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Order Number	00078426
Title	Central Library Rotunda, early view
Collection ID	Los Angeles Public Library Institutional Collection
Location/Accession	L.A.-Libraries-LAPL-Central Library-Views-Interiors-Rotunda.; A-001-731 4x5
Date	Circa 1933
Physical Description	1 photographic print :b&w ;11 x 14 cm. on sheet 21 x 26 cm.
Notes	Title supplied by cataloger.
Historical Data	Central Library, located at 630 W. 5th Street in downtown Los Angeles, was designed by architects Bertram G. Goodhue and Carlton M. Winslow. Constructed between 1922-1926, it was designed to mimic the architecture of ancient Egypt, complete with a tiled mosaic pyramid tower and many beautiful murals throughout. Tragic fires in 1986 destroyed part of the building along with 20 percent of the library's collection, prompting a closure for 6 years while restoration took place. The renovation was completed in 1993, and the library reopened on October 3, 1993. The Los Angeles Public Library is the third largest public library in the United States in terms of books and periodical holdings, boasting over 6 million volumes. It was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1970 - Building #70000136.
Description	A view of the Central Library rotunda facing the south wall; it shows the check out desk, reference desk, card catalog files, chandelier, and murals on all the upper walls and ceiling. The murals depict four great eras of California history. These are: "Discovery" (north wall); "Mission building" (east wall); "Americanization" (south wall), and "The Founding of Los Angeles" (west wall). Distinguished muralist and illustrator, Dean Cornwell was awarded the contract for the Los Angeles Public Library murals in 1927, and spent the next five years researching and painting the final canvases, which he completed in 1932. Julian C. Garnsey designed the ornate mosaic-like dome of the Library's rotunda. The sunburst image located directly above the globe chandelier mirrors the sunburst design of the pyramid on top of the building, a further illustration of the building's theme: "the light of learning". The chandelier that hangs from the rotunda's ceiling was designed by Goodhue Associates, modeled by Lee Lawrie, and manufactured by the Thomas Day Company of Los Angeles. It measures 9 feet in diameter, is composed of cast bronze, weighs one ton, and is part of a model of the solar system. This entire area sustained some smoke damage during the fire that ravaged the upper levels of Central Library, April 29, 1986.; For a similar view, see photograph #00043273.
Subject	Central Library (Los Angeles, Calif.). Los Angeles Public Library. Decoration and ornament, Architectural--California--Los Angeles. Murals--California--Los Angeles. Rotundas--California--Los Angeles. Libraries--California--Los Angeles. Garnsey, Julian E.(Julian Ellsworth),b. 1887. Goodhue, Bertram Grosvenor,1869-1924. Cornwell, Dean,1892-1960. Winslow, Carlton M. Lawrie, Lee,1877-1963. Bertram G. Goodhue Associates. Thomas Day Company (Los Angeles, Calif.).
Format	Photographic prints
Reproduction Information	Images available for reproduction and use. Please see the Ordering & Use page at http://tessa.lapl.org/OrderingUse.html for additional information.
Sub-Collection Name	Los Angeles Public Library Institutional Photo Collection