National Register Record for EXCELSIOR LIBRARY

Historic Name: EXCELSIOR LIBRARY
Current Name: None
Address: 323 SOUTH SECOND STREET
City: GUTHRIE            County: LOGAN
Section: None           Township: None           Range: None          
Description of significance: THE EXCELSIOR LIBRARY IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES UNDER CRITERION A WITHIN THE AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE OF ETHNIC HERITAGE BLACK, EDUCATION, AND SOCIAL HISTORY. THE EXCELSIOR LIBRARY WAS BUILT AS PART OF A 1954 CITY OF GUTHRIE BOND ISSUE; IT OPENED IN 1955. THE LIBRARY CONSISTED OF TWO LIBRARY ROOMS HOUSING 5,000 BOOKS AND A LARGER COMMUNITY ROOM WITH A STAGE FOR MEETINGS.1 IT OPERATED AS A RACIALLY SEGREGATED LIBRARY UNTIL 1967 WHEN THE EXCELSIOR LIBRARY AND THE GUTHRIE CARNEGIE LIBRARY WERE COMBINED AS PART OF DESEGREGATION. THE BUILDING CONTINUED TO BE USED AS A BRANCH LIBRARY UNTIL THE NEW GUTHRIE PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 1970. THE EXCELSIOR LIBRARY IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT REPRESENTED A TIME AND PLACE WHERE AFRICAN AMERICANS DID NOT HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES. IT PROVIDED LIBRARY FACILITIES AND A COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

Type: BUILDING
Historic Function: EDUCATION: LIBRARY; SOCIAL: MEETING HALL
Current Function: VACANT/NOT IN USE
Area of Significance 1: ETHNIC HERITAGE: BLACK
Area of Significance 2: ECUATION
Architectural Style: MODERN MOVEMENT
Architect: NOLEN-MOORE ARCHITECTURE
Year Built: 1955            Original Site: YES
Condition: GOOD
Restricted: N
Documentation Source: None
Date Prepared: 2016