Legler, Henry E., Regional Branch of the Chicago Public Library
Why it's listed
Henry E. Legler Regional Branch is a public library at 115 South Pulaski Road in Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood. Architect Alfred S. Alschuler designed it in 1919 at a cost of $184,800, and it opened to the public in October 1920. The red rusticated brick building has a symmetrical Beaux Arts front with a colonnaded entrance pavilion, cut stone urns, garlands and a balustrade. Inside are classical details, a Vermont marble floor, an art glass skylight, and a WPA mural by R. Fayerweather Babcock. The nomination presents it as a restrained example of Alschuler's classical work and as the first regional library in the Chicago system. The regional model, intended to support smaller local branches, was promoted by head librarian Henry E. Legler, for whom the library was named after his death in 1917. The building has had no major alterations, though it has suffered from neglect, and a restoration plan was approved by the library board.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an understated but notable example of Alschuler's post-World War I Beaux Arts work, meeting Criterion C. It is also significant in education as the first regional library in the Chicago Public Library system, a concept initiated by librarian Henry E. Legler.
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 86003169, listed November 6, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 115 S. Pulaski Rd., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | November 6, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86003169 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Alfred Samuel Alschuler |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts vernacular (classical revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in public educational use; the building is described as sound but neglected for about twenty years, with a Holabird and Root restoration design approved by the library board. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.87937, -87.72520 (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 86003169.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5720642
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.