Part of the Library Postcards: Civic Pride in a Lost America site.
Probably I have more chutzpah than brains to put up my offerings, given these great pages that have beaten me to Iowa library history:
CLIP:
Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project
State Library of Iowa's list of Carnegie library construction dates.
Fairfield (Jefferson County) library was the first
Carnegie library west of the Mississippi.
The non-Carnegie buildings are on a new
page.
A-C is on another page. D-L is on a new
page. This page was split off
from M-O in October, 2009.
(L) L.L. Cook photocard, probably from the 1940s.
(R) This rather abused card was mailed in 1910.
The 1903 building houses a museum and special collections. The
new
library was built in 1993.
It's a big 'un.
Built 1908.
Critically endangered. TPTB really want this one gone.
Ground was broken for the replacement
library in 2007.
Pictures of the
move
are also on the library site, as are
pictures of
the new building.
This is the only colored RP in my collection. It bore a 1 cent stamp, but the postmark does not have a year.
Built 1906, replaced 1969. Currently in use as a museum, according to the State Library of Iowa site.
(L) L.L. Cook postcard (Milwaukee) mailed in 1948. Nice, sharp photo.
(R) 'Lithochrome' brand card.
Built 1903, addition built 1950. It was supposed to have been replaced in 2004, but in 2009, the web site shows the old building, possibly with another addition.
(L) RPPC, probably from the 1940s. The licence plate is not quite
clear enough to read its date.
(R) I rather think Beckwith and Beauchamp overdid it with the
red ink. Not an attractive card.
On an Osceola
County website is the confirmation that this library is a Carnegie
building, funded in 1917, and renovated in 1985.
The picture at the bottom of the linked page shows a garage attached
at the left side of the library.
Built 1913. It was supposed to have been replaced in 2001, but was not until 2008 or 2009. Today it appears to be available to rent as a 50 person meeting room.
This is a Dexter Press card, but I cannot date it, either. Given that the maples look to be 30 to 40 years old, I'll give an estimate of just post-WWII.
One of Sioux City's two Carnegie buildings. I don't know which one this is.
Natural Color Postcard by E.C. Kropp of Milwaukee, published by Olson News Co. of Sioux City. Not Jimmie, I presume.
1903 - 1970
(L) The publisher of this card is unknown, but is nearly certainly the
same one as published the Arcadia (WI) library post card.
(R) The monochrome card reveals some unusual window details, such as 'Carnegie'
on the window over the door. There are also treatments that make the side windows
look arched.
Spencer is the library with the famous resident cat. He roamed a new building, however.
1903 grant.
Reminiscent of the Harvey, Illinois and the Adrian, Michigan Carnegie buildings.
Its hunh? retirement occupation is as Santa's Castle. In contrast, the current library building is a little nondescript.
Built in 1904; now serves as a woodworking shop.
To the left of the library is either cords of obsessively cut stovewood, or of books.
Amazing how the flag looks as if there's a 30 mph wind, and the trees are not bent at all. Thus is the glory of the collaboration between H. Soleman and Sons, and an unknown German printer.
Carnegie building dating from 1902 and still in use (2007). The city's web page is chock-full of information.
The library's very orange website details the building's history. It also has a nice blurb on its Grant Wood collection.
Note, if you can see it, the baby carriage and infant to the left of the library steps.
Somewhat similar to the
Charles City library.
1903 grant. Still in use, with an addition.
Black and White brand card, which is probably a Curt Teich product.
Waterloo, in some ironic twist, marks the beginning of my search for the branch libraries of larger cities, although I don't really think of this city as large. It began with two remarkably similar postcards. Even though the first is only sepia monochrome, I like it a little better. The plant in the background is not corn. Maybe it's some type of prairie grass.
Built 1906.
Exhibits the Georgian revival style we think of as classic Carnegie.
Currently serves as law offices.
(L) The card was made in Germany
and mailed in 1909.
(R) Colors differ on the attractive Curt Teich card.
Built 1906.
Currently used as city offices.
(L) The card has an unevenly divided back, a code number 65455 in the lower left corner,
and no other publishing information.
(R) Curt Teich 'C.T. American Art' postcard, clearly a newer issue.
Built 1907: now serves as offices.
(L) Charming winter scene on a card that was possibly produced (Giles Bros.)
before the library's opening day. Unevenly divided backs were no longer
au courant after February of 1907.
(R) Summer view with considerably less charm. You'd think that by the time that the
evenly divided back was legal, someone at the Pearson Ullberg Company--or even the
Giles Brothers--would get a clue that perhaps folks would want to see a library larger than
their thumb.
Built in 1904, it has had at least one large addition. Note the curved window tops on this card. There are still lingering traces of Romanesque design on this predominantly Tudor-style building.
Card bears no publishing information.
1904 grant. Built in 1905, replaced by a huge single storey building. The somewhat plain Carnegie building now serves as City Hall. Maybe they have a real American flag by now.
This is an M.L. Metrochrom card that looks to be an imitation of the C.T. Artchrom Curt Teich line. It was mailed by Merdeth, who was recuperating from measles in 1916.
One of the smallest Carnegie grants, $7,500 in 1909.
Built in 1910,
expanded in 2001.
The municipal web page is nearly impossible to navigate, but the library's history page is here.
© 2006 - 9 Judy Aulik
Go on to my
Non-Carnegie Iowa Libraries page.
Divided again: 10 October 2009.
Begin again with the A - C libraries.
Return to the D - L libraries.
Return to the M - O libraries.
Return to main library postcard site.