Zimmerman Library
National Register of Historic Places

Zimmerman Library

Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico
Listed
August 21, 2016
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
16000549

About this property

Zimmerman Library is the historic main library of the University of New Mexico, located near the center of the university campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is one of the largest and most notable buildings designed by New Mexico architect John Gaw Meem and is the centerpiece of the UNM Libraries, the largest library system in New Mexico with almost 4 million print volumes. It was built in 1936–38 with funding from the Public Works Administration and Works Progress Administration, with further additions completed in 1966 and 1973. The building was named for former university president James Fulton Zimmerman in 1961. It was added to the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties and the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. The library is a nine-story, Pueblo Revival style building constructed from reinforced concrete, brick, and structural clay tile. The original 1938 section of the library consists of a great hall, five reading rooms, and the central nine-story stack tower, which was designed to hold 225,000 volumes. The interior trim and furnishings were handmade by local artisans employed by the WPA, including hand-carved corbels, vigas, and heating register covers, wrought-iron banisters, door handles, and gates, and punched-tin light fixtures. Four murals in the great hall were created by Kenneth Miller Adams. To the east of the original section are two additions, completed in 1966 and 1973 respectively, which brought the total size of the library to approximately 224,000 square feet (20,800 m2).

Location

1900 Roma Ave., NE.
Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico
35.08498, -106.62084

Categories

ARCHITECTUREARTLANDSCAPE ARCHITECTUREEDUCATIONPOLITICS/GOVERNMENT
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Zimmerman Library

This page lists Zimmerman Library. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Zimmerman Library report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

President's House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Carlisle Gymnasium
Civil War
0.1 mi
Jonson Gallery and House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Scholes Hall
Industrial
0.2 mi
Estufa
Civil War
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Chamuscado-Rodríguez Expedition 1581
1581Colonial
2.1 mi
Reconquest of New Mexico (de Cruzate's Campaign)
1689Colonial
2.9 mi
Tiwa Pueblo Skirmish – Alcanfor 1540
1540Colonial
5.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Zimmerman Library listed on the National Register?

Zimmerman Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 21, 2016.

What type of historic resource is Zimmerman Library?

Zimmerman Library is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Zimmerman Library?

The period of significance for Zimmerman Library is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1936.

Can I research the history near Zimmerman Library?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Zimmerman Library will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Bernalillo County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Bernalillo County.

Explore BernalilloCounty ›

More historic places in New Mexico

Browse all historic places in New Mexico.

View New Mexicohistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

New Mexico history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

New Mexicohistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Zimmerman Library will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report