George C. Thomas Library

Fairbanks’ first library from 1906 to 1908 was a screened-off section in St. Matthew’s Church. When Philadelphia banker George C. Thomas read an appeal for more reading material in a church publication, he donated $4,000 toward a new building and $3,000 toward the operation of the library. Thus a li­brary building was constructed in 1909 on the corner of 1st Avenue and Cowles Street and named after its benefactor. In its first year of operation, the library circulated over 10,700 books. The library was the site of a meeting between Judge Wickersham and Athabascan Indian chiefs to discuss Native land issues and is recognized as the site of the first Native land claims meeting. In July 1942, the Episcopal Church turned the building over to the city of Fairbanks, which continued to operate the library until 1977, when the new Noel Wien Library opened. The building ownership re­verted back to the Church and was later sold.