Woman's Christian Temperance Union Administration Building

The Woman's Christian Temperance Union Administration Building on Chicago Avenue is a brick structure with concrete foundations and wooden framing built in 1910. It now functions as an archive and houses the Willard Memorial Library with extensive documentation about the temperance movement and social reform initiatives.

The building was erected in 1910 as the national headquarters for the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, an organization that advocated for prohibition laws and women's rights. Its establishment coincided with a period of intense campaigns for social change across America.

The building houses extensive collections related to the temperance movement and reveals how women drove social reform in the early 20th century. The spaces inside show how this organization organized and coordinated its campaigns for social change.

The building provides access to documents and archive materials for visitors interested in women's history and reform movements. It is advisable to check ahead about specialized tours or research hours that may be available for visitors.

The library inside contains original rolling ladders from the early 20th century that show how librarians once accessed high shelves. These tools are a rare surviving example of practical solutions from that era that visitors can still see today.

Location: Evanston

Inception: 1910

Architects: Charles R. Ayars

Address: 1730 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201

GPS coordinates: 42.05110,-87.67830

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:23