The Thomas Crane Public Library (TCPL) is a
city library in
Quincy, Massachusetts. It is noted for its architecture. It was funded by the Crane family as a memorial to
Thomas Crane, a wealthy stone contractor who got his start in the Quincy quarries. The Thomas Crane Library has the second largest municipal collection in Massachusetts after the
Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library is a municipal public library system in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, founded in 1848. The Boston Public Library is also the Library for the Commonwealth (formerly ''library of last recourse'') of the Commonwea ...
.
In fiscal year 2008, the city of Quincy spent 1.41% ($2,690,878) of its budget on the library—some $29 per person.
Architecture
The Thomas Crane Public Library was built in four stages: the original building (1882) by architect
H. H. Richardson; an additional ell with stack space and stained glass (1908) by
William Martin Aiken
William Martin Aiken (April 1, 1855 – December 7, 1908) was an American architect who served as Supervising Architect of the United States Treasury and oversaw and participated in the design and construction of numerous federal buildings during ...
in Richardson's style; a major expansion (1939) by architects Paul A. and Carroll Coletti, with stone carvings by sculptor
Joseph Coletti
Joseph Arthur Coletti (November 5, 1898 – May 5, 1973) was an Italian-born American sculptor.
Life
Coletti was born in San Donato, Italy, on November 5, 1898. He was brought to the United States by his parents when he was two years old, and he ...
of Quincy; and a recent addition (2001) by Boston architects Childs, Bertman, and Tseckares, which doubled the size of the library. H. H. Richardson considered this library among his most successful civic buildings, and ''
Harper's Weekly
''Harper's Weekly, A Journal of Civilization'' was an American political magazine based in New York City. Published by Harper & Brothers from 1857 until 1916, it featured foreign and domestic news, fiction, essays on many subjects, and humor, ...
'' called it "the best village library in the United States". The library was ranked 43rd in
a national poll conducted in 2007 by the
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to su ...
of the favorite buildings in the nation.
In addition to its architecture, the original building contains a 30 × 10 inch
stained-glass window by noted American artist
John LaFarge
John La Farge (March 31, 1835 – November 14, 1910) was an American artist whose career spanned illustration, murals, interior design, painting, and popular books on his Asian travels and other art-related topics.
La Farge is best known for ...
in memory of Thomas Crane, entitled the ''Old Philosopher.'' To the left of the elaborate carved fireplace is a second LaFarge window, "Angel at the Tomb", given in memory of Crane's son Benjamin Franklin Crane. The library's grounds were designed by landscaper
Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted (April 26, 1822August 28, 1903) was an American landscape architect, journalist, social critic, and public administrator. He is considered to be the father of landscape architecture in the USA. Olmsted was famous for co ...
.
The main library was designated a
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
in 1987, recognizing it as one of Richardson's finest library buildings.
Branches
By 1910 there were two "reading rooms," one in the Atlantic neighborhood on Atlantic Street and one in West Quincy. By the 1920s the system had expanded to nine branches in all, adding ones near the Parker Elementary School and the Furnace Brook Parkway, and ones in the Squantum, South Quincy, Wollaston and Quincy Point neighborhoods. Municipal budget cutbacks in 1981 slashed the number to just three besides the main building: the Wollaston branch (1922), which is listed separately on 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 ...
, the North Quincy branch (1963) on Hancock Street near
North Quincy High School, and the Adams Shore branch (1970) on Sea Street in
Hough's Neck
Houghs Neck is a one-square-mile (2.6 km2) peninsula in Quincy, Massachusetts. It is surrounded by Quincy Bay, Hingham Bay and Rock Island Cove. It is lined by Perry Beach, which runs along Manet Avenue; Nut Island, which is just beyond Gre ...
.
Community
The library often hosts concerts, lectures and art exhibitions. There are also private rooms available for use free of charge to the public or to small community organizations. Also, the library hosts Quincy's local
public-access television
Public-access television is traditionally a form of non-commercial mass media where the general public can create content television programming which is narrowcast through cable television specialty channels. Public-access television was creat ...
cable TV channel, QATV.
Thomas Crane Public Library provides services an
resourcesthat aid the disabled community. The Main Branch features handicap parking, elevators to all floors, as well as aisles and sit-down computer terminals that accommodate wheelchairs and those with disabilities. For those that are blind or visually impaired: the public use computers feature large print keyboards. Handheld magnifiers are available at the Reference Desk, and Braille books are available throug
interlibrary loan
See also
Thomas Crane Public Library website*
List of National Historic Landmarks in Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a total of 191 National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) within its borders. This is the second highest statewide total in the United States after New York, which has more than 250. Of the Massachusetts NHLs, 57 ...
*
References
External links
Thomas Crane Public Library Website*
ttp://www.qatv.org/ Quincy Access Television
Image:Thomas Crane Public Library, Quincy, Massachusetts (side view).JPG, Side view, showing 1908 extension to the rear.
Image:Thomas Crane Public Library, Quincy, Massachusetts (interior fireplace).JPG, Interior view of original building, with fireplace and "Angel at the Tomb".
Image:Thomas Crane Public Library, Quincy, Massachusetts (interior details).JPG, Interior with original details by Richardson.
Image:Thomas Crane Public Library, Quincy, Massachusetts (interior stacks).JPG, Interior view of 1908 addition by Aiken.
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Library buildings completed in 1882
Public libraries in Massachusetts
Crane Public Library
National Historic Landmarks in Massachusetts
Richardsonian Romanesque architecture in Massachusetts
Buildings and structures in Quincy, Massachusetts
Libraries on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts
Libraries in Norfolk County, Massachusetts
Tourist attractions in Quincy, Massachusetts
National Register of Historic Places in Quincy, Massachusetts