Venice-Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch

Can you imagine a library born from the ashes of war? Right here, at the Venice-Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch, the echoes of World War I resonate through the very foundations. The Venice-Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch stands as a testament to peace, built on land dedicated to twenty Los Angeles High School alumni lost in the Great War. In 1923, seven years before the library opened its doors, the land was purchased by the school’s student body and alumni association. They deeded it to the city in memory of those fallen young men. The City of Los Angeles then granted the Los Angeles Public Library permission to build a branch on this hallowed ground. The Venice-Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch officially opened on April 29, 1930. The picturesque English Tudor architecture, designed by Austin and Ashley, mirrored the style of the high school across Olympic Boulevard. A beautiful stained-glass window, commissioned by the high school students, graced the adult reading room. Designed by the Judson Art Studio, the window displayed the names of the twenty fallen alumni and an inscription expressing hope for peace among nations. Over the decades, the Venice-Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch has served as a vital community hub, fostering learning and cultural exchange with its diverse collection. In 1990, the library, designated a Los Angeles historic-cultural monument, briefly closed for renovations. It needed to meet seismic codes. During this time, it temporarily relocated to 4801 Wilshire Boulevard. The restored Venice-Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch reopened on July 22, 1996. The renovation incorporated a beautiful stained-glass installation by Bill Judson, the great-grandson of the original Judson Art Studio artist. The project was funded by Proposition #1, the 1989 Library Bond Issue, and the City’s Capital Improvement Program. The Venice-Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch stands as a symbol of resilience, remembrance, and the enduring power of community.