Jackson, Helen Hunt, Branch
historic place
The Helen Hunt Jackson Branch, a historic place in Los Angeles, California, opened to the public on November 1, 1925. Located at 2330 Naomi Street, this building was designed by architect C.E. Noerenberg in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. The branch was named for 19th-century American writer Helen Hunt Jackson, known for her novel *Ramona*. This library was part of the Los Angeles Public Library system's expansion, funded by municipal bonds in the 1920s. From 1929 to 1934, Miriam Matthews, the first African American librarian for the Los Angeles Public Library, served at this branch. She began researching and preserving the contributions of African Americans to California history, creating the library system's first research collection on Black History. In 1940, the Helen Hunt Jackson Branch ceased operating as a fully staffed library and was later converted into a church building. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. This designation recognizes its role in community education and its architectural style.