WINTER 2019/20
BACK TO THE FUTURE WITH THE WHITTIER PUBLIC LIBRARY “Historic preservation is about engaging the past in a conversation with the present over a mutual concern for the future.” William J. Murtagh, first “Keeper” of the National Register of Historic Places
Washington Avenue Entrance.
When Whittier’s Civic Center was envisioned in the 1950s, the city hired noted local architect William Henry Harrison to create a hub for civic life. The library, built a couple of years after City Hall, has been recognized by both the Los Angeles Conservancy and the Whittier Conservancy as an exceptional example of midcentury, post-war civic architecture. It was profiled by Julius Schulman, renowned photographer of mid-century architecture, whose work has been exhibited in the Smithsonian and in galleries worldwide. Now, at 60 years old, Whittier’s Central Library has been listed by the Historic Resources Commission as a local historic resource worthy of Landmark Designation. Early next year, the library—under the direction of CWA AIA, Inc.—will undergo a major makeover in electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems as well as shelving configurations and aisle accommodations. The $15,000,000 renovation has been underwritten by a state grant, Supervisor Janice Hahn, the City, the Library’s Engineering Account, and from generous contributions raised by the Whittier Public Library Foundation. To ensure that the historic nature of the building, especially its exterior defining features, be maintained and incorporated into the job, the Conservancy’s Library Support Committee has compiled a detailed report to assist the architect, city planners, and councilmembers as this legacy project takes shape.
Here you will find the history of the library, the importance of its architect, and the role of 1950s Mid-Century Modern design in defining Southern California as it came of age. The hey-day of the aerospace industry, fast-food, drive-in theaters, Googie restaurants, and sign-blazing car washes takes us on a nostalgic trip “back to the future”!
East entrance and circulation desk View of the “stacks”in the 60s B&W Photos this page: J. Paul Getty Trust, Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles; Julius Shulman, 1959
INSIDE: Whittier Public Library Renovation Mid-Century Modern Architecture in the Southland Architect William Henry Harrison Historic Landmarks & Plaques Parks Department & Tree Ordinance Update 1