List of Carnegie libraries in Minnesota
The following list of Carnegie libraries in Minnesota provides detailed information on Carnegie libraries in Minnesota, United States, where 65 public libraries were built from 57[1] grants (totaling $969,375) awarded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York from 1901 to 1918. In addition, Hamline University in Saint Paul was awarded a $30,000 grant on March 12, 1906, to construct an academic library. In Minnesota grants were given between 1899 and 1918.[2]
Of Minnesota's 66 original Carnegie libraries, 48 are still standing. 25 continue to house public libraries while others have been adapted into art centers or office space. Of the 18 lost libraries, one burned down and the rest were demolished, often because they were unworkably deficient in handicap accessibility. 38 of the surviving libraries are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).[2]
Key[edit]
Building still operating as a library
Building standing, but now serving another purpose
Building no longer standing
Building listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Building contributes to a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places
Public libraries[edit]
| Library | City or town |
Image | Date granted[3] |
Grant amount[3][4] |
Location[2] | Notes[2] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aitkin | Aitkin | 
|
Apr 23, 1908 | $6,500 | 121 2nd St NW 46°31′59.31″N 93°42′33.55″W / 46.5331417°N 93.7093194°W |
1911 library, now an art center.[5] |
| 2 | Albert Lea | Albert Lea | 
|
Apr 11, 1902 | $13,000 | 146 College St W 43°38′49.58″N 93°22′11.02″W / 43.6471056°N 93.3697278°W |
Built 1903, now offices. |
| 3 | Alexandria | Alexandria | 
|
Feb 2, 1903 | $12,000 | 7th Ave W & Filmore St 45°53′6.25″N 95°22′43.75″W / 45.8850694°N 95.3788194°W |
Built 1903, now offices. |
| 4 | Anoka | Anoka | 
|
Mar 27, 1903 | $12,500 | Demolished | Built 1904, razed 1965. |
| 5 | Austin | Austin | 
|
Oct 3, 1901 | $15,000 | Demolished | Built 1904, razed 1996. |
| 6 | Bemidji | Bemidji | 
|
Feb 10, 1908 | $12,500 | 426 Bemidji Ave 47°28′21.63″N 94°52′46.13″W / 47.4726750°N 94.8794806°W |
Built 1909, now an art gallery. |
| 7 | Benson | Benson | 
|
Apr 3, 1912 | $7,500 | Demolished | Built 1913, razed 1994. |
| 8 | Brainerd | Brainerd | 
|
Jan 6, 1903 | $12,000 | 206 7th St N 46°21′30.16″N 94°11′55.91″W / 46.3583778°N 94.1988639°W |
Built 1904, now offices. |
| 9 | Browns Valley | Browns Valley | 
|
Jan 31, 1914 | $5,500 | Broadway Ave & 2nd St 45°35′42.13″N 96°49′51.03″W / 45.5950361°N 96.8308417°W |
Built 1915. |
| 10 | Chatfield | Chatfield | 
|
Jul 9, 1913 | $6,000 | 314 Main St S 43°50′40.86″N 92°11′14.44″W / 43.8446833°N 92.1873444°W |
Built 1915, still houses public library. |
| 11 | Coleraine | Coleraine | 
|
