History of Andrew Carnegie and Carnegie Libraries

The Life of Industrialist and Philanthropist
Andrew Carnegie
(1835 - 1919)

Portrait of Andrew Carnegie hanging over fireplace in Andrew Carnegie Free Library, Carnegie, Pa.

Andrew Carnegie and Carnegie Libraries Photo Album

Andrew Carnegie: A Tribute

Andrew Carnegie and His Philanthropies

Facts and Documents Regarding Andrew Carnegie
from the Pennsylvania Department, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Excerpt from "The Gospel of Wealth" by Andrew Carnegie

Ramblings about Andrew Carnegie (and a few diversions)

Mark Twain Speaks on Andrew Carnegie

Cobblestone Magazine logo In Cobblestone Magazine, April, 1999: The History of Andrew Carnegie
Cobblestone Student Activities on Life of Andrew Carnegie
News Release - April 12, 1999:
National Magazine Highlights Andrew Carnegie and Pittsburgh

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - April 9, 2000
"Andrew Carnegie was so much more than a businessman"

History of Astronomer and Optician John A. Brashear
(Friend of Andrew Carnegie)

The History of Carnegie Libraries

Entrance to the Andrew Carnegie Free Library, Carnegie, Pa.

Andrew Carnegie and Carnegie Libraries Photo Album

The Carnegie Formula and Early Carnegie Libraries

Library Grants, Presented by Andrew Carnegie,
in the Nineteenth Century

Early Children's Services at Carnegie Libraries

From the Pittsburgh City Paper - February 9, 2000:
"You Had to Ask:
Where and when did Andrew Carnegie donate his first library?
And how many libraries were donated in all? "

Early Carnegie Libraries --

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Andrew Carnegie Free Library, Carnegie, Pennsylvania(May 1, 1901)

Braddock Carnegie Library, Braddock, Pennsylvania(March 30, 1889)

Carnegie Free Library of Allegheny, Pennsylvania(February 20, 1890)

Carnegie Free Library of Duquesne, Pennsylvania(1904-1968)
(original Carnegie Library building razed in June of 1968)

Carnegie Free Library of McKeesport, Pennsylvania(July 15, 1902)

Carnegie Free Library of Swissvale, Pennsylvania(February 4, 1918)

Carnegie Library of Homestead, Munhall, Pennsylvania(November 5, 1898)

Oakmont Carnegie Library, Oakmont, Pennsylvania(1901)

Wilkinsburg Public Library, Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania(September 11, 1899)
Opened September 11, 1899 as The Carnegie Free Library of Wilkinsburg,
a branch of the Braddock Carnegie Library.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh(1895) --

Andrew Carnegie donated Main Library building(which also included Museum of Natural History, Museum of Art, and Music Hall; 1907 addition included Dinosaur Hall and a Lecture Hall; Scaife Gallery added to Museum of Art in the 1960s) and eight neighborhood branches. Additionally, Allegheny Regional Branch started as original Carnegie Library building for Allegheny City, across Allegheny River from Downtown Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh annexed Allegheny City in 1907; Carnegie Free Library of Allegheny joined Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh system in 1956.

1895 Dedication of The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
and Carnegie Institute,
Including Andrew Carnegie's Dedicatory Address in its Entirety


Main Library in Schenley Park, Oakland(November 5, 1895)

Allegheny Regional Branch(February 20, 1890)

Lawrenceville Branch(May 10, 1898)

West End Branch(January 31, 1899)

Hill District Branch[formerly Wylie Avenue Branch](June 1, 1899)
(not presently housed in original Carnegie Library building)

Hazelwood Branch(August 15, 1900)

Mount Washington Branch(May 31, 1900)

East Liberty Branch(1905)
(original Carnegie Library building razed)

South Side Branch(1909)

Homewood Branch(1911)

Other Libraries, Originated with a Grant from Andrew Carnegie --

Carnegie Libraries in the State of California

Carnegie Libraries in the State of Ohio

History of the Fort Worth Public Library, Fort Worth, Texas(1901)

Fort Worth, which did not previously have a public library, received a Carnegie grant of $50,000 on June 30, 1899.

Lackawanna Public Library, Lackawanna, New York(1922)
Now part of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Libraries.
Lackawanna, which did not previously have a public library, received a Carnegie grant of $30,000 on May 3, 1917. The Lackawanna Public Library was one of the last Carnegie libraries constructed. The Carnegie Corporation of New York ended the grant program, for construction of libraries, in 1917.

Lewiston, Idaho:
From the Lewiston Morning Tribune, Lewiston, Idaho - October 3, 1999:
Lewiston City Library Hires New Library Director;
Original Carnegie Library Closed Sept. 30, 1999
The Lewiston City Library, which pre-dates its Carnegie grant, received a Carnegie grant of $10,000 on March 27, 1903.

Warsaw Public Library, Warsaw, New York(1906)
A Carnegie library completed in 1906, it is now a part a part of the Pioneer Library System, a cooperative library system serving public libraries in Livingston, Ontario, Wayne, and Wyoming counties of New York State(Warsaw is in Wyoming County).

Other Organizations Which Have Benefited
from Andrew Carnegie Philanthropy

Dinosaur Hall of The Carnegie Museum of Natural History

Carnegie Institute/Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh -

Carnegie Museum of Natural History:

Centennial of the Discovery of the first major dinosaur skeleton: Diplodocus Carnegii("Dippy")

Carnegie Museum of Art

Carnegie Science Center

Andy Warhol Museum

Original Science Center Building:
The Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science

History of Carnegie-Mellon University(CMU): November 15, 1900 -

Located in the Oakland Civic Center section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Previously known as Carnegie Technical Schools(1900-1912)
and Carnegie Institute of Technology/Carnegie Tech(1912-1967):

CMU Centennial

CMU Capsule History: "Yesterday and Today"

CMU Detailed History


Carnegie Corporation of New York

Carnegie Hall in New York City

Other "Carnegie" organizations

Amateur Astronomers' Association of Pittsburgh***11-inch Brashear Refractor Telescope

Andrew Carnegie and Carnegie Libraries Photo Album


History of The Duquesne Incline, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania(1877)

Return to History of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library.

Return to Andrew Carnegie Free Library History Cover Page.

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Disclaimer Statement: This Internet Web page is not affiliated with the Henry Buhl, Jr. Planetarium and Observatory,
The Carnegie Science Center, or The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh/Carnegie Institute.

This Internet, World Wide Web page administered by the Andrew Carnegie Free Library.
© Copyright 2000, Glenn A. Walsh, All Rights Reserved.

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