Overview

The Roosevelt Library is one of the first libraries in the city, built to serve the Standish neighborhood. 

• Location: 4026 28th Avenue South 
• Neighborhood: Standish 

Historic photo (1928)

Current photo (2006)

Architecture

• Architectural Style: Tudor Revival
• Architect: Ernest Unidentified

Use

• Historic use: Institutional
• Current use: Institutional

Construction

• Construction date: 1927
• Contractor: S.M. Klarquist and Son 

Significance

• Area(s) of significance: Education; Social History; Significant Individual 
• Period of significance: 1927-1996
• Date of local designation: 1997
• Date of National Register designation: 2000
• Designation: Exterior

Historic profile

The Roosevelt Library is one of the first libraries in the city, built to serve the Standish neighborhood. It was built in 1927 and located directly across the street from Roosevelt High School, which was built in 1924. The neighborhood's population was growing rapidly at this time, mostly of Swedish immigrants. Libraries served as educational and cultural centers for neighborhoods in the city.  

The library is a simple one-story Tudor Revival style building. The architect is unknown, but it may have been local designer Jerome Paul Jackson. Local contractors S.M. Klarquist and Son constructed the library. It has a symmetrical façade made out of reddish-brown bricks and concrete trim. Along the flat roofline, the bricks form recessed diamonds.  The primary entrance is a rounded arch in a projecting gable bay in the center of the building. The main floor is one large reading room. 

Gratia Alta Countryman was head librarian when the Roosevelt Library was built. She developed 13 neighborhood branch libraries during her tenure from 1904 to 1936. Her ability to secure funding more than quadrupled the budget. Countryman was a founding member of the American Library Association. The Roosevelt Library is one of many small library branches that furthered educational and cultural services in the city.  

The Roosevelt Library is still open in south Minneapolis today. 

Photo credit

• 1928 photo: Hibbard Studio, courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society 
• 2006 photo: Minneapolis Department of Community Planning and Economic Development

Work cited

• Garneth O. Peterson, "City of Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission Registration Form: Roosevelt Branch Library," December 1996
• Susan Granger and Kay Grossman, “National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Roosevelt Branch Library,” December 1998