The best resource I have found on this topic is the Indiana State Library's Carnegie Library page.
Grant obtained in 1902: library left this fairly standard building in 1987, to expand into a Sears, Roebuck store. (I suppose that somewhere, someone is complaining about the idiots who turn perfectly good retail buildings into libraries.) It apparently sat empty for 10 years and since 1998, houses a Fine Arts Center. The building was restored in 2006, if I interpret the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana site correctly.
(R)
Library pictured with Anderson's Central Christian Church.
(L) Library pictured with the Anderson Post Office on a Curt Teich linen-finish card.
The righthand card's framing effect is due to embossing. Postmarked 1909.
Now known as the
Carnegie Library of Steuben County.
The building underwent some heavy renovation in 2003 - 2004.
Grant obtained in 1902: bare-bones building heavily renovated in 1984.
Rather ordinary monochrome card published by the Owl Drug Store.
Grant obtained in 1903: again, a very basic building. Definitely replaced by the
Bluffton - Wells County Public Library, its fate is unknown.
Hugh C. Leighton card mailed in 1913.
Rather ordinary limestone library enlivened by the frieze,
and what I suspect is a semi-circular stained glass window, over the
doorway. According to the library's
history page,
this is the only Carnegie building marked with carved letters as a donation
from Andrew Carnegie.
I'm not so sure about that.
The card on the left has an entire back. The card on the right is a C.T. American Art Blue Sky postcard, by Curt Teich, of course.
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Interesting shot of the library's original interior. Too bad that the postcard is in such poor condition. |
The State Library of Indiana waxes positively lyrical about this 1908 Carnegie building, tripled in size in 1991.
Maybe it's just this rather blah card, but I'm not as impressed.
One of the last Curt Teich cards in my collection to be mailed,
it's postmarked 1958.
Slightly iconoclastic Carnegie building with a strange convex entry. Something about the retouching makes it seem as if the walls are also curved.
Built 1901: razed 1969.
Crawfordsville District Public Library.
From the Indiana State Library:
In 1969 the front steps were removed and a street level entrance installed. In 1977 to 1979 the building next door was renovated and connected to the Carnegie library. In 1996
the special services department was renovated.
An entire back signifies the card predates 1907 and may have been printed shortly after the grant date of 1901.
Today the Carnegie building is used as a meeting hall for a fraternal organization.
Built in 1915: still in use after additions and renovation. Now known as the Culver - Union Township Public Library. History is found on the library's web page, along with some interesting city history and photos.
At last! An appealing card!
1901 grant, building completed 1903. Replaced 1963: 60 years is not a long time, considering how well these buildings were constructed. In 1969, a bank purchased the building and tore it down in 1970.
I'd reallykvetch, but this
building is not all that special. It's a lot like that of Blue Island, Illinois.
Whoops, that got torn down, too.
Built in 1903: superceded in 1997 due primarily to wiring problems. Current state of Carnegie building is unknown to me. Library now part of the North Madison County Public Library System. These Indiana folks sure like long library names.
The card is an early Curt Teich C.T. Blue Sky, but was mailed in 1947.
Morphed into the Allen County Public Library, which is one of the most amazing libraries I've had the pleasure to use. Even during library construction, the genealogy collection was accessible and useable. It reminds me of the Oshkosh library--on steroids.
The Carnegie grant came in 1901.
1906 grant. Does not seem to exist as a library any more.
Built in 1906. With a 1988 addition, still in use. Now known as the Frankfort Community/Clinton County Contractual Public Library. The library's web site is quite accessible and useful. The link above will take you to its history page.
Although the card shows a dotted line evenly dividing its back, it was mailed as if it were an entire back card in 1908. The attractive card is German (Dresden- Leipzig-Berlin) and published by the Indiana News Company of Indianapolis.
Built 1914 and possibly renovated ca. 1995.
I haven't been able to find much about this library and its system online (June, 2007).
Here's a postcard maker for you: Chucks Color-Fotos, Hicksville,
Ohio, ©1958.
One of the more surprising members of the Carnegie family (1910 grant). It
nearly certainly has been demolished, or
remains as a derelict building.
It's interesting that the system's history is found on
Wikipedia,
not a library or city website.
The
library's
current buildings are shown on its pages, but the fate of the Carnegie
building is not.
Temporary addition to the page.
The card is by E.C. Kropp, and its photo by Daugherty.
This is it!
The very
first
Indiana Carnegie Library, dating
from a 1901 grant.
Beaux-Arts building, designed by Patton and Miller of Chicago, IL, was superceded in 1968. It was restored in 2004, and now serves as the Goshen City Hall.
The card is a very early E.C. Kropp (No. 3175) with entire back. If there is such a fault, perhaps the hand-coloring is a little too subtle.
Kind of a disappointing DePauw souvenir, in my opinion.
1902 grant. If the 1905 date is correct, it looks as if the builders
took some care to preserve the surrounding trees.
Library still in use, but modified.
Surprisingly well documented
library.
Finished in 1905, the library was built on the site of an old foundry. In
1994, it outgrew the Carnegie building, and is now know by the unwieldy
moniker of the Greensburg/Decatur County Contractural Public Library.
The building now serves as a
city building,
and has been treated with sensitivity.
(L) The back of this C.T. American Art Duotone card is stamped
'Sample from New York Office//Alfred Robbins//11 West 42nd St. New York//
Lackawanna 5766'
(R) The photograph on the postcard bears the attribution
'St. John & Guthrie.'
Looking for Ohio Carnegie Libraries?
Looking for Wisconsin Carnegie Libraries?
Looking for Illinois Carnegie Libraries?
Looking for Iowa Public Libraries?
Looking for Other Carnegie Libraries?
Looking for the Library of Congress and other odd libraries? Go to my special library postcard page.
Not sure if it's a Carnegie public library? Visit my postcards of unusual and large public libraries.
© 2007-2008 Judy Aulik
Separated from
Indiana Public Libraries on 01 January 2008.
Divided in June, 2008.
H - Z.