National Register of Historic Places

Legler, Henry E., Regional Branch of the Chicago Public Library

Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Listed
November 6, 1986
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
86003169

About this property

The Henry E. Legler Regional Branch of the Chicago Public Library, also called the Legler Library, the Legler Regional Library, or the Legler Branch, is a branch of the Chicago Public Library located at 115 S. Pulaski Road in the West Garfield Park community area of Chicago, Illinois. The library was built in 1919 and opened on October 11, 1920; it was the first regional library in Chicago. Chicago architect Alfred S. Alschuler designed the building in the Beaux Arts style. A Works Progress Administration mural in the library depicts Jacques Marquette and Native American traders during Marquette's visit to the Chicago area. The Legler Library originally served an affluent Jewish community. However, as the demographics of West Garfield Park shifted, it ultimately came to serve a poor and underprivileged African-American population. The Chicago Public Library removed the Legler Library's status as a regional library in 1977, at a time when circulation was dropping at the library. The branch was rededicated in 1993 following a renovation. The library was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 6, 1986. In 2019 the library regained regional status and completed a renovation.

Location

115 S. Pulaski Rd.
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
41.87937, -87.72520

Categories

EDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Questions about this property

When was Legler, Henry E., Regional Branch of the Chicago Public Library listed on the National Register?

Legler, Henry E., Regional Branch of the Chicago Public Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 6, 1986.

What type of historic resource is Legler, Henry E., Regional Branch of the Chicago Public Library?

Legler, Henry E., Regional Branch of the Chicago Public Library is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Legler, Henry E., Regional Branch of the Chicago Public Library?

The period of significance for Legler, Henry E., Regional Branch of the Chicago Public Library is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Legler, Henry E., Regional Branch of the Chicago Public Library?

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