Named in honor of a Philadelphia optician, pioneer microscope maker and philanthropist, the James W. It was originally housed in the Hope Presbyterian Church at 33rd and Wharton Streets. This library became the Queen Memorial Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia on December 13, 1912. In 1945, it was relocated to a rented building at 1313-15 Point Breeze Avenue. Queen Memorial Branch opened o
n Tuesday, January 17, 1995 in the Landreth Apartments, a residence for seniors. The building, built in 1889, is a renovated elementary school - —the former Landreth School. Mamie Nichols, Executive Director of the Point Breeze Federation, was a prime leader behind the renovation of the school into a "multi-purpose achievement center."