|
Richmond was the fourth branch established within the San
Francisco Public Library system. The first location of the
branch, in 1892, was at 809 Point Lobos Avenue (now Geary
Boulevard) and Parker Avenue. In 1897, the Branch was re-located
to 254 - 4th Avenue, in back of Blank’s Candy Shop.
In 1901 Andrew Carnegie offered a grant of $750,000 to San
Francisco for the construction of a main library and several
branch libraries. It was eleven years before the city was able
to put the grant to use, however. Successive mayors, Boards of
Supervisors and Library Trustees battled either over whether to
accept the gift or how to expend it. Finally, in 1912 the issue
was put to the voters, and a measure to reject the grant was
defeated and a measure regarding library bond funds was approved.
Richmond was the first library building in San Francisco constructed
with Carnegie funds. The present facility was built at a cost of
$48,910 on land that had originally been designated for a “home for
inebriates.” The Branch building was designed by the firm of Bliss
and Faville, which was responsible for several other notable buildings
in San Francisco, among them the St. Francis Hotel, the Geary Theater,
and the State Building. The building was opened in November 1914.
In 1923 a children’s room was created in the lower level of the building.
The words “Lecture Hall” remain engraved above the children’s room
entrance (at 350 - 10th Avenue), attesting to the room’s original purpose.
In December 2000, the San Francisco Landmarks Board nominated Richmond
Branch Library for designation as a city landmark.
Richmond Branch Library interior, circa 1918
|
