. This building served as the city's Main Library until a new Main opened at 125 14th Street in 1951. From 1951-1989 it served as the Charles S. Greene Branch, but was closed because of damage from the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. The building was retrofitted and reopened as the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO) in 2002. 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). Construction began first on the Melrose Branch, as a site was secured rapidly, and the library opened 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. The 23rd Avenue Branch was used as branch library until 1976. It was destroyed by a fire and razed in 2018.

OHR008

These photographs show the construction of Campbell Village, a low income housing project located in West Oakland, California between Campbell, Willow, 8th, and 10th Streets. It was constructed by the Oakland Housing Authority between 1940-1941 after existing structures were razed. Many of the photographs in this collection show the same vantage points at different dates throughout the construction process, providing a time lapse of the neighborhood before, during, and after construction.

The Alden Branch Library opened at 5205 Telegraph Avenue in 1918. It was renamed the Temescal Branch in 1949. The Tudor Revival style building was designed by architects Charles W. Dickey and John J. Donovan and constructed by builder R.W. Littlefield. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the early 20th Century Andrew Carnegie donated funds for the construction of 1,681 library buildings throughout the United States. The Temescal Branch is 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. The 23rd Avenue Branch was used as branch library until 1976. It was destroyed by a fire and razed in 2018.

OHR004

A small selection of maps from the Oakland History Center's collection, mostly focusing on very early maps of Oakland. These maps were originally digitized as part of the "Selections from the Collections of the Oakland History Center" collection.

The Golden Gate Branch Library opened at 5606 San Pablo Avenue in 1918. The Georgian Revival style building was designed by architects Charles W. Dickey and John J. Donovan and constructed by builder R.W. Littlefield. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the early 20th Century Andrew Carnegie donated funds for the construction of 1,681 library buildings throughout the United States. The Golden Gate Branch is one of five "Carnegie Libraries" constructed as part of the Oakland Public Library system. I n 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. The 23rd Avenue Branch was used as branch library until 1976. It was destroyed by a fire and razed in 2018.

OHR006

Title from back cover. An album of photographs made by Cheney Photo Advertising Co. that show comparative views of Oakland real estate, typically between 1916 and 1925, but with beginning/ending dates ranging from 1916 to 1928. The original album includes testimonials, not included here, from business partners and purchasers of properties from Wickham Havens' firm. Areas depicted : Forest Park, Haddon Hill, Mandana Blvd., Trestle Glen, Wala Vista and Hillside Homes (in Berkeley and Oakland: 270 Alvarado Road, 6124 Buena Vista Avenue, 5610 Golden Gate Avenue, 616 Beacon Street, 94 St. James Drive, 6197 Contra Costa Road and 5600 Estates Drive.) A table of contents is included. Certain images were previously published in "New or greatly enlarged industrial establishments of Oakland and East Bay cities" (Oakland Chamber of Commerce, [1917]).