Walnut Street West/West Philadelphia Branch

Historical Images of Philadelphia Free Library Departments and Branches
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Walnut Street West/West Philadelphia Branch

Item Info

Item No: pdcf00526
Title: Walnut Street West/West Philadelphia Branch
Additional Title: Interior view of the West Philadelphia Branch, ca. 1958
Historic Street Address: 40th & Walnut Street, SE corner
Media Type: Photographic Prints
Source: Print and Picture Collection
Notes:

 The West Philadelphia Branch of Philadelphia Public Library, located at 40th and Ludlow Streets, became a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia on January 1, 1896. In May of 1901, the branch moved to the Hamilton School Building, at 4105-09 Chestnut Street.

On June 26, 1906, the branch moved into the first of the Andrew Carnegie-funded branches, located at 40th and Walnut Streets.  This ca. 1958 interior image shows little changed since its opening, except for the lighting and signs of disrepair. The branch underwent extensive remodeling the following year.

The branch was renamed the Walnut Street West Branch sometime in the 1970s.  Located near the University of Pennsylvania, the branch serves the West Philadelphia communities of University City and Spruce Hill.


Creation Year: ca. 1958
Geocode Latitude: Geocode Longitude:-75.202584
Geocode Latitude:39.954112