Dec 16, 1908 | $15,000 | 203 Cole Ave 47°17′14.03″N 93°25′27.45″W / 47.2872306°N 93.4242917°W |
Built 1910, still houses public library. |
| 12 | Crookston | Crookston | 
|
Nov 25, 1903 | $17,500 | 110 N. Ash St. 47°46′25.43″N 96°36′17.52″W / 47.7737306°N 96.6048667°W |
Built 1907. |
| 13 | Dawson | Dawson | 
|
Mar 31, 1916 | $9,000 | 677 Pine St 44°55′43.35″N 96°3′20.42″W / 44.9287083°N 96.0556722°W |
Built 1918, now offices. |
| 14 | Detroit Lakes | Detroit Lakes | 
|
Dec 23, 1911 | $10,000 | 1000 Washington Ave 46°48′56.27″N 95°50′45.01″W / 46.8156306°N 95.8458361°W |
Built 1913, still houses public library. |
| 15 | Duluth (Main) | Duluth | 
|
Oct 7, 1899 | $75,000 | 101 2nd St W 46°47′14.33″N 92°6′8.13″W / 46.7873139°N 92.1022583°W |
Built 1902, closed 1980. |
| 16 | Duluth Lincoln | Duluth | 
|
Oct 7, 1899 | $30,000 | 2227 W 2nd St 46°46′0.12″N 92°7′44.45″W / 46.7667000°N 92.1290139°W |
Built 1917, now an art institute. |
| 17 | Duluth West Duluth | Duluth | Oct 7, 1899 | $20,000 | Demolished | Built 1912, razed 1992. | |
| 18 | Eveleth | Eveleth | 
|
Feb 20, 1911 | $15,000 | 614 Pierce St 47°27′44.69″N 92°32′8.4″W / 47.4624139°N 92.535667°W |
Built 1914, still houses public library. |
| 19 | Fairmont | Fairmont | 
|
Feb 12, 1903 | $10,000 | Demolished | Built 1904, razed 1968. |
| 20 | Fergus Falls | Fergus Falls | 
|
Feb 20, 1904 | $21,475 | 121 Union St N 46°17′3.52″N 96°4′41.29″W / 46.2843111°N 96.0781361°W |
Built 1905, now offices. |
| 21 | Glenwood | Glenwood | 
|
May 2, 1907 | $10,000 | 108 1st Ave SE 45°38′56.78″N 95°23′17.29″W / 45.6491056°N 95.3881361°W |
Built 1908, still houses public library. |
| 22 | Graceville | Graceville | May 21, 1913 | $7,000 | Demolished | Built 1915, razed 1999. | |
| 23 | Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids | 
|
Jan 19, 1905 | $10,000 | 21 5th St NE | Built 1905, now offices. |
| 24 | Hibbing | Hibbing | 
|
Apr 23, 1906 | $25,000 | Demolished | Built 1908, razed in the 1950s. |
| 25 | Hutchinson | Hutchinson | 
|
Apr 13, 1903 | $12,500 | 50 Hassan St SE 44°53′30.06″N 94°22′5.5″W / 44.8916833°N 94.368194°W |
Built 1904, still houses public library. |
| 26 | Janesville | Janesville | 
|
May 2, 1911 | $5,000 | 102 2nd St W 44°7′3″N 93°42′28.34″W / 44.11750°N 93.7078722°W |
Built 1912, still houses public library. |
| 27 | Lake City | Lake City | Nov 7, 1917 | $13,000 | Demolished | Built 1917, razed 1967. | |
| 28 | Litchfield | Litchfield | 
|
Feb 12, 1903 | $10,000 | 201 Sibley Ave S 45°7′29.12″N 94°31′40.13″W / 45.1247556°N 94.5278139°W |
Built 1904, now commercial space. |
| 29 | Little Falls | Little Falls | 
|
Mar 14, 1902 | $10,000 | 108 3rd St NE 45°58′36.08″N 94°21′31.32″W / 45.9766889°N 94.3587000°W |
Built 1904, still houses public library. |
| 30 | Luverne | Luverne | 
|
Mar 27, 1903 | $10,000 | 205 Freeman Ave N 43°39′19.86″N 96°12′35.69″W / 43.6555167°N 96.2099139°W |
