Thurgood Marshall Branch
🏢 Chicago Public Library — Chicago, Illinois
Thurgood Marshall Branch
Opened July 23, 1994 and named for the first African American Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall Branch brings a 125-seat auditorium and a collection of five public artworks to the Auburn Gresham neighborhood on Chicago's South Side. The branch's namesake, who won 29 of the 32 civil rights cases he argued before the Supreme Court — including Brown v. Board of Education — embodies the library's commitment to equal access and community empowerment.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 12 PM – 8 PM |
| Tuesday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Wednesday | 12 PM – 8 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM – 5 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM – 5 PM |
| Sunday | 1 PM – 5 PM |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 7506 S. Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60620
Phone: 3127475927
Website: chipublib.org
📖 About Thurgood Marshall Branch
Thurgood Marshall Branch opened on July 23, 1994, named for Thurgood Marshall (1908–1993), the first African American to serve as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and the lead attorney who argued Brown v. Board of Education before the Court in 1954. The 13,500-square-foot building serves Auburn Gresham, Englewood, and West Englewood, neighborhoods whose bungalow-belt housing stock dates largely to the 1920s. The branch's five Percent for Art commissions include a relief sculpture, "The Legacy," by Rene Townsend; a quilt, "They All Had Something in Common," by Venus Blue; relief paintings by Aki Donald Baker; a sculpture, "A Delicate Balance," by Terrence Karpowicz; and a bronze sculpture by Erik Blome.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- 125-seat auditorium available for community events, film screenings, and programming
- Named for Thurgood Marshall (1908–1993), lead attorney in Brown v. Board of Education and first African American Supreme Court Justice
- Five Percent for Art commissions including a quilt by Venus Blue and a bronze sculpture by Erik Blome
- YOUmedia teen digital media studio offering hands-on technology and creative programming for teens
- Parking lot with two accessible spaces plus two wheelchair ramps for full ADA accessibility
📱 Free with a Chicago Public Library Card
Any Chicago resident can get a CPL card free and unlock:
📍 More Chicago Public Library branches
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Thurgood Marshall and why is this branch named after him?
Thurgood Marshall (1908–1993) was an American civil rights lawyer and jurist who successfully argued Brown v. Board of Education before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1954, ending legal school segregation. In 1967, President Lyndon Johnson appointed him as the first African American Justice of the Supreme Court, where he served until 1991. The Auburn Gresham branch was named in his honor when it opened on July 23, 1994.
Does the Thurgood Marshall Branch have an auditorium?
Yes. The Thurgood Marshall Branch includes a 125-seat auditorium that hosts community events, film screenings, and library programming. Contact the branch at (312) 747-5927 or thurgoodmarshall@chipublib.org for event and reservation information.
What digital resources are available for teens at Thurgood Marshall Branch?
The branch offers YOUmedia, CPL's teen-focused digital media program, which provides access to recording equipment, computers, and creative technology alongside in-person workshops and digital literacy classes. All programs are free with a library card.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.