Gregory Hill
LIS-604
July 22, 2013
Carnegie Libraries
At the time of Carnegie Libraries publication in 1969, more than eighty years had passed
since the initial stages of Carnegie Public Library Philanthropy began. Now, taking into account
the present day and age, over one hundred and twenty years have passed since Andrew
Carnegie’s philanthropic endeavors would earn him the title of “Patron Saint of Libraries”; in his
lifetime he was responsible for more than 2,509 library buildings built throughout the English
speaking parts of the world. He donated $56,162,622 for the construction of library buildings,
and more than $40,000,000 of this amount was given for the erection of 1,679 public library
buildings in 1,412 communities of the United States (Bobinski, 1969). But after 1911, the
Carnegie Corporation alone would be responsible for administering library grants rather than
Andrew Carnegie himself.
Nevertheless, Andrew Carnegie’s affiliation with librarianship must be attributed to his
philanthropic causes. However, library philanthropy only comprised a fraction of Carnegie’s
benefactions. Following sale of the Carnegie Steel Company to J.P. Morgan for nearly
$500,000,000 in 1901, and at the age of sixty-six, he became entirely dedicated to benevolent
matters. Conversely, matters which did not interest Andrew Carnegie on a personal level would
become exclusions to his paradigm of philanthropy. Carnegie lists seven fields to which the
wealthy could devote their surplus in the following order: universities, libraries, medical
centers, public parks, meeting and concert halls, public baths, and churches (Bobinski, 1969). Of
the fields which received considerable attention from Carnegie, libraries were the principal
benefactions, and the reason lies with Carnegie’s own love for libraries and books.
Andrew Carnegie was born in a weaver’s cottage on November 25, 1835, in
Dunfermline, Scotland. Due to rapid industrialization of the textile trade, his father was obliged
to sell out his business, and subsequently the family moved to the United States settling in
Alleghany, Pennsylvania. From here, Carnegie would work his first job at the age of thirteen as a
bobbin boy for $1.20 per week (Bobinski, 1969). After a year of work, he transitioned into the
role of messenger boy for a local telegraph company; in this role he taught himself the art of
telegraphy and established connections with important people. As happens to be the case in
one’s life, the relationships formed with others may prove to be of more value than one can
ever imagine. In this instance, Carnegie found himself learning the many intricacies of the
Pennsylvania Railroad, and in the meantime he cultivated an interests into other business
affairs during tenure as private secretary from 1853 – 1865. Carnegie’s outside interests
included investing in the Woodruf Sleeping Car Company; he introduced the first sleeping car
on an American railroad (Bobinski, 1969).
During 1862, his investment that proved most lucrative was attached to major oil
development underway in western Pennsylvania. In 1863, he assisted in the formation of the
Keystone Bridge Company, which successfully began replacing wooden railroad bridges with
structures made of iron (Bobinski, 1969). In 1865 Carnegie decided he would devote more time
to business interests, and for the next thirty-six years he would focus on building up the
Carnegie Steel Company. From here we arrive at the year 1901 where Carnegie sold his
company to J.P. Morgan, which would set in motion events leading to the growth of Carnegie
library philanthropy.
There are many individuals who were instrumental in the various stages of Andrew
Carnegie’s library philanthropy. The most important figure however is none other than James
Bertram, who served as Carnegie’s private secretary from 1897 to 1914, and secretary to the
Carnegie Corporation of New York from 1911 to 1934 (Bobinski, 1969). Bertram was
responsible for the day to day operations of benefactions, and kept in close correspondence
with all applicants. A native of Corstorphine, Scotland, Bertram brought about order to an
otherwise chaotic atmosphere by which applications from all over the world poured in. Bertram
would quickly prove his worth, by demonstrating a genius for organization which allowed him
to handle requests more efficiently. Eventually, Carnegie saw it necessary for the establishment
of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, established in 1911 in an effort to continue with
Carnegie Philanthropy. Along with Carnegie and Bertram, they were joined by Robert A. Franks,
formerly a private financial secretary who would become treasurer of the organization.
Together, these three individuals formed the executive committee of the Corporation and met
frequently to conduct the business of philanthropy (Bobinski, 1969).
Few even questioned the desperate need for libraries in the late nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries, and it was uncommon for public libraries to have buildings of their own.
Cramped quarters within the local city hall, and often former residences functioned for library
use. For inquiries into Carnegie libraries, individuals from all professions were known to have
made request for a Carnegie library to be erected in their community. Those requesting
benefactions included librarians, library board members, teachers, ministers, representatives of
ladies’ library associations, women’s club organizations, and commercial clubs (Bobinski, 1969).
These requests usually stemmed from one receiving word, or reading about Andrew Carnegie’s
philanthropy, and presumably wanted to share in the generosity provided by Carnegie. Some
requests included not only the erection of a library, but sometimes there were requests for an
entire gymnasium, banquet rooms, public baths, churches, and YMCA’s along with other
facilities and agencies people thought appropriate to share with new Carnegie library structures
(Bobinski, 1969). Yet, none of these requests were approved of, and only libraries were
provided.
