Northwest Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
West Branch Library
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, May 11, 2026
1. West Branch Library Marker
Tampa Public Library's West Branch operated from 1946 to 1965 at 1129 Main Street in the North Boulevard Homes complex west of the Hillsborough River. The North Boulevard Homes neighborhood was Tampa Housing Authority's first housing community: featuring 534 apartments, it was considered to be the new and improved solution to affordable housing. The West Branch Library was located in the North Boulevard Homes Administration Building, and it was one of two local libraries serving African-Americans during the days of segregation (the other being the Harlem Branch near downtown Tampa). The library was open Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., offering newspapers, magazines, and books for circulation, as well as other services. Mrs. Jettie Mae (Cooper) Brown was the librarian in charge when the library opened in 1946 until its closing. She managed all of the library's operations, with the help of an assistant and could often be found with a roomful of children gathered around her as she read wondrous stories to them. A frequent after-school visitor to the West Branch was George Edgecomb who became Hillsborough County's first African-American judge.
Erected 2015 by Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic
this page online
Location. 27° 57.423′ N, 82° 28.31′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. It is in Northwest Tampa. It is on West Main Street east of North Willow Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1133 W Main St, Tampa FL 33607, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Tampa Bay. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, 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 Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Clara C. Frye (approx. Ό mile away); Howard W. Blake High School (approx. Ό mile away); Roberts City (approx. 0.4 miles away); Phillips Field (approx. 0.4 miles away); Madame Fortune Taylor Bridge (approx. half a mile away); Lynching in America / The Lynching of Robert Johnson (approx. half a mile away); Cespedes Hall (approx. half a mile away); Academy of The Holy Names (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, May 11, 2026
2. West Branch Library Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 11, 2026, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 11, 2026, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.
