Downtown in Raleigh in Wake County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Olivia Raney Library

Photographed by Patrick G. Jordan, March 7, 2011

1. Olivia Raney Library Marker

Inscription. As a memorial to his wife Olivia Blount Cowper Raney (1861 - 1896), Richard Beverly Raney in 1899 established the Olivia Raney Library which stood on this site. His gift funded the construction and equipment of a public library that served Raleigh from 1901 to 1962. In 1995 the Raney family approved the use of trust funds on hand for a new Olivia Raney Library off Poole Road, thereby fulfilling R.B. Raney's wish to honor his late wife and benefit the citizens of Raleigh.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.

Location. 35° 46.822′ N, 78° 38.422′ W. Marker is in Raleigh, North Carolina, in Wake County. It is in Downtown. It is on Hillsborough Street. The marker is beside The Revenue Building. The marker is near the intersection of Hillsborough Street and Salisbury Street, near the state capitol building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7 Hillsborough St, Raleigh NC 27603, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont

and in the Research Triangle.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

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 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 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 81st or Wildcat Division (within shouting distance of this marker); Samuel A'Court Ashe, LL. D. (within shouting distance of this marker); First Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Worth Bagley

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Henry Lawson Wyatt (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Presbyterian Church (about 300 feet away); A.I.A Tower (about 300 feet away); State Capitol (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Raleigh.

Other markers no longer nearby. To Our Confederate Dead (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); 32 Pounder Naval Cannon (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); To the North Carolina Women of the Confederacy (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Photographed by Patrick G. Jordan, March 7, 2011

2. Olivia Raney Library Marker

Photographed by Patrick G. Jordan, March 7, 2011

3. Olivia Raney Library Marker

Looking east toward the capitol

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2011, by Patrick G. Jordan of Graham, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,020 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 8, 2011, by Patrick G. Jordan of Graham, North Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.