| 1911 |
 |
 June 7: Assistant Librarian John Ashhurst 3rd and Horace Trumbauer's
preliminary floor plans are submitted to the Committee on Main Library
Site and Building |
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June 10: Horace Trumbauer accepts his appointment as architect of the central
library |
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June 29: The Fairmount Park Commission selects Horace Trumbauer to collaborate
with the firm of Zantzinger, Borie & Medary to design the Philadelphia
Museum of Art |
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July 5: Mayor John E. Reyburn signs ordinances appropriating $1 million for
the central library from the 1898 loan and confirming the purchase of
properties on the Fairmount Parkway at Logan Square for the central
library |
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September 1: Head Librarian John Thomson tells Horace Trumbauer that "We are all
getting very anxious to see your suggested sketch and plans for the Main
Library Building." |
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 October 5: Architect Julian Abele of the Trumbauer firm presents a colored sketch
plan and various floor plans to the Committee on Main Library Site and
Building |
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October 6: After the plan for the central library is presented to the Free
Library's Board of Trustees, Horace Trumbauer is instructed to proceed
with working drawings |
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December 2: Mayor John E. Reyburn signs an ordinance striking streets on the
central library site from the official City Plan |
| 1912 |
|
February 14: Free Library Board of Trustees president Henry R. Edmunds and Head
Librarian John Thomson present a petition to Mayor Rudolph
Blankenburg advocating the completion of the Fairmount Parkway |
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March 15: Mayor Rudolph Blankenburg is "very anxious that the Trustees of The
Free Library should commence building operations." |
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April 14: Free Library trustee Harry Elkins Widener and his father George D.
Widener, the grandson and son of Free Library benefactor Peter A. B.
Widener, die on the Titanic |
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April 26: A committee of the City's Art Jury recommends approval of the
preliminary plans for the central library |
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April 29: Library officials release "a little book showing a good perspective
view of the south and east facades of the building, and a ground plan,
showing its proposed location, together with five floor plans of the
building." |
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June 7: Financial problems force the Free Library's Board of Trustees to
consider constructing the central library in sections |
| 1913 |
|
 February 13: Horace Trumbauer prepares a plan to construct the central library
section by section |
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March 29: Head Librarian John Thomson solicits a donation from Andrew Carnegie
for the erection of the central library |
