Libraries and Literacy: Andrew Carnegie's Philanthropy in the American Midwest

Abstract:At the turn of the 20th Century (1890–1910), Andrew Carnegie's philanthropy for public libraries invigorated public discourses on literacy and self-improvement. His philanthropy offers a unique lens for analyzing how local communities used popular attitudes towards literacy and education to justify the expense of a public library. This paper investigates the broad narratives and perceptions of Carnegie's philanthropy in the context of Midwestern social and cultural interests in reading as a form of self-improvement. A description of historical trends in literacy initiatives and library development contextualizes analyses of three applications selected for their ability to represent the average community in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio between 1900 and 1910. These analyses support a focused discussion about the roles Carnegie's philanthropy played in civic leaders’ endeavors to use tax dollars to develop sustainable (visible) cultural and social amenities in their communities.