imported by C.E. Wheelock of Peoria.
As promised, divided. NYPL and other New York City public libraries have their own page.
Unlike many states, there is no large website that lists all the New York libraries. New York appears to differ from many states in that its library districts correlate with its school districts.
1902 Carnegie grant. Still in use.
Valentine & Sons card, mailed in 1911. Compared with the photo on the city's website, the colors are quite accurate.
1902 Carnegie grant. Now known as the Broome County Public Library, and is still in use.
(L) Monochromatic, mailed in 1905.
(R) Unusually, this card was printed in Great Britain. Mailed 1910.
1901 Carnegie grant.
On this card, the Neoclassical building covered with ivy is the library.
The light colored building is the Masonic Temple.
The library does not seem to be in as bucolic a setting today.
Founded 1896 and moved into this Carnegie building in 1903, according to the library's exuberant web site. Not listed as a Carnegie building in Bobinski.
The full history page adds such wonderful tidbits as the original price of the lot ($900) and the 1951 replacement of 'antiquated' library furnishings during the first major renovation.
I believe that this is the Chautauqua County Dunkirk,
both from on-line clues and from the message on the card (L). This library was well-established before the 1904 Carnegie
grant.
I do not know its current function.
(L) The card was printed in Germany for S.H. Knox & Co.,
and mailed in 1909.
(R) Never-mailed Albertype card, made in Brooklyn.
For now, I'm taking the word of the Rubin Bros. that this is a Carnegie Library. However, Steele Memorial Library appears to be the current Elmira facility. The 1923 - 1979 library would have been built too recently to be a Carnegie building. More information is clearly needed.
Also not listed by Bobinski as a Carnegie building. Incorporated into the Queens library ca. 1907, and some time later, replaced.
Plain brick building with a policeman in front. Postcard mailed in 1906.
Two views of a fascinating Beaux Arts building. The arch reads Gloversville Free
Library; immediately above the door reads 'Carnegie.'
(L) Valentine & Sons' Publishing post card, mailed 1913.
(R) Unattributed German card with unevenly divded back, mailed in 1908.
1904 Carnegie facility, designed by Albert Randolph Ross. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The library was in grave financial trouble in the mid-2000s, was chartered by the New York Board of Regents, and changed to being the Gloversville Public library.
1902 Carnegie facility, renovated in 1995.
Arty monochrome view by the Rochester News Company.
Bobinski's Carnegie Libraries lists Kingston as recipient of a 1902 grant. However, the library appears to be in a 19th century building today.
Bobinski's Carnegie Libraries lists Mt. Vernon as recipient of a 1901 grant.
1901 grant according to Bobinski, but the Library's web history places it sometime between 1910 and 1914. 1928 addition dated from 1928. Replaced in 1979: fate unknown.
Atypical Curt Teich linen card dates from 1934.
1901 grant. Replaced in 1974, and is still standing.
Curiously, Niagara Falls, Canada also received a Carnegie grant.
The card is unattributed and lacks even a plate number.
1901 grant, still in use.
Beautiful building of river rock and dressed stone. Under the awning, shown on the library's site, is a clearly Romanesque entryway.
This is an Excelsior card, printed in Germany.
Built from a 1905 grant. Now known as the Patchogue-Medford Library. I don't know if the building is still in use.
Unusual card with a red border more typical of scenic view cards.
Founded in 1895. Built from a 1903 grant, in 1905. The original library is still in use.
Lovely Rotograph card printed in Germany.
1912 grant. Built in 1914, and still in use. An addition houses an art gallery.
1935 Curt Teich linen finish card.
Card also features the Port Jervis Elks Club.
1901 grant. The Free Public Library is still in use, serving the residents of the Port Jervis School District. It is part of the Ramapo Catskill Library System.
This card is in quite poor condition, but there's just something about being able to work 'Schenectady' into a paragraph.
1903 Carnegie facility, also aided by a grant from General Electric. Replaced ca. 1969: the library now heads the Mohawk Valley Library Association.
The building is now a dormitory for Union College. I find that a rather amusing reuse.
|
|
|
| Early chrome card, imported by C.E. Wheelock of Peoria. |
German card, from H.C. Leighton. | From the 'Syracuse series.' |
This Beaux Arts building served as the Syracuse Public Library, 1905-1976.
Today it has been superceded by the
Onondaga
County Public Library.
The Carnegie building's fate is unknown to me, despite one of the
best library history timelines ever.
Did you know Onondaga County PL began to use plastic cards in 1978? If you guessed right about that,
do you remember its bookmobile recall by Chrysler?
1979, by the way.
Syracuse University also has a Carnegie library, serving as the Science and Technology Library.
1904 grant. Per the Library's site, its architect was Albert Randolph Ross. Opened in 1906. Still in use, after a 1991 renovation.
The Earle H. Parker photo doesn't display the curved nature of the front very clearly on the Albertype card.
The script at top reads:
George Yoron built it your mother
Cousin
It was addressed to R.P. Stack of Rockford.
After remodeling, the 1893 building serves as the Stevens Community Memorial Library.
Now known as the Seymour Public Library District. Designed by Carrere and Hastings. Opened in 1903 and expanded in 1973 and 1993.
Published by C.S. (not F.W.) Woolworth and Co., with an entire back.
Mailed in 1909.
Wow. Simply wow.
This is the first Romanesque library building I've seen that looks as if it had had librarians in on the design. Unfortunately, there appears to no longer be a public library in this town, going by the Libweb list.
This is a Valentine & Sons card, mailed in 1912.
Built in 1890.