Built 1904, now an art center. |
| 31 | Madison | Madison | 
|
Feb 1, 1905 | $8,000 | 401 6th Ave 45°0′44.9″N 96°11′36.58″W / 45.012472°N 96.1934944°W |
Built 1905, still houses public library. |
| 32 | Mankato | Mankato | 
|
Feb 6, 1901 | $40,000 | 120 Broad Rd S 44°9′56.86″N 94°0′3.56″W / 44.1657944°N 94.0009889°W |
Built 1902, now an art center. |
| 33 | Mapleton | Mapleton | 
|
Mar 25, 1905 | $5,000 | 104 1st Ave NE 43°55′42.78″N 93°57′28.03″W / 43.9285500°N 93.9577861°W |
Built 1910, still houses public library. |
| 34 | Marshall | Marshall | 
|
Feb 12, 1903 | $10,000 | Demolished | Built 1904, razed 1966. |
| 35 | Minneapolis Central Avenue | Minneapolis | 
|
Apr 3, 1912 | $125,000 | Demolished | Built 1915, razed 1971. |
| 36 | Minneapolis Franklin | Minneapolis | 
|
Apr 3, 1912 | — | 1314 Franklin Ave E 44°57′46.74″N 93°15′21.06″W / 44.9629833°N 93.2558500°W |
Built 1914, still houses public library. |
| 37 | Minneapolis Hosmer | Minneapolis | 
|
Apr 3, 1912 | — | 347 36th St E 44°56′15.05″N 93°16′13.97″W / 44.9375139°N 93.2705472°W |
Built 1916, still houses public library. |
| 38 | Minneapolis Sumner | Minneapolis | 
|
Apr 3, 1912 | — | 611 VanWhite Memorial Blvd 44°59′5.18″N 93°17′40.43″W / 44.9847722°N 93.2945639°W |
Built 1915, still houses public library. |
| 39 | Montevideo | Montevideo | 
|
Dec 16, 1905 | $10,000 | 125 3rd St N 44°56′47.3″N 95°43′24.44″W / 44.946472°N 95.7234556°W |
Built 1906, now community space. |
| 40 | Moorhead | Moorhead | 
|
Feb 29, 1904 | $12,000 | Demolished | Built 1906, razed 1963. |
| 41 | Morris | Morris | 
|
Dec 4, 1903 | $10,000 | Nevada Ave & 6th St 45°35′8.66″N 95°55′4.11″W / 45.5857389°N 95.9178083°W |
Built 1905, now the Stevens County Historical Society. |
| 42 | Mountain Iron | Mountain Iron | 
|
Jan 14, 1914 | $8,000 | 5742 Mountain Ave 47°31′58.21″N 92°37′18.67″W / 47.5328361°N 92.6218528°W |
Built 1915, still houses public library. |
| 43 | Northfield | Northfield | 
|
Jan 8, 1908 | $10,000 | 210 Washington St 44°27′27.57″N 93°9′32.48″W / 44.4576583°N 93.1590222°W |
Built 1910, still houses public library. |
| 44 | Ortonville | Ortonville | 
|
Aug 11, 1913 | $10,000 | 412 2nd St NW 45°18′30.5″N 96°26′53.62″W / 45.308472°N 96.4482278°W |
Built 1915, still houses public library. |
| 45 | Park Rapids | Park Rapids | 
|
May 8, 1908 | $5,000 | 101 2nd St W 46°55′16.9″N 95°3′32.01″W / 46.921361°N 95.0588917°W |
Open 1910–1994, now houses a museum.[6] |
| 46 | Pipestone | Pipestone | 
|
Mar 22, 1903 | $10,000 | 217 Hiawatha Ave S 43°59′54.81″N 96°19′2.47″W / 43.9985583°N 96.3173528°W |
Built 1904. Closed as unsafe. Needs $450K to $500K of repairs.[7] |
| 47 | Preston | Preston | Dec 2, 1909 | $8,000 | 101 Saint Paul St NW 43°40′12.4″N 92°5′1.17″W / 43.670111°N 92.0836583°W |
Built 1909, still houses public library. | |
| 48 | Red Wing | Red Wing | 
