Manuscripts

Ahmanson reading room, August 26 1949

Description: View of the Ahmanson reading room, full of readers. The large elevated desk which the man is standing next to is where library staff distributed requested materials from the rare book stacks immediately behind them and the manuscripts stacks as well. MS note on verso reads "Huntington Library Rare Book Reading Room August 26, 1949." Typed attached note reads "Rare Book Reading Room. In 1953, over 700 readers from all parts of the country and abroad, used the facilities of the Huntington Library. Henry E. Huntington Library San Marino, California."
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Date: August 26 1949
Call number: HIA 60.1.14
Find out more: View in the Huntington Digital Library(Opens in new tab)

Library rare book stacks under construction, July 14 1922

Visual Materials

A view of the steel supports below the rare book stacks. MS note below the picture reads "Bottom," since it would be difficult to determine which way is up otherwise. MS note on verso reads "Huntington Library stacks, July 14, 1922."

photCL 107 fld26 pg38

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Huntington Library institutional lantern slides

Visual Materials

Over 200 black-and-white lantern slides (photographs) of Huntington Library buildings, employees, library stacks, collections, and art objects. Lantern slides of the Huntington Art Gallery include exteriors and interiors of gallery rooms: Chippendale Room; Renaissance Room; Sculpture Gallery; French Room; New Gallery; Library Room. There are also slides of art objects or paintings. Images of the Library include the manuscripts stacks, the rare books stacks, people viewing books, conservation staff; photographic reproduction; and library staff. There is also a box of 100 lantern slides related to Mark Twain and his works, most likely used for lectures.

photCL 733

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Set of wooden chairs from original 1920 Huntington Library Reading Room : [object]

Rare Books

Set of seven, or more, wooden chairs which were purchased for use in the Huntington Library Reading room when it opened in 1920. The chairs are early 20th-century manufacture, probably oak, with leather back cushions with studs and saddle seats. Myron Hunt's 1918 conceptual plans for the library called for at least 4 chairs in the Reading Room. Photographs in the Huntington archives show the chairs in use in the room when it was used for study and when the space was converted into exhibition space. By the 1930s, the chairs no longer appear to have been in use in the Library Main Hall. It is likely that they were in use in offices or other staff areas over the years.

195391

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Early view of Huntington Library exhibition hall

Visual Materials

MS note on verso reads: "HEH library, before January 1928 - while main exhibition hall was also rare book reading room." Stamp on verso reads "This print is released as a personal courtesy and is not for publication. All syndicate and publication rights reserved. Eyre Powell Press Service." Another copy is no. 347 Pictures Archives, box 4, folder 1.

photCL 107: folder 26 (3)

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Library building, 1922

Manuscripts

A view of the library building from the southwest. Typed note on verso reads "Huntington Library building and planting as it appeared immediately after completion."

HIA 60.1.14

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Library exhibition hall, 1967

Manuscripts

View of the library exhibition hall showing displays of paintings and documents. MS note on verso reads "Main Exhibition Hall, 1967, Library Building, Henry E. Huntington Library & Art Gallery, San Marino, California. Please return to the Library's Public Relations Office."

HIA 60.1.14

Ahmanson reading room, August 26 1949

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Library rare book stacks under construction, July 14 1922

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Set of wooden chairs from original 1920 Huntington Library Reading Room : [object]

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