311 East Main Street - Second Main Public Library

35.993565, -78.897408

311
East Main Street
Durham
NC
Year built
1921
Architectural style
Classical Revival
Construction type
Masonry
Local historic district
Downtown Durham
National Register
Downtown Durham
Neighborhood
Downtown East
Use
Office
Library
Building Type
Government
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The main public library in Durham - the first public library in North Carolina - was established in Durham in 1897 at Five Points, located in a small, ornate Queen Anne frame structure. The library's collection began to push the capacity of this small structure by the 1910s, and the search began for funding and space to build a new library.

The Carnegie Foundation, which funded many public libraries across the country, came through in 1916 with a pledge to contribute 80% of the construction costs for the library. Board chairman General Julian Carr objected strongly to accepting funds from the organization, and began boycotting meetings when the board persisted. A site was selected adjacent to the parish house of the First Presbyterian Church on East Main. The Colonial Revival building was designed by New York architect Edward L. Tilton, known for his work in designing libraries, and completed construction in 1921 at a cost of $40,000. General Carr came around on the library after its completion in 1921, and upon his death in 1924, asked that, in lieu of flowers, people donate books to the library.


Looking north, mid-1920s.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)


Looking northeast, mid-1920s.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)


The library in 1940, looking north-northeast.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)

By the 1960s-1970s, the library had begun to seriously outgrow its facility, and the quest began to build a new structure. The funding and control of the library had come from both city and county, and reorganization of the library system was in serious order, as the library system had been segregated prior to 1965. The library system was consolidated and placed under county control. Two bond referendums were defeated to build a new main library before a third one succeeded in 1976, approving $3 million to construct the current main library at Roxboro and Liberty Sts., on land cleared of houses by urban renewal.

mainpubliclibrary_1976.jpg

1976 (Courtesy Bob Blake)

The old library on East Main sat vacant for several years after the new library opened in 1980.


Looking northwest, 1980.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)

But it was renovated by 1984 - I presume privately.


Looking northwest, 1984.
(Courtesy Durham County Library)

It currently is occupied by offices.


Looking north-northwest, 2007.

311EMain_052111.jpg

05.21.11

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Comments

Submitted by Sherron (not verified) on Thu, 1/8/2015 - 1:51pm

Pam - I hope you get this - let me know.

Submitted by memories on Fri, 3/31/2023 - 7:40pm

I spent a good part of my childhood in the "children's library" of this large building.  At that time if you were under twelve you were not allowed in the adult library.  Since I was an avid reader, I'm pretty sure I read every book in the children's library, especially the Cherry Ames and Nancy Drews. I think I probably read them all twice, including the "how to"s .    I lived only a block away so it was easy to go to the library.  I came in through a back alley.  I have very fond memories of this old library.  I am now 87 and am still an avid reader.  Carolyn Mayo

Submitted by memories on Fri, 3/31/2023 - 8:17pm

I contributed some comments a few minutes ago and I neglected to say that the new Durham Public Library property is the property I grew up on or at least part of it.  I lived in the first house past Roxboro St. When I visited years ago when the library was first built, a friend I had since I was five and her husband took me over to where we had grown up and showed me the new library.  I shed a tear and said I couldn't think of anything more fitting to be built on that land.  I would like to say thank you for being a second home to me when I was growing up and for honoring me by being on the property where I lived.  Carolyn Mayo

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