|
Dec 14, 1901 | $17,000 | Demolished | Built 1903, razed 1968. |
| 49 | Redwood Falls | Redwood Falls | 
|
Nov 25, 1903 | $10,000 | 334 Jefferson St S 44°32′20.24″N 95°6′59.78″W / 44.5389556°N 95.1166056°W |
Housed library 1904–1995, now private business offices.[8] |
| 50 | St. Cloud | St. Cloud | 
|
Feb 16, 1901 | $25,000 | Demolished | Built 1902, razed 1981. |
| 51 | St. Paul Arlington Hills | St. Paul | 
|
May 8, 1914 | $75,000 | 1105 Greenbrier St 44°58′28.23″N 93°4′16.89″W / 44.9745083°N 93.0713583°W |
Housed public library 1917–2014. |
| 52 | St. Paul Riverview | St. Paul | 
|
May 8, 1914 | — | 1 E George St 44°55′47.69″N 93°5′5.01″W / 44.9299139°N 93.0847250°W |
Built 1917, still houses public library. |
| 53 | St. Paul St. Anthony Park | St. Paul | 
|
May 8, 1914 | — | 2245 Como Ave W 44°58′51.56″N 93°11′36.88″W / 44.9809889°N 93.1935778°W |
Built 1917, still houses public library. |
| 54 | St. Peter | St. Peter | 
|
Jan 6, 1903 | $10,000 | 429 Minnesota Ave S 44°19′20.94″N 93°57′29.35″W / 44.3224833°N 93.9581528°W |
Built 1904, now offices and retail, including a halal market. |
| 55 | Sauk Centre | Sauk Centre | 
|
Feb 12, 1903 | $11,000 | 430 Main St S 45°44′5.72″N 94°57′8.31″W / 45.7349222°N 94.9523083°W |
Built 1904, now a public library and art center. |
| 56 | Spring Valley | Spring Valley | 
|
Mar 27, 1903 | $8,000 | 201 Broadway Ave S 43°41′12.19″N 92°23′26.5″W / 43.6867194°N 92.390694°W |
Built 1904, now city offices. |
| 57 | Stillwater | Stillwater | 
|
Jul 3, 1901 | $27,500 | 224 3rd St N 45°3′27.12″N 92°48′37.12″W / 45.0575333°N 92.8103111°W |
Built 1902, still houses public library. |
| 58 | Thief River Falls | Thief River Falls | 
|
Jan 31, 1914 | $12,500 | 102 Main Ave S 48°7′2.18″N 96°10′52.08″W / 48.1172722°N 96.1811333°W |
Built 1914, now county offices. |
| 59 | Two Harbors | Two Harbors | 
|
Feb 10, 1908 | $15,000 | 320 Waterfront Dr 47°1′21.19″N 91°40′14.32″W / 47.0225528°N 91.6706444°W |
Built 1909, still houses public library. |
| 60 | Virginia | Virginia | Dec 20, 1904 | $10,000 | Demolished | Built 1907, razed 1953. | |
| 61 | Walker | Walker | Apr 8, 1910 | $6,500 | Demolished | Built 1910, burned down 1976. | |
| 62 | White Bear | White Bear | Jul 13, 1912 | $5,000 | Demolished | Built 1914, razed 1973. | |
| 63 | Willmar | Willmar | Jan 13, 1903 | $11,000 | Demolished | Built 1904, razed 1967. | |
| 64 | Worthington | Worthington | 
|
Jun 1, 1903 | $10,000 | Demolished | Built 1905, razed 1966. |
| 65 | Zumbrota | Zumbrota | 
|
Nov 27, 1906 | $6,500 | 320 East Avenue 44°17′38.19″N 92°40′5.49″W / 44.2939417°N 92.6681917°W |
Built 1908, now an art center. |
Academic libraries[edit]
| Library | City or town |
Image | Date granted[3] |
Grant amount[3][4] |
Location[2] | Notes[2] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamline University | Saint Paul | 
|