Thomas Scott Buckham Memorial Library

Thomas Scott Buckham Memorial Library
Location: Central Ave. and Division St.
Faribault, Minnesota
Built: 1930
Architect: Charles Buckham
Architectural style: Art Deco
Governing body: Local
MPS: Rice County MRA
NRHP Reference#: 82003008 [1]
Added to NRHP: April 6, 1982
Collection
Size 106,878
Access and use
Circulation 245,961
Population served 18,615
Other information
Budget $844,986
Director Delane James
Phone number 507-334-2089

Contents

History

The public library as a tax supported institution in Faribault, Minnesota, dates from 1897, when it was housed in the City Hall building. Mrs. Anna Buckham gave the Thomas Scott Buckham Memorial Library building to the City of Faribault in memory of her husband. The cornerstone was laid in September of 1929, and dedication of the building took place on July 20, 1930.

Architecture

The library's architecture is centralized around Greek themes. This was because Mr. Buckham was an avid reader and scholar of Greek literature. A Greek window made by Charles Connick of Boston and on the facade of the original building. Additionally, a Greek mural depicting scenes from Athens, Sparta, Delphi, and Olympia can be found on the second floor. The mural was painted by Alfred J. Hyslop.[2]

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2006-03-15. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
  2. ^ City of Faribault. "Facts about Buckham Memorial Library." <http://www.ci.faribault.mn.us/assets/f/factsaboutthelibrary.pdf>

External links