All of the Carnegie library grants were confined to English-speaking countries, and
Carnegie stood firm in his belief that Great Britain and America were sister republics in conflict
with notions of capital and labor, laws regulating commerce and manufacture, taxation,
improved housing of the poor, and education of the people (Bobinski, 1969). Carnegie also
believed in the voice of the people; with Great Britain and America having an established
general public library system, this provided a solid foundation for which library philanthropy
should concern itself. In order to obtain a Carnegie library there were several requirements to
be met by the community; Carnegie himself required that once the city received funds for
construction of the library he was also successful in obtaining a pledge that the city would
furnish sites and maintain the libraries forever (Bobinski, 1969). Being the shrewd business man
that he was, he believed the city’s investment would be greater than his, and ultimately he was
right.
The two periods which marked the philanthropic efforts of Carnegie’s library donations
are divided into the “retail” and “wholesale” periods. During the retail period of 1886 to 1896,
Carnegie gave a total of $1,860,869 for the construction of fourteen buildings to six
communities in the United States: Alleghany (1886) and Johnstown (1890), Pennsylvania; a
main building and eight branches to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1890); and library buildings to
Fairfield, Iowa (1892); Braddock, Pennsylvania (1895); and Homestead, Pennsylvania (1896).
The towns of Pennsylvania which were granted a Carnegie library actually received more than a
library, as Carnegie’s underlying idea was to foster a general community center which included
not only a library, but art exhibition halls, lecture and recital rooms, organs, and even
gymnasiums and swimming pools were available. This proved to be great for communities of
Pennsylvania, but it would also cause critics to grow even more indignant at the efforts of
Carnegie, as some believed was buying his way into a life of fame. There is certainly a touch of
favoritism on the part of Carnegie for which additional facilities were given to buildings erected
in the state which called Carnegie industries home. The “wholesale” period lasted from 1898 to
1919, and in comparison with the “retail” period, Carnegie gave a total of $39,172,981 to a total
of 1,406 communities in dire need of library buildings at this time.
It was interesting to read that Andrew Carnegie and James Bertram were both conscious
of the social climate of the south; despite giving library gifts to southern communities, Andrew
Carnegie never attempted to foster integration into his donations (Bobinski, 1969). Only a
portion of the 132 southern communities which received Carnegie libraries actually provided
service to African Americans. Louisville, Kentucky was the first community to have a separate
African American branch library in 1908 (Bobinski, 1969). There were also branches established
in Atlanta, Georgia; Houston, Texas; Knoxville, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; Savannah,
Georgia; and Evansville, Indiana. Some communities even made arrangements where blacks
could borrow books but not use them in the library, which was the case in Jackson, Tennessee.
In Jackson, Mississippi however, the view was that blacks were too illiterate for library facilities;
the educational level of the colored people had to be raised first (Bobinski, 1969). Common
during the time period were protests from African Americans about their lack of facilities in
most Carnegie libraries in the south. By working in an Andrew Carnegie library I did not find the
city of Salisbury listed as a site for a Negro branch, as stated in the book. A request for a branch
at Greensboro was accepted in 1905 and again in 1915, albeit the later date was controversial
due to site location and was later cancelled. It was, however renewed (the only renewal on
record) in 1922 after many entreaties (Bobinski, 1969).
Andrew Carnegie’s philanthropy was praised throughout library circles, and those who
appreciated his gifts were rarely critical of the way in which he made money. However, many
outside of the library circle became his opposition. Individuals as such were unable to grasp the
awakening effect that libraries had on a mind dormant, but only saw a man who accumulated
wealth while discounting its fair distribution among employees. Since I find myself absorbed
with librarianship, I find it extremely difficult to find fault in Carnegie’s investment in libraries.
Though what made this book so appealing is the fact that I work in an Andrew Carnegie library
which was erected in Salisbury, North Carolina in 1908. The building is badly in need of repair,
but to have a sense of history as it pertains to Andrew Carnegie enriches my own consciousness
in that I have an understanding of his efforts in improving mankind, but I am also acquainted
with a history directly related to my place of employment. Even in Carnegie’s reluctance to
promote integration on a wide scale, it is pertinent that one remembers the social milieu
surrounding library philanthropy. Carnegie himself was never opposed to opening a library
reserved for African Americans, and he was willing to consider applications from communities
to fulfill a need as such.
Community members often had divergent views on taxation; cities in opposition to a
building usually argued against the need to pay annual maintenance fees. However, if more
political figures of the community touted the joys of literature the way in which Carnegie did,
this may have curbed the wariness some communities held in regards to taxation for a Carnegie
library. I also agree wholeheartedly with Carnegie that if endowments from a city were even
considered for annual upkeep, then let the city also pay for the construction of the building
instead of receiving a building from Carnegie. The timing was perfect for Carnegie library
philanthropy, and as a result of his dedication he made libraries and books available to more
people, and provided the impetus for momentum of the public library movement.
Bibliography
Bobinski, S. G. (1969). Carnegie Libraries. Chicago: American Library Association.