Separated from Other Carnegie Libraries in April, 2007. Many cards added in June, 2009.
History from Free to All and from Carnegie Libraries of California.
1905 - 1929
1903 grant that was hardly worth Mr. Carnegie's time and money.
(L) Edw. H. Mitchell card, mailed 1913.
(R) Pacific Novelty Co. card, never mailed.
1904 grant.
Replaced in 1982, then wickedly remodeled. Now the Chico Museum.
Edward H. Mitchell card also showing the Majestic Theater.
You don't see a lot of Gothic library buildings in California, and the theater is also a little staid.
1906 - 1978
Vacant from 1971 until its demolition.
This 1907 message reads in part: 'Say there are lots of good oranges here.' Sent to Wisconsin in early March.
Built 1903. Now the Morris Graves Museum of Art, according to the Carnegie Libraries of California web page. Sometime along the way, the dome was replaced by a skylight. Probably more sensible in earthquake-prone areas.
Written (1905) on the Edw. H. Mitchell card is:
This is on F and Seventh Sts. - right back of the Reilinger house - opposite Convent. - about a yr. old.
Edith
In use 1910 - 1975; currently a museum.
Library subsumed into Santa Clara Countly Library, but at least someone had the common sense to reuse the original building. (There is still a Gilroy facility.)
The card is from the Pacific Novelty Co. of San Francisco, and is unusual in its colors and lettering style.
1906 - 1958
Upon annexation to Los Angeles in 1910, this Tudor Revival
library became a branch library, the first of several indignities
to befall this Carnegie project before its demolition in 1958.
The current Hollywood branch is a Frank Gehry edifice. No hooray
for Hollywood from me.
1909 - 1972
Demolished in 1973 subsequent to a fire. This wasn't the most distinguished library, but this is one of the better postcards in my collection. The publisher is Edward H. Mitchell of San Francisco.
1908 - 1956
It didn't even make it to middle age.
Sweet, glorious youth! Flower beds! Pampas grass! Flowering trees! Curt Teich, you tried your hardest on this card.
A Christmas present (12/24/1907, per Bobinski) for Monterey resulting in a
library serving the public from 1911 - 1952.
Lovely combination of Mission, Moorish, and the 'standard' Carnegie style.
Pretty Edw. H. Mitchell card, never mailed.
Built in 1902, now the African American Museum Library. Earthquake survivor.
Card published for Owl Drug. Entire back, never used.
Library received its Carnegie grant in 1906. The building was enlarged in 1926, 1938, 1950, and 1978-1981. The last renovation seems to have essentially obliterated any traces of the Mission- style Carnegie building.
The card was produced locally by Chas. K. Tuttle.
Built 1903, addition 1940, demolished 1967.
Fantastic Spanish Mission style library in Riverside, torn down in the 1960s.
(L) Card dated between 1907 and 1911, produced by Paul C. Koeber Co. of New York City and Kircheim, Germany.
(R) Card post-1907. Attribution: 'Post Cards of Quality -
The Albertype Co., Brooklyn, N.Y.' Just exquisite.
1902 - 1952
Built from an 1899 grant.
Although the library shares a site with the city, it has managed to produce a fantastic
omnibus
site for people like me.
The propsed new building looks like the Bahai temple in Wilmette, Illinois. Neat.
Built after a 1905 Carnegie grant, subsequently demolished.
1903 - 1960
Mission (Spanish Colonial) style building that no-one apparently felt was important enough to preserve, long before current building codes would have put the kibosh on the bell towers.
1904 - 1964
This was a rare Romanesque Carnegie building, damaged in the 1906 earthquake (earning a second grant), and condemned in 1960. It took 54 years to figure out that it was unsafe?
After a hiatus in temporary quarters, the new building was erected on the same site in 1967.
The card was postmarked in 1905.
In public library service from 1916 to 1968, and today is Turlock's Community Arts Center.
The card, by Pacific Novelty of San Francisco, was mailed in the 1920s.
Built with a 1905 grant: still in use (rare among California Carnegie libraries).
Unusual card style with an attractive self-framing border.
Much of the Carnegie information came from an OLA (Oregon Library Association) article no longer online.
Built 1909.
Being renovated for the
Carnegie Arts and Cultural Center.
This card's picture leaves a lot to be desired.
Late 1903 Carnegie grant. Building no longer in use.
1912 Carnegie grant. Still in use with a massive addition.
Real photo post card with no date information. However, the American flag does have 48 stars, narrowing it down slightly.
1913 grant. Large building, replaced in 2006.
Fate unknown.
Black and White brand postcard, possibly attributed to Curt Teich & Co.
Not Dalles. The Dalles.
1907 Carnegie grant. Built in 1910 according to a rather spiffy little Wikipedia site. I include it because of its great picture.
The Carnegie building is replaced as a library, but is currently an arts center.
The library continues as the Dalles-Wasco County Library.
The card has the notation, 'On the Line of the O.-W. R. & N.', and is published by the Pacific Novelty Co.
Built from a 1903 grant. It looks as if this may have been the 12th Street (Fairhaven) location, finished in 1904, and in current need of masonery repairs. (The central location was replaced in 1951.) Either the card was malcolored or they've painted it. If this was the original color, I can understand why they painted it.
Late (1913) grant.
On photo card as Carnegie Library - Rentin.
Not visible on the scan, unless you're Superman, is an early gas station.
Hanging from its canopy is a round sign, possibly for Standard Oil of California.
Odd library style: not really Prairie,
not really Federal, either. No longer in use: probably demolished because it
was not really distinguished.
1906 grant. Still in use! (Open 31 hours per week.)
Tiny Carnegie building with bunting around a window and near the entrance.
In the background of this Sprouse &: Son German card is the Adams County
Court House.
Initial (1902) collection of books and photographs donated by
Daniel Buchanan.
I like your pluck.
--Andrew Carnegie, pertaining to the 1901, post-fire, grant request
Although I don't yet have the figures to prove it, I suspect the 1901
Seattle Carnegie library was one of the nation's largest. The grant, which included the
branch libraries, totalled $430,000.
Unfortunately, the building is one of the least attractive, on this card sent 1911. A wonderful
history of the Seattle system is given on the
SPL site.
For some deranged reason, it looks as if there is no walkway leading to the stairs. That ought to stop the skateboarders!
According to the Spokane Public Library's website, this Carnegie library was built in 1904 and outgrown in 1961. The building is still standing, but its current function is undisclosed.
© 2003-9 Judy Aulik
Uploaded: 07 April 2007.
Updated: 25 June 2009.
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