The Library History Buff

Promoting the appreciation, enjoyment, and preservation of library history

The Library Legacy of Andrew Carnegie

"Regardless of why Carnegie did what he did, his establishment of thousands of public libraries is the most important event in the history of American librarianship. Further, regardless of rationale, these Carnegie Libraries to this day have benefited in the education of millions of people." Michael Lorenzen

Cartoon featuring Andrew Carnegie from Harper's Weekly April 11, 1903
Accompanied by this poem:
"We men are only lusty boys,
Though snowy be our locks,
So Skibo's master still enjoys
To sit and play with blocks."

Andrew Carnegie was often referred to as the ‘Patron Saint of Libraries’.  He donated $56,162,622 for the construction of 2509 library buildings throughout the English-speaking parts of the world.  He donated $40,000,000 for the construction of 1679 public library buildings in the United States.

General Links to Carnegie Library Sites

Tribute to Andrew Carnegie by Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
http://www.clpgh.org/exhibit/carnegie.html

Glenn A. Walsh’s Carnegie Library History Site
http://andrewcarnegie.tripod.com/

A Philatelic Tribute to Andrew Cargnegie
http://www.libraryhistorybuff.org/bibliophilately-people-carnegie.htm

Michael Lorenzen's Essay and Web Page on Carnegie Libraries
http://www.michaellorenzen.com/carnegie.html

Carnegie Corporation of New York
http://www.carnegie.org/ 

Carnegie Corporation of New York Archives at Columbia University
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/libraries/indiv/rare/guides/Carnegie/index.html

Carnegie Library Lesson Plan from the National Park Service
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/50carnegie/50carnegie.htm

Carnegie Libraries of Scotland
http://www.scotcities.com/carnegie/

The Library Postcard site of Judy Aulik
http://home.comcast.net/~jaulik/index.html
This is a great library postcard site which features Carnegie libraries and is expanding.

Wikipedia "Carnegie library" entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie_library

Carnegie Library Links by State

California

Carnegie Libraries of California
http://www.carnegie-libraries.org/

Florida

Florida's Carnegie Libraries
http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/services/magazine/00summer/carnegie.cfm

Iowa

Iowa's Carnegie Libraries
http://clip.grad.uiowa.edu/

Fairfield's Carnegie Library
http://www.youseemore.com/fairfield/about.asp?p=8

Kansas

Carnegie Library Legacy in Kansas
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/carnegie/intro.html

Michigan

Carnegie Libraries in Michigan Compiled by Cynthia Terwilliger
http://www.cterwilliger.com/resource/carnegie/

Nebraska

Nebraska Carnegie Libraries
http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/docs/nlcarchives/Carnegie/Carnegie.html

Ohio

Carnegie Public Library of East Liverpool, Ohio
http://www.carnegie.lib.oh.us/libraryhistory.htm

Cleveland's Carnegie Libraries
http://www.cpl.org/?q=node/2388
http://cplorg.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm4/browse.php
http://cplorg.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm4/browse.php?CISOROOT=%2Fp4014coll13

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Carnegie Libraries

South Carolina

South Carolina Carnegie Libraries
http://www.libsci.sc.edu/histories/vts/vts11.html

Texas

Texas Carnegie Libraries
http://www.texasescapes.com/Texas_architecture/CarnegieLibraries.htm

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Carnegie Libraries
http://heritage.wisconsinlibraries.org/carnegie-libraries.html

Carnegie Libraries of Canada

Ontario's Carnegie Libraries
http://www.culture.gov.on.ca/english/library/carnegie/carnegie.htm

This site created and maintained by Larry T. Nix
Send comments or questions to nix@libraryhistorybuff.org
Last updated: 02-09-09   © 2005-2009 Larry T. Nix
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