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Overview

The people of Alameda, CA, received $35,000 from the Carnegie Corporation of New York for the purpose of erecting this library. The Carnegie Corporation gave this money on the condition that the city purchase a site for the library and that it set aside money for its upkeep and the maintenance of a professional staff. The San Francisco firm of Curtis and Wilcox designed the Neo-Classical building.

Building History

Curtis and Wilcox collaborated with the Alameda general contractor, C.H. Foster. According to architectural history web site, NoeHill Travels in California, "The builder was C. H. Foster and Son who lived in Alameda and built over one hundred private and public buildings in Alameda over a 30-year period." (See NoeHill Travels in California, "National Register of Historic Places in Alameda County:Alameda Free Library," accessed 04/05/2016.)

Building Notes

The Alameda Free Library #1 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, with a level of local significance.

Alteration

Alterations were made in 1936 by Curtis and Wilcox, Architects.