Dedication of Blackstone Library

Date: January 8, 1904 • Location: Kenwood, United States

Blackstone Library (pictured), the first branch of the Chicago Public Library system, was dedicated.

T. B. Blackstone Memorial Library is part of the Chicago Public Library (CPL) System and is named for library benefactor Timothy Blackstone. The building was designed by Chicago architect Solon S. Beman. It is now known as the Chicago Public Library – Blackstone Branch and commonly referred to as Blackstone Library, or Blackstone Branch and sometimes Blackstone for short. The Concord Granite building's two-year construction started in 1902, and it was dedicated on January 8, 1904. Blackstone Library marks the beginning of the CPL Branch System as the first dedicated branch. Blackstone is also the only branch of the 79-branch Chicago Public Library branch system that was constructed using private funding. The Blackstone Library is designated as a Chicago Landmark.