Free Library of Philadelphia, Richmond Branch, 2987 Almond Street, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Significance: Richmond was one of twenty-five branch libraries constructed between 1904 and 1930 by the Free Library of Philadelphia using a $1.5 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation. Andrew Carnegie's public library construction grants were a major impetus for the growth of these institutions throughout the country. Philadelphia was second only to New York City in the size of the Carnegie grant it received and the number of branch libraries constructed. Each jurisdiction receiving Carnegie library funds was responsible for providing a site and operating expenses equal to ten percent of the cost of construction. Prior to receiving the Carnegie funds in 1903, branch libraries of the Free Library of Philadelphia (founded 1891) were housed in a variety of preexisting structures. The Carnegie library construction campaign provided twenty-five purpose-built branch libraries for the City of Philadelphia, each designed according to new standards of library professionalism and using fashionable, but conservative, architectural forms and motifs.

Richmond was the eleventh Carnegie branch library opened by the Free Library of Philadelphia. Plans for the structure were approved by the Free Library Board of Trustees Carnegie Fund Committee on March 20, 1908 and the branch opened to the public on March 15, 1910. At the time of opening the Richmond branch served a predominantly Polish-American neighborhood in northeast Philadelphia and the library is still a prominent architectural and institutional presence in an area of two- and three-story residential structures. The Richmond Branch was designed by New York architect Edward L. Tilton. Tilton specialized in Carnegie library design and was frequently recommended by James Bertram, Carnegie's secretary, for library commissions.

Survey number: HABS PA-6763
Building/structure dates: 1910 Initial Construction