Allen Memorial Medical Library
Why it's listed
Allen Memorial Medical Library is a three-story neo-classical building on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, completed in 1926 for the Cleveland Medical Library Association. Clad in Indiana limestone on a pink Georgia marble base, it was designed so that all four sides read as fronts, and it has been compared to Le Petit Trianon at Versailles. Bronze details include busts of Hippocrates and Asklepios at the north entrance. Inside, the second-floor reading rooms follow the English university tradition, with Baroque pedimented doorways and carving in the style of Grinling Gibbons. Mrs. Elizabeth Severance Prentiss funded construction and an endowment in memory of her husband, Dr. Dudley P. Allen. The architects, Frank Walker and Harry Weeks, were chosen for their prominence and because a classical style suited medicine as both a scientific and humanistic pursuit. The building has been called Walker and Weeks at their best, and it remains in library use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the library is architecturally significant for its Neo-Classical elements, including an unadorned roofline, restrained ornament and rich interior embellishments. It is also a fine work of Walker and Weeks, leading exponents of classical revival in the 1920s. The building reflects local patronage supporting scientific and humanitarian concerns in early twentieth-century Cleveland.
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 82001365, listed November 30, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 11000 Euclid Ave., Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | November 30, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001365 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Walker & Weeks |
| Architectural style | Neo-classical (Neo-Classical) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in excellent condition; the library has operated continuously since 1926, with only minor exterior alterations and some interior updates. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.50608, -81.60842 (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 82001365.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4731780
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.