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San Jose Public Library Collection

Owning Institution: San José Public Library, California Room

About this Collection

The San Jose Public Library Collection chronicles more than a century of growth starting in 1880. The one-room “Free” San Jose Library opened in the Murphy building on what is now Post and Market Streets in 1880. Between 1882 and 1970, the library occupied five different locations until the construction of the Main Library. The branch system had its origins in the establishment of the Grant School Library in 1909, and quickly expanded in the post-World War II boom. By the time the San Jose Public Library moved into its new facility on West San Carlos Street in 1970, the library managed nine branches throughout the city's expanding neighborhoods, with plans for seven additional branches. The San Jose Public Library continued to grow and in 2013 operates twenty-two branches in addition to the main Martin Luther King, Jr., Library on East San Fernando Street. View this collection on the contributor's website.

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225 items found in this collection

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1873 First board of trustees, San Jose Library
1904, San José Carnegie, Fourth and San Fernando
1907, San José Carnegie, Entrance
1907, San José Carnegie, Reading Room
1907, San José Carnegie, Special Books Room
1920, San José Carnegie, Rear view
1926, San José Carnegie
1935, Old Post Office building, Northwestern view
1940, Geraldine Nurney Poses Wearing a Sombrero
1940, Kathryn Williams standing in front of a brick building
1940, Old Post Office building, Event in the Plaza
1940, Old Post Office building, Southern view
1940, Six library staff posing outside
1940, Three Library Staff sitting outside in Lawn Chairs
1940, Two Library Staff Pose in Front of a Bungalow
1940, Two Library Staff sitting outside
1940, Two Library Staff Standing in Front of a Brick Building
1943 Edith Daley City Librarian
1943, Edith Daley, Head Librarian
1943 Edith Daley portrait
1943 Edith Daley with five men
1943, Old Post Office building, Geraldine Nurney City Librarian
1943, Old Post Office building, Geraldine Nurney City Librarian
1943, Three Library Staff Pose on a Pathway
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