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City of San Rafael company history timeline

1887

On April 20, 1887, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union decided to establish a coffee and read­ing room in the town of San Rafael.

The Marin Journal of June 2, 1887, announced, “The Coffee Room and Free Library is now open.” Through fundraising, donations, and sub­scriptions, the “ladies of the W.C.T.U.” were able to move to a rented building on Fourth Street by early December.

1888

Park purchased the 11-acre estate from railroad magnate James D. Walker and had his house removed and in February 1888 she commissioned E. F. Chisholm to build her home, designed by architect Clinton Day.

Grover Cleveland’s first termThe surplus and the tariffThe public domainThe Interstate Commerce ActThe election of 1888

The mansion was originally built in 1888 in San Rafael by Ella Nichols Park, a wealthy and reclusive young widow.

1890

The Library Association formally presented the library to the town Library Trustees on April 30, 1890.

Tracing its roots to Catholic nuns who came to California during the Gold Rush to educate "new Californians," Dominican University of California started as a women's college in 1890.

1892

The Benjamin Harrison administrationThe Sherman Antitrust ActThe silver issueThe McKinley tariffThe agrarian revoltThe PopulistsThe election of 1892

1893

San Rafael, city, seat (1893) of Marin county, western California, United States It lies on the northwestern shore of San Francisco Bay.

1897

Despite a desperate need to move high school classes out of the grammar school, a school bond measure failed in 1897.

1899

However, when the handsome new high school opened on E Street in 1899, the Library Trustees opted not to relocate due to increased operating expenses.

1904

In December 1904, the City Trustees had resolved to provide oper­ating funds and secure a site for a new library if Mr.

1906

The earthquake of 1906 shook San Rafael, jolting many homes off their foundations and knocking chimneys off rooftops.

1944

World War IIThe road to warThe United States at warWar productionFinancing the warSocial consequences of the warThe 1944 electionThe new United States role in world affairs

1945

The peak Cold War years, 1945–60The Truman Doctrine and containmentPostwar domestic reorganizationThe Red ScareThe Korean WarPeace, growth, and prosperityEisenhower’s second termDomestic issuesWorld affairsAn assessment of the postwar era

1960

The expanded library was dedi­cated on February 28, 1960.

Once again, San Rafael outgrew its library and the next step was to enclose the parking area under the 1960 addition.

1972

In February 1972, an attempt was made to secure the property from the Dollar family for development.

1974

In November 1974 voters approved a four- cent tax to allow for the purchase and maintenance of the estate.

1976

When the new space opened in 1976, library director Vivian R. Smith called it a “short-term solution to a long-growing need for more library space.” Though the library underwent two major construction projects in the ensuing years, neither expanded the usable space.

1988

He also gave lavishly to his hometown of Falkirk, Scotland, where he is fondly remembered today and in October 1988 San Rafael and Falkirk became sister cities.

1992

In July 1992, the library was closed for earthquake retrofitting and reopened a year later.

2008

Most recently, after nearly 100 years of operation, the library was updated with air conditioning and new double-paned windows in 2008.

2009

Prepared by: Kay Noguchi, Former Supervising Librarian, San Rafael Public Library January 2009

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