Midtown in Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Colored Library Association of Savannah

Photographed by David Seibert, January 19, 2015

1. Colored Library Association of Savannah Marker

Inscription. In 1906, eleven African-American men formed the Colored Library Association of Savannah and established the Library for Colored Citizens. They acquired the original collection from personal libraries and public donations of books and periodicals. In 1913, the Association successfully petitioned the Carnegie Corporation of New York for funds to build a permanent home for the collection. The Carnegie grant program funded construction of thousands of public libraries worldwide. Dedicated in 1914 and completed in 1915, the library was designed by local architect Julian deBruyn Kops and is one of Savannah’s few examples of Prairie School architecture. One of only two Carnegie library projects for African Americans in Georgia, this was the home library to James Alan McPherson, Pulitzer Prize–winning short story writer and essayist and Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Erected 2014 by The Georgia Historical Society and the Live Oak Public Libraries. (Marker Number 25-49.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts,

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Letters, Music • Education. In addition, it is included in the Carnegie Libraries series list.

Location. 32° 3.683′ N, 81° 5.474′ W. Marker is in Savannah, Georgia, in Chatham County. It is in Midtown. It is at the intersection of East Henry Street and Java Place, on the left when traveling west on East Henry Street. East Henry Street is a One-Way street West from East Broad Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 537 E Henry St, Savannah GA 31401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Coastal Plain and on the Georgia Coast and the Golden Isles.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8

Photographed by David Seibert, January 19, 2015

2. Colored Library Association of Savannah Marker

other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mamie George Williams (within shouting distance of this marker); Johnny Mercer (approx. 0.4 miles away); Nina Anderson Pape (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Georgia Infirmary (approx. 0.4 miles away); Lawton Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Birthplace of Eighth Air Force (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Georgia Volunteer (approx. 0.4 miles away); British Evacuation (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Savannah.

Photographed by David Seibert, January 19, 2015

3. Colored Library Association of Savannah Marker

Colored Library Association Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by David Seibert, January 19, 2015

4. Colored Library Association Building

The marker stands just to the left of the steps.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2017, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,240 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 13, 2017, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia.