Friends of Montclair Library

On Thursday, December 8, 2016, the library will stay open until 8pm to host a very special event!

First, renowned Bay Area architect Julia Morgan will visit, in the person of Betty Marvin, a local historian and preservationist. “Miss Morgan” will reminisce about her struggle to become an architect in a male-dominate profession, her colorful clients and her lifelong involvement with women’s philanthropic organizations. She’ll also dispel the rumors that she designed the library or the old Montclair firehouse, although she did design about a dozen buildings in Oakland and Piedmont.

At the same event, we’ll unveil binders of Montclair history photos and information, collected and assembled by Friends of Montclair Library volunteers under the direction of Lynne Cutler. The binders, which will be available on an ongoing basis for the public to peruse at the library, are a one-of-a-kind treasure trove of interesting information and history about the Montclair area.

And, we’re asking the community to bring in their Montclair photos and memories, which we may scan and include in the binders. Do you have a photo of your class from Montclair, Thornhill or Joaquin Millar Elementary? A ticket stub from a local show? Photos or memorabilia from shops that used to be in the Village? Bring them to the library, where we’ll scan them and return them to you.

Lastly, this event kicks off our fundraising campaign to replace the banks of fluorescent lights in the library with new energy-efficient, warm lighting LEDs that match the building’s original style – look for more details on the campaign in tomorrow’s post.