South View of McPherson College, Carnegie Library, McPherson, Kansas

[LIB786] Click on the image to order a reproduction of this postcard!

1937 Carnegie Library, Parsons, Kansas

[LIB0150] 1909 – The dream of having a free public library in Parsons was finally realized, and the new Carnegie Library building was officially opened in ceremonies on May 18. The building, one story with a basement, was built of Carthage stone backed with concrete, with a clay tile roof, dome, and copper gutters. The style was primarily derived from Beaux-Arts Classicism, and has a rather elaborate entrance that employs a Serliana motif with Ionic columns. The name “Carnegie Library” is carved above the entrance. At opening, the library had 3,655 volumes. [Read more of the library history here!]

1915 Carnegie Library, Parsons, Kansas

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1907 - The voters of Parsons approved the question of establishing a free city library. Andrew Carnegie was contacted, and agreed to give $22,500 for the construction of a new building if the city provided the site and pledged annual support. A site at the corner of Broadway and Seventeenth Streets was purchased for $6,500, the funds being raised by subscriptions. The following year, E.F. Parker, a Kansas City architect, was hired, and the city council approved a resolution to levy the first library tax in Parsons.

1909 - The dream of having a free public library in Parsons was finally realized, and the new Carnegie Library building was officially opened in ceremonies on May 18. The building, one story with a basement, was built of Carthage stone backed with concrete, with a clay tile roof, dome, and copper gutters. The style was primarily derived from Beaux-Arts Classicism, and has a rather elaborate entrance that employs a Serliana motif with Ionic columns. The name “Carnegie Library” is carved above the entrance. At opening, the library had 3,655 volumes. [SOURCE]

1914 Bethany Library, Lindsborg, Kansas

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Eisenhower Presidential Library, Abilene, Kansas

Three views of the library. [LIB2410]

Carnegie Public Library, Arkansas City, Kansas KS

On March 7, 1892, the Fortnightly Club, consisting of “civic- minded ladies,” established a book collection for its members. In November 1896, this collection was opened to “a limited number who shall be called Library Members.” The Y.M.C.A. also sponsored a reading room, but it was not until April 1900, that Miss Lillie R. Gilliland attempted to organize a library. She established a circulating library, called the Arkansas City Library, and it was situated in the Commercial Club Assembly Room. It had 75 members who paid $1.00 each for a membership fee. The collection consisted of 500-600 volumes. At the end of the year the Commercial Club “failed to vote any help for the Library,” and Miss Gilliland gave away or sold the books at this point. To read more about the history of this Carnegie Library, click here!

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1910 Library, Kansas State University LAWRENCE KS

The KU Libraries Site

1914 College of Emporia and Anderson Memorial Library, EMPORIA KS

Shortly after the College of Emporia was founded in 1882, Colonel John Byars Anderson of Manhattan, Kansas donated his collection of books. In the spring of 1888, on the occasion of Col. and Mrs. Anderson’s 50th wedding anniversary, the collection and other gifts of books were officially designated the Anderson Memorial Library. Twelve years later, the Carnegie grant was received to build a library building. [Source: The Carnegie Legacy in Kansas, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/carnegie/updates/esu.html]

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