Fort Worth Public Library - Fort Worth, Texas - American Guide Series on Waymarking.com

5. The FORT WORTH PUBLIC LIBRARY (open 9-9 workdays, 2-6 p.m. Sun.), NE. corner of Throckmorton and 9th Sts., a three-story building completed in 1939, embodies a modern interpretation of classic design, with a base of granite facing and Indiana limestone, and Texas Leuders stone exterior above. The prevailing simplicity of treatment is relieved by a two-story window on the entrance facade and by a cornice ornament. The new $400,000 structure, designed by Joseph R. Pelich, is on the site of the first building, opened in 1902 and built with the assistance of a Carnegie endowment. In 1940 the library had 124,000 volumes, 50,000 pamphlets, 12,000 volumes of periodicals, and received 18 current newspapers. The FORT WORTH ART MUSEUM (open library hours), third floor, is maintained by the Fort Worth Art Association, organized in 1910, and started with the purchase of Mariana Point, by Paul Dougherty. The museum's permanent collection of 75 paintings includes sketches, water colors, etchings and other art forms. Three annual exhibitions are held : one in January for American artists, one in May restricted to Texans, and one with no fixed date limited to residents of Tarrant County. The latter is a sidewalk display, when Ninth Street is given over to the exhibitors.

TEXAS - A GUIDE TO THE LONE STAR STATE, 1940 p 263

A nearby Historical marker states the following. "Seeking funds for a public library, local woman asked the philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, to donate "The price of a good cigar". He gave $50,000. With that and substantial local gifts, including land donated by Mrs. Sarah J. Jennings, the first City Library opened on this site, 1901. First Librarian, Mrs. Charles Schevber, was active in parks movement and local art circles. She was Vice President, 1911-1917, American Federation of Art. The old library was razed in 1938. This building in modern Classic style is four times as large as the original Library. (1968)"