Left Coast Libraries

 Carnegie Libraries of Oregon and Washington

Separated from California Carnegie Libraries in June, 2011.

 Oregon

Much of the Carnegie information came from an OLA (Oregon Library Association) article no longer online.

Ashland

1909 grant. Still in use, expected to last until 2025.

Sexichrome card with a glossy finish. Never mailed.






Baker City

Built 1909.
Being renovated for the Carnegie Arts and Cultural Center.

This card's picture leaves a lot to be desired.






Eugene

Late 1903 Carnegie grant. Building no longer in use.

Hillsboro

Late 1913 Carnegie grant. Replaced in 2007.

Hood River


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.




La Grande


1913 grant. Large building, replaced in 2006.
Fate unknown.


Black and White brand postcard, possibly attributed to Curt Teich & Co.




Portland (Multnomah County Library)


Oldest library (1864) west of the Mississippi. It recieved 7 Carnegie grants total, beginning in 1901.

The Central Library appears on these cards. It was built in 1913 and heavily renovated in 1994-1997. It's still in use.



Salem

1907 Christmas Eve grant. Replaced in 1972. Now owned by Willamette University.

Card mailed in 1913 to Miss Berniece Gray of the Pomona (CA) Public Library.

The Dalles


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.

 Washington

Bellingham


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.





Chehalis

Part of the city's Civic Center. 1908 grant: damaged in a 1949 earthquake, and demolished in 2007.

Ellensburg


1909 - 1967

Carnegie building replaced in 1966.

Sepia tinted card by the Pacific Novelty Co.




Pasco

Late 1909 grant. No longer in use.

Renton


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.



Ritzville


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.


Seattle

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 (R) sent 1911. A wonderful history of the Seattle system is given on the SPL site.

Spokane


According to the Spokane Public Library's website, this Carnegie library was built in 1904 and outgrown in 1961. The building is still standing, in use as the offices of Integrus Architects.

A Carnegie-funded branch building is a court reporter's office.

(L) Manufactured for Washington Paper & Stationery Company by Spokane Lithography. Entire back.
(R) Photo postcard.

(L, below) Inland Printing Company Card, never mailed.
(R, below) Another Inland Printing Company Card, never mailed.






Tacoma

1901 grant. Still in use, adjacent to a whole new library.

(L) Central News Co. card, with entire back, mailed in 1907.
(R) Issue for the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific (1909) Exposition. Never mailed.





Wenatchee

1909 Carnegie grant. Now the Wenatchee, Washington Department of Parks and Recreation.

© 2003 - 2012 Judy Aulik
Updated 05 September 2012.
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