Separated from Other Carnegie Libraries in April, 2007.
History from Free to All and from Carnegie Libraries of California.
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.
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.
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.
Why does a library
site of San Diego's size have to share space
with the city government?
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 is from an OLA (Oregon Library Association) article.
Built 1909.
Being renovated for the
Carnegie Arts and Cultural Center.
Really, you don't need to atone. We blame the card. The building looks much nicer on your website.
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.
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.
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
HistoryLink site.
Damaged in a 1949 earthquake, the central library's dismantling is detailed in the 50 picture slideshow.
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.
© 2003-7 Judy Aulik
Uploaded: 07 April 2007.
Updated: 29 July 2007. (Longview not a Carnegie building.)