Oakland Free Library-Melrose Branch
Also known as: Oakland Public Library Melrose Branch
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Why it's listed
Melrose Branch Library at 4805 Foothill Boulevard in Oakland is a Classical Revival building of one story over a raised basement, with stucco over reinforced concrete and cast concrete and terra cotta ornament. Its fan-shaped plan follows a bend in the street, and a central entry is topped by an owl perched on a book. Inside are a marble and oak stair hall and two reading rooms. William H. Weeks designed it, and it was dedicated in September 1916. It was the first of four branches built with a $140,000 Carnegie grant obtained in 1914, with the site donated by two local landowners after neighborhood groups lobbied for it. A 1920 donation of books and an endowment added to its standing. The main floor has served continuously as a library, while the basement has held a union hall, a naval radio room and now a nursery school. The building remains virtually unchanged, and the city designated it a landmark in 1980.
Significance in brief: It was the first of four similar Carnegie branch libraries built in Oakland under a 1914 grant, and was designed by an architect of statewide prominence in reinforced concrete. It has served continuously as a neighborhood library and is virtually unchanged inside and out. It meets the standards of the California Carnegie libraries multiple property listing.
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 96000104, listed February 16, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4805 Foothill Blvd., 1738 48th Ave., Oakland |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | February 16, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000104 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1916-1946 |
| Architect / builder | Weeks, William H. (architect); Christensen, C. (builder) |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a branch library on the main floor; the basement houses a nursery school. Described as in excellent condition with outstanding 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 96000104.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133255007
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.