Now known as the Erwin Library and Institute, part of the MidYork Library System.
(L) Card mailed in 1907.
(R) 1957 Dexter Press. This is one of those library postcards that could be sent as a Christmas card.
The Wood Library today appears to be in an older, smaller building. It is neither about Wood nor in a wood building.
Founded 1887. Built sometime between 1907 and 1910, and expanded in 1956. Renovated in 2006.
The card has a pencil date range as Sept.--May 1917-18.
Founded just prior to the stock market crash in 1929. Opened in 1937. Expanded in 1962.
Photo postcard with typed caption.
Bears a solid resemblance to Highland Park, Illinois'
Carnegie Library.
The Library's web
site describes it as 'Neo-Elizabethan.' It was built in 1912, with Aymar Embury serving as its
architect.
The 'Eagle Quality' card was mailed in 1937.
Named for William Pitt, oil geologist.
Although the portico is lettered 'Pitt Memorial Library,' the glass window over the door
reads 'Friendship Free Library.'
So act sullen, morose, and unhelpful.
Valentine-Souvenir postcard.
In my collection, certainly the card from the library with the oddest name . It was mailed in 1924 but appears to be about a dozen years older. It was published by A.M. Pierson of Binghamton, N.Y.
(L) Linen-finish card
(R) 1956 Curt Teich chrome card.
Built in 1935 - 6.
Over the door: Books*Are*Like*An*Open*Door*To*Set*The*Spirit*Free,
attributed to Edith Kathleen Jones, a Massachusetts librarian.
Still in use. In reality, the brickwork is in variegated brown shades.
Since 1954, it's part of the Clinton Essex Franklin Library System.
This is a linen-finish, Tichnor Quality View. It's not quite as high quality as the Curt Teich cards it emulates.
Organized in 1801.
Bleak ca. 1901 building, replaced in 1995. However, the card has some fun details. The lady in blue is reading and walking.
An MLS thesis was written in 1996, by Barbara C. Chumard, about this library.
Not listed in Bobinski's Carnegie Libraries (1969).
The building is still in use, and the library is part of the Southern Tier Library System.
Now, with green shutters!
(But, no history on its web page.)
1937 Curt Teich linen-finish card.
Flemish architecture, rare in the library world.
Looks more like a book cover illustration than a library. The card is by the Tecraft Company.
Now part of the Mount Pleasant Public Library.
(L) Forbidding card by Leighton & Valentine.
(R) Card by J. Ruben of Newburgh. The retoucher enhanced the dome's resemblance
to a muskmelon.
The library is quite clearly still in use.
Building designed by Orson Squire Fowler.
The library took over the house in 1935. New York and New England seem to have a lot of libraries utilizing former mansions.
(L) Simply lovely Albertype card.
(R) 1915 Curt Teich card, with information, 'Given by Mr. T.R. Proctor.'
Part of the Four County Library System.
There's not a lot of information out there about this library's history.
Slightly Deco.
(L) 1936 Curt Teich linen-finish card.
(R) Metropolitan card, mailed 1953.
Now joined by the Bausch & Lomb Public Library Building to comprise the headquarters of the Monroe County Library System.
I believe this to be the original building, John B. Jervis' home,
which was converted to a public
library
in 1895, and upsized in 1925.
Yes, I'm aware that no-one upsized anything in 1925.
It was enlarged yet again in 1961, 1972, and 1988.
Originated as part of
Sherburne Free Academy. Current building designed by Edward Tilton in 1909. Its current roof is green tile, and it was built using red brick.
South wing added, 1939; renovations, 2002.
Part of that south wing is visible on the card, which was mailed in 1968.
Built in 1909, and still in use after a 1936 addition.
Replaced.
Tomlin Art Card.
 |
 |
 |
Library still in use.
Very detailed library history.
My favorite line:
1895 -- A handwritten card catalog is started. It takes three years to complete and totals 58,000 cards.
I thought typing catalog cards was laborious!
Here is another aluminum postcard. (The other--of Hallowell, ME's library--is in the New England pages, and is in much better condition.)
However, I found a wonderful virtual tour of this 1899 structure. What really impresses me is this is the same gentleman who served as the first mayor of Chicago (1837-8), and for whom Ogden Avenue (US 34) is named. From postmaster of a Catskills village to the top position in the Second City: simply amazing. And on his 1877 death, he left funds for his hometown to have a new library building.
Unfortunately, someone tried to include the post office on the 1968 card.
In early 2011, this
building
was sold to the Warwick Historical Society.
Still in use. The building also includes the Historical Society.
Library's file of the dedication booklet.
Grecian-style library finished in 1901 and evidently still in use.
(L) Curt Teich American Art Colored Card mailed in 1926.
(R) Valentine and Sons' card printed in Great Britain. Never mailed, but probably older than that
on the left.
Without slope to its roof, just how many books were lost due to leaks?
Contains the notes:
From Curteich--'Gift of Miss Hannah W. Patterson, containing
44,000 Volumes in memory of her parents.'
From the purchaser--'Arrow under window at far right points to
basement entrance to Girl Scout Little House.'
None appears on Bobinski's list of Carnegie libraries.
Newark |
West Point |
|
|
To the best of my knowledge, the majority of these cards has reached the public domain by virtue of the postcards' age. I claim full copyright on the text, which may be used in citation only. Also, I claim copyright on the scans.
If you have evidence that any of the non-Carnegie cards are really of Carnegie libraries, please e-mail me at (first name)(at)roadmaps (dot) org.
© 2007 - 2012 Judy Aulik
| Updated 20 March 2012. Go down east to New England libraries. Return to home page. |