Thomas Crane Public Library (Quincy, Massachusetts)

Infobox_nrhp | name =Crane, Thomas, Public Library
nrhp_type = nhl


caption = The original building (1882), front view, architect H. H. Richardson
location= Quincy, Massachusetts
lat_degrees = 42
lat_minutes = 15
lat_seconds = 6
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 71
long_minutes = 0
long_seconds = 5
long_direction = W
locmapin = Massachusetts
area =
built =1881
architect= Richardson,Henry Hobson
architecture= Richardson Romanesque
added = October 18, 1972
governing_body = Local
refnum=72000143cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

The Thomas Crane Public Library, in Quincy, Massachusetts, is a city library with remarkably fine architecture. It was funded by the Crane family as a memorial to Thomas Crane, a wealthy stone contractor who got his start in the Quincy quarries. Trailing only the Boston Public Library, Thomas Crane has the second largest municipal collection in Massachusetts. Also, the library hosts many community programs, performances, and lectures as well as housing Quincy's local cable access channel, QATV.

Architecture

The Thomas Crane Public Library was built in four stages: the original building (1882) by architect H. H. Richardson; an additional ell with stack space and stained glass (1908) by William M. Aiken in Richardson's style; a major expansion (1939) by architects Paul and Carol Coletti, with stone carvings by sculptor Joseph A. Coletti of Quincy; and a recent addition (2001) by Boston architects Childs, Bertman, and Tseckares, which doubled the size of the library. H. H. Richardson considered this library among his most successful civic buildings, and "Harper's Weekly" called it "the best village library in the United States". The library was ranked 43rd in a national poll conducted in 2007 by the American Institute of Architects of the favorite buildings in the nation.

In addition to its fine architecture, the original building contains an excellent 30 x 10 inch stained glass window by noted American artist John LaFarge in memory of Thomas Crane, entitled the "Old Philosopher." To the left of the elaborate carved fireplace is a second LaFarge window, "Angel at the Tomb", given in memory of Crane's son Benjamin Franklin Crane. The library's grounds were designed by leading landscaper Frederick Law Olmsted.

References

External links

Thomas Crane Library Quincy, Massachusetts: Dedication October 14, 2001 [http://thomascranelibrary.org/aboutus/architecture/dedicationbooklet/dedicationframeset.html] ] Thomas Crane Public Library Website [http://thomascranelibrary.org]
* [http://www.qatv.org/ Quincy Access Television]