Cooper Library in Johnson Park is located in the Cooper Grant section of Camden, Camden County,

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

, United States. It was built in 1916 and was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

on March 11, 1980, for its significance in architecture, art, education, and sculpture. With It is part of

Rutgers University–Camden Rutgers University–Camden is one of three regional campuses of Rutgers University, New Jersey's public research university. It is located in Camden, New Jersey. Founded in 1929 as the South Jersey Law School, Rutgers–Camden began as an amalg ...

History and description

The mosaic frieze entitled ''America Receiving the Gifts of Nations'' which adorns the front of the building was designed by D'Ascenzo Studios of Philadelphia. Johnson's park encompasses the Cooper Library, formally known as the

Walt Whitman Walter Whitman (; May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among ...

Cultural Arts Center, and marks the site of the Cooper's Ferry company. Cooper's Ferry was licensed in 1688 and helped in transporting products between Camden and Philadelphia. The area was a major point of transportation for the British and the Hessians during the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

, due to their capture of

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...

in September 1777. Later it would serve as a terminal for stage coaches and a rail road terminal from 1834 to 1854 for the Camden and Amboy Railroad Company. Construction of the library began in 1916 and was completed in April 1918. The park was donated in December 1921 by

Eldridge R. Johnson Eldridge Reeves Johnson (February 6, 1867 in Wilmington, Delaware – November 14, 1945 in Moorestown, New Jersey) was an American businessman and engineer who founded the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1901 and built it into the leading A ...

, founder of the

Victor Talking Machine Company The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer that operated independently from 1901 until 1929, when it was acquired by the Radio Corporation of America and subsequently operated as a subsidia ...

, after whom it is named. A fountain and several bronze statues were added between 1923 and 1930. After its closure the Cooper Library became the Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center, where theatrical performances were held. It was deeded to Rutgers University for a dollar and became known as the Center for Performing Arts in Camden. Rutgers University–Camden converted the center into a classroom and has allowed performances to be held at the Gordon Theater instead. Currently the building serves as a Digital Studies Center and Writing and Design Lab.

References

External links

Johnson Park Restoration
{{Rutgers University Library buildings completed in 1916 Libraries on the National Register of Historic Places in New Jersey Neoclassical architecture in New Jersey Buildings and structures in Camden, New Jersey Carnegie libraries in New Jersey National Register of Historic Places in Camden County, New Jersey New Jersey Register of Historic Places Rutgers University buildings Rutgers University–Camden

History and description

See also

References

External links