Tacony, Tacony Branch Library, Free Library of Philadelphia, 6700 block of Torresdale Avenue, southwest corner of Torresdale Avenue & Knorr Street, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Significance: While not initially established-but partially funded-by the Disstons, education and social betterment were a key part of their concept of benevolent industrial paternalism. The Tacony Branch Library of the Free Library of Philadelphia both underscored this continued interest as well as the involvement of large turn-of-the-century educational networks centered on the Free Library system in Philadelphia as well as in the national philanthropic work of Andrew Carnegie. Architecturally, the building's design is a variation on a general scheme used in the planning and construction of a number of branch libraries throughout Philadelphia early in the twentieth century.
Survey number: HABS PA-6692-H
Building/structure dates: 1906 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1927 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: ca. 1959 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1998 Subsequent Work