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AKA: San Rafael Public Library, Carnegie Library, San Rafael, CA
Structure Type: built works - social and civic buildings - libraries
Designers: Hoyt Brothers, General Contractors (firm); Reid Brothers, Architects (firm); Hoyt (building contractor); Hoyt (architect); James William Reid (architect); Merritt Jonathan Reid (architect)
Dates: constructed 1908-1909
1 story
The Carnegie Foundation of New York granted the San Rafael Public Library $25,000 in 1904. A San Rafael resident and Federal Circuit Court Judge, William W. Morrow (born c. 1843 in IN), who was a friend of the steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) and a Trustee of the Carnegie Foundation, helped secure the generous grant. Two sets of brothers were responsible for the design and construction of this library; the Reid Brothers served as Architects, the Hoyt Brothers, the Building Contractors.
Like many Carnegie Libraries of the period, this building stood on a high foundation, allowing ample light into multipurpose basement rooms.
An addition in 1960 increased square footage by a factor of three. Other seismic and enlargement projects occurred in 1973, 1976 and 1993.
PCAD id: 12171
