Carnegie Library at El Paso, Illinois c1906

LIB686024

Public Library, Galesburg, Illinois

[LIB1169]

The Galesburg Public Library’s Archive, located near the adult services area, contains a research collection of rare books, original manuscripts, biographical information, local and Illinois county histories, city directories, school yearbooks, newspapers, journals, maps, county plat books, photographs, artwork and other materials reflecting the heritage and history of Galesburg and the surrounding area. The library's archive also houses the genealogy records and materials of the Knox County Genealogical Society which are available for use by the public. Genealogy material is located on open shelving near the microfilm readers; other material is kept in the locked and temperature-controlled Illinois Room.

Public Library, Mendota, Illinois

[LIB1165]

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1916 Public Library, Danville, Illinois

Three other collections were ultimately consolidated to form the Danville Public Library in 1883. After renting library space in three downtown locations over twenty years, the Board of Trustees applied to Andrew Carnegie, a philanthropist, for funds to build a home for the library. Carnegie granted the city $40,000 and construction began in 1903. [http://www.danville.lib.il.us/about.htm]

[LIB787] Click on the image to order a reproduction of this postcard!

Carnegie Library, Mt. Vernon, Illinois

[LIB0350] - Local businessmen worked to secure a donation from Andrew Carnegie and the city accepted $12,500.00 from Mr. Carnegie. On April 8, 1903, the city resolved to "furnish a suitable site and grounds upon which to erect said building, and to appropriate, levy, and raise, by direct taxation or otherwise," 10% of the donation annually to support the library. Property was optioned in Green's subdivision of block twelve (101 South 7th Street) for $7,000.00. The city council minutes of August 3, 1905 reported the building (at a total cost of $15,562.00) was now ready for occupancy. The library has continued to operate from these premises to this day. Read more of the history of this library here.

Carnegie Public Library, Taylorville, Illinois

[LIB0321] - The Taylorville Public Library had its beginning when several prominent women met in the lecture room of the Christian Church on January 11, 1898, and organized the Taylorvllle Woman's Club for the distinct purpose of founding a "City Library." Read more here.

Founders Memorial Library, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois

[LIB0193] - NIU's $13 million Founders Memorial Library holds one of the largest collections of books, periodicals and micro-documents in Illinois. Materials are arranged by Subjects into nine basic cluster areas, [From the back of the card]

Cook Memorial Library, Libertyville, Illinois

[LIB0149]

From the back of the card: Built in 1880's as summer home of Ansel B. Cook. Became the village library in 1924.

Ansel Cook’s will of 1894 stipulated a brick or stone memorial be constructed at a cost of at least $10,000 and that a library be attached. However, the will stipulated that nor more than $2500 should be spent on books.

In 1910, the Alpha Club, forerunner of the Libertyville Women’s Club, opened a circulating library. The books and periodicals were initially stored in Decker and Bond’s Drug Store and later in the Village Hall. The Club donated its library to the Cook memorial Library following the 1920 death of Emily Barrows Cook. After the mansion’s front porch was removed, the exterior stuccoed, the pillars added, and the upper floor converted into living quarters for the librarian, Cook memorial Library opened in 1921. [Thanks to the Libertyville Mundelein Historical Society]

1911 Public Library, Rock Island, Illinois

[LIB2593]

The building now in use, at 401-19th Street, was completed and opened in 1903. It was first called “Rock Island’s Temple of Literature.” Much of its funding came from the donations of two contemporary Rock Island businessmen, Frederick Denkmann and Frederick Weyerhaeuser, his brother-in-law, who would later become giants in the American lumber business. [Thanks to the Rock Island Public Library]

Lincoln Library, Springfield, Illinois

[LIB0890]

Public Library, Chicago, IL

[LIB0886]

"Make thy books thy companions. Let thy cases and shelves be thy pleasure grounds and gardens." Judah ibn-Tibbon (12th century)

Interior View, Chicago Public Library, IL

[LIB0879]

1914 Carnegie Public Library, Decatur, IL

[LIB3725]

The Decatur Public Library Building, located at 457 N. Main, was built at a cost of $65,000. A grant from Andrew Carnegie paid for most of it. The cornerstone was laid on June 16, 1902, and the building was opened to the public on July 1, 1903.

Memorial Library, Collinsville, Illinois

[LIB3698]

Carnegie Library, Paris, IL

[LIB3689]

Over one hundred years ago on June 24, 1904, citizens of Paris assembled at the Christian Church to dedicate the new Paris Carnegie Library, a real brick and mortar structure. Frank T. O'Hair presented the library on behalf of the board with Mayor Baum accepting the gift. Following the celebration, the library building was opened to the public for inspection. Over 3,000 volumes were on the shelves.

Dr. E. O. Laughlin, who was on the city council, described the process that finally gave rise to the present Carnegie Library. “The idea of securing a Carnegie Library for Paris crystallized in the Ferris drug store, which served the purpose of a popular club in the ‘90’s and later. It was presided over by the genial Dr. Edmund Ferris, veteran of the Civil War, who talked well, listened better, and whose hospitality was such that he never thought of closing the store as long as one guest would remain.” [Thanks to the Paris Public Library, www.parispubliclibrary.org] You may read a more extensive history of the Paris Public Library, including some interior photographs, HERE.

1939 Public Library, Chicago, Illinois

[LIB3686]

"The Public Library is located on Michigan Boulevard, extending from E. Washington St. to E. Randolph St. The building contains 110,000 square feet of floor space. The library is stocked with books upon almost every subject. There are extensive collections of art books and books in foreign languages, history, biography and travel. The library board maintains seventeen branch libraries and six branch reading rooms, also over a hundred delivery stations." [From the back of the card]

1912 Public Library, Joliet, IL

[LIB3677]

Public Library, Waukegan, Illinois

[LIB3614]

A Board member of the then-existing Library Association appealed to Mr. Andrew Carnegie for funds. Mr. Carnegie responded with $25,000.00 “if the city of Waukegan would furnish a suitable site and through Council agree to $2,500.00 a year support of said library.” The proposal was accepted and a stone building of Ionian Greek style architecture was constructed. This building served the community as a library for sixty-two years. [www.waukeganpl.org]

Public Library, Mattoon, IL

[LIB3606]

The Mattoon Public Library was formed by a group of interested citizens in 1893. Ten years later in 1903 the library moved into its current location. The library was built with funds from Andrew Carnegie and is one of the many Carnegie libraries in central Illinois.

In 1995 an addition was built onto the main building. The people involved with the renovation wanted to keep the original feel of the building and unlike many other Carnegie libraries, the addition closely matches the original. Unless someone is looking for it, it can be hard to tell what parts of the library is the old building and which are the new. [SOURCE]

1937 Chicago Public Libraries, IL

[LIB3541]

"Pictured you see the four leading libraries in Chicago. The Chicago Public Library, Harper Memorial Library, John Crerar Library and the Newberry Library. Chicago is truly a bookish town."