Carnegie Libraries Across America: A Public Legacy

by Theodore Jones

". . . if you remember toiling—awestruck—up marble staircases in search of facts for a junior-high geography report; if you've driven past perfect, preserved-in-amber temples in towns too small for a stoplight and a Wal-Mart; if you've ever sat through Story Hour in the Children's Reading Room, perched on a teeny-weeny little chair that transported you to pirate dens and Indian camps and all the castles of Fairydom, you'll treasure this book." — Karal Ann Marling, University of Minnesota from the Preface "Many people believe that when you've seen one Carnegie library, you've seen them all—and nothing could be further from the truth. Each library was a separate and intentional design effort to construct a landmark. Each played a surprisingly important role in the vast social changes that occurred at the turn of the century, which include women's suffrage, museum development, the movies, the budding labor movements, education, philanthropy, and other vital issues." — Theodore Jones In 1893, the same year that Henry Ford built his first car, the doors opened on the first Carnegie library. Not particularly newsworthy at the time—outside of the small town of Fairfield, Iowa, that is—the library event can be seen, in retrospect, as a watershed for democracy in America. Over the next three decades, the Carnegie "free library" program endowed the construction of 1,688 public libraries in 1,419 communities across America—half of all public libraries in the nation. More than just repositories for books, these edifices represented a historic opportunity for everyone, regardless of his or her station in life, to directly benefit from the true wealth of nations—knowledge. In the only comprehensive history of the libraries that Carnegie built, journalist and historian Theodore Jones revisits these national treasures. He helps us rediscover an important part of who we are as a people. An enthralling read for American history buffs and a valuable resource for preservationists and restoration architects, Carnegie Libraries Across America explores all major historical, social, and technical apexes of the subject. Writing in a taut journalistic style, Jones introduces us to Andrew Carnegie, robber baron, philanthropist, veritable Horatio Alger character, and explores his motives in endowing the construction of libraries on such a massive scale. He takes us inside the library fund where we meet the decision-makers and learn the criteria by which they judged who was a fit beneficiary of the Carnegie largess and who was not. And with the help of original documents, including letters of petition by schoolteachers, bankers, and civic leaders from across the United States, he provides valuable insights into life in turn-of-the-century American towns and the values and aspirations of their citizens. And, of course, there are the buildings themselves. Jones tells the stories of many of the most notable Carnegie libraries and the various uses they have been put to over the years. In exploring the impact they had on public architecture in America, he recounts the furious battles waged by factions within the architectural community over the design of the libraries. Using nearly 100 superb reproductions, including many never-before-seen postcards and photographs, he identifies the differing architectural styles represented in various Carnegie libraries, and considers the ideological implications of each. Jones also supplies a complete directory listing the location, date of construction, and current use of each library. Carnegie Libraries Across America is your guide to treasures to be found in hundreds of communities throughout the United States.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Books About Books, Historical

181 pages, Hardcover

First published March 24, 1997

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit I mostly looked at the pictures. This book needs to come with a disclaimer though that it contains pictures that'll make you sad. Pictures of libraries that have burned, been razed, flooded, etc. I gasped a few times. It also made me fall down a wormhole of looking up on Wikipedia to see which Carnegies are still being used a libraries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

[David Curry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew Carnegie, the legendary steel magnate of the “robber barons” era, elected to distribute his considerable wealth through philanthropy. His best known project was providing funds for the design and construction of 1,688 libraries in 1,419 communities across America. I worked in one of them, complete with a cat named Brunnhilde, in Springfield, Illinois, after school and on Saturday mornings during the late 1950s (for 65 cents an hour.)

Theodore Jones’ 1997 CARNEGIE LIBRARIES ACROSS AMERICA tells the fascinating story of the man and his project. The book provides a unique perspective on early 20th century U.S. history and contains an abundance of photographs of libraries Carnegie funded.

