Oakland Free Library-23rd Avenue Branch
Also known as: Miller Avenue Library; Ina Coolbrith Branch; Latin American Li
Why it's listed
This branch library at Miller Avenue and East 15th Street in Oakland was built in 1917-1918 as one of four neighborhood libraries funded by a $140,000 Carnegie grant obtained in 1914. Architects John J. Donovan and Charles W. Dickey designed it in Spanish Colonial Revival style, with stucco over brick walls, a red clay tile roof, a wooden balcony and carved woodwork. Inside, a split-level entry leads to two reading rooms flanking a central desk, and much of the original oak shelving, plaster and woodwork remains. The library grew from a reading room opened in 1890 and served an industrial, immigrant neighborhood, where it supported the era's Americanization efforts. It later became the Ina Coolbrith Branch and then the Latin American Branch, and it ceased operating as a library in the 1970s. It has since served school and city offices and now hosts social services and job training. It is also an Oakland City Landmark, designated in 1980.
Significance in brief: It was one of four branch libraries built under a 1914 Carnegie grant to Oakland, and it is the most elaborate of the three designed by Dickey and Donovan. It reflects the growth of neighborhood branch libraries and the Americanization role libraries played for a foreign-born, industrial neighborhood. It also keeps much of its original interior and exterior character.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 96000106, listed February 16, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1449 Miller Ave., 2347 E. 15th St., Oakland |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | February 16, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000106 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1918-1946 |
| Architect / builder | Donovan, John J. (architect); Dickey, Charles W. (associate architect); Nielsen & Bertelsen (builder) |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as a job training center and meeting space for a social service organization; condition described as good to fair with good integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.78346, -122.23431 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 96000106.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.