List of Carnegie libraries in Washington, D.C.

The following list of Carnegie libraries in Washington, D.C. provides detailed information on United States Carnegie libraries in Washington, D.C., where 4 public libraries were built from one grant (totaling $682,000) awarded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York on March 16, 1899 (a philanthropic fund established by Andrew Carnegie). In addition, Howard University library (an academic library) was granted in 1910.

  Building still operating as a library
  Building standing, but now serving another purpose
  Building listed on the National Register of Historic Places
  Building contributes to a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places

Carnegie libraries

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Library Image Location Notes
1 Main   Mt. Vernon Square
38°54′09″N 77°01′22″W / 38.9026°N 77.0229°W / 38.9026; -77.0229 (D.C. Main)
The 11th library in the US to receive a grant. Designed by New York firm Ackerman and Ross, this Beaux-Arts building was dedicated on January 7, 1903. Andrew Carnegie and President Theodore Roosevelt attended the ceremony. The building ceased to serve as the central branch of DC Public Library in 1970; it now houses the offices, collections, and research library of the Historical Society of Washington, D.C.[1] It also houses an Apple store.
2 Mount Pleasant   1600 Lamont St., NW
38°55′50″N 77°02′14″W / 38.930558°N 77.037176°W / 38.930558; -77.037176 (Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Library)
Designed by noted library architect Edward Lippincott Tilton, this is the last library built with Carnegie funds in Washington, D.C., having opened on May 15, 1925.[2]
3 Southeast   403 7th St., SE
38°53′2.67″N 76°59′47.25″W / 38.8840750°N 76.9964583°W / 38.8840750; -76.9964583 (Southeast Neighborhood Library)
Another building designed by Edward Lippincott Tilton, this library sits on a triangular site. It opened December 8, 1922.[3]
4 Takoma Park   416 Cedar St., NW
38°58′28.99″N 77°1′7.08″W / 38.9747194°N 77.0186333°W / 38.9747194; -77.0186333 (Takoma Park Neighborhood Library)
Built in the Renaissance Revival style by Marsh and Peter and opening on November 17, 1911, this was the first branch library in Washington, D.C. The building was renovated in 2008 and 2009.[4]

Academic library

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Institution Image Date
granted
[5]
Grant
amount
[5]
Location Notes
1 Howard University Dec 2, 1907 $50,000 Carnegie Bldg.
38°55′22.32″N 77°1′15.04″W / 38.9228667°N 77.0208444°W / 38.9228667; -77.0208444 (Howard University Library)
A Whitfield & King of New York design, this building was dedicated April 25, 1910, in exercises attended by Andrew Carnegie and President William Howard Taft. It was repurposed in 1937, now serving as office space.[6]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Carnegie Library". Historical Society of Washington, D.C. Archived from the original on May 27, 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  2. ^ "Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Library History". DC Public Library. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  3. ^ "Southeast Neighborhood Library History". DC Public Library. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  4. ^ "Takoma Park Neighborhood Library History". DC Public Library. Archived from the original on May 24, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  5. ^ a b Miller, p. 39
  6. ^ "The Carnegie Library at Howard University, 1905-1937: A Documentary History". Howard University Library System. Retrieved 2009-07-17.

References

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  • Anderson, Florence (1963). Carnegie Corporation Library Program 1911–1961. New York: Carnegie Corporation. OCLC 1282382.
  • Bobinski, George S. (1969). Carnegie Libraries: Their History and Impact on American Public Library Development. Chicago: American Library Association. ISBN 0-8389-0022-4.
  • Jones, Theodore (1997). Carnegie Libraries Across America. New York: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-14422-3.
  • Miller, Durand R. (1943). Carnegie Grants for Library Buildings, 1890-1917. New York: Carnegie Corporation of New York. OCLC 2603611.

Note: The above references, while all authoritative, are not entirely mutually consistent. Some details of this list may have been drawn from one of the references without support from the others. Reader discretion is advised.