Jones corrects popular misconceptions about Carnegie’s project. To begin with, he makes it clear that there was no standard design for the libraries. About a quarter of them were of classical revival design, as was the one I worked in, but the design was up to the community, and the photographs in the book show considerable variety. Jones also points out that Carnegie did not ask to have his name placed on any building he funded.

Jones’ selections from letters from community leaders applying for funds are one of the chief pleasures of the book. A letter from Dodge City, Kansas, acknowledged Dodge City’s notorious reputation but stressed that “for some years books, schoolhouses, churches, and evidences of culture and refinement have taken the place of cartridge belts, six shooters and dance halls.”

An idiosyncrasy in the correspondence of Carnegie and his assistant James Bertram came from their being advocates of the National Simplistic Spelling Board. “Anser” ‘“bilding,” and “promis” were common in their letters. At the same time, Bertram could be condescending toward individuals he considered yokels. Frank Perkins, of the Florida Preservation Advisory Council, reviewed Bertram’s correspondence and in 1990 said: “ Carnegie had a real snotty male secretary who carried on all of his correspondence. And it is obvious … that he felt that he was dealing with the lowest caliber of country bumpkins … you can see it throughout all his correspondence — the overtone of what contempt he had for these people. It is a wonder we ever got a library in our community.”

Carnegie required communities provide a portion of the cost of construction, as well as plans for continuing financial support. Efforts to secure these funds were often spearheaded by women’s organizations, and Jones suggests that their experience in this area was a factor leading to female suffrage. At a time before female suffrage, women in some communities were allowed to vote on proposals involving libraries.

The Johnny Appleseed of libraries had his detractors. In 1901, Eugene V. Debs, socialist labor leader and presidential candidate, said: “Laborers ma y have to work for Carnegie, but they are not compelled to recognize as a gift the pennies he throws them in return for the dollars he stole from them …”

“When the city of Pittsburg, Kansas was offered a Carnegie grant in 1909, the local socialist newspaper wrote: “If Pittsburg is not able to build a library, let it wait till it is. A library that is built on money wrung from the hearts and homes of Homestead miners who were shot down in cold blood by Pinkerton detectives is no fitting monument for the kind of men that built Pittsburg. If Mr. Carnegie wants to be charitable, let him commence with the widows and orphans of the murdered miners.”

Jones also acknowledges the glaring segregation in American libraries during the years of Carnegie’s program.

When I went looking for a copy of this out-of-print book, copies listed on the secondary market began at $500. I was able to obtain a copy from — you guessed it — the library.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this recommendation from an online connection. She was enthusiastic so it drew me in. Although I knew about the Carnegie Foundation grants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, I was excited to discover that my childhood library was among the recipients. Sadly, it has since been razed. Some of the original libraries did not age well, were damaged by natural disasters or were too small for the growing communities. Many, however, still exist. There is a full listing of all the grants and recipients at the end of the book. Many photographs enhanced the experience as well. Learning about the architecture and the framework of the grants was worth the read.

[SKP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truthfully, I mostly looked at the photos. I was sad to find out that my hometown library was not a Carnegie library even though it definitely looks like one. I did live in one town with a Carnegie library that is still a library, but it wasn’t pictured in the book. This was a very well-researched book though, although it being about 30 years old, it is probably out of date. More of the Carnegie libraries have probably changed status and been razed which is sad.

[Beth Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads like a textbook, but a really interesting textbook.
p. 96 "The Carnegie libraries in Browns Valley, Minnesota, and Wessington Springs, South Dakota, served as hospitals during the influenza epidemic of 1918-19."

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This inspired a road trip stop in Willits, CA where I was lucky enough to time it just right to be let in by a current employee of the now public access station. It was so cool to see the original picture from this book of the Willits CL hanging in the entryway still.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, readable information about Carnegie and Carnegie Libraries. I appreciated the different sections. Personal note: Berlin, Wisconsin's Carnegie Library photo was next to the Ukiah, California's Carnegie Library photo! Uncanny!

Recommend For: Librarians/Local History/American History/Library History

[Melana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful chronicle of the Carnegie Libraries. I only wish that it had more photos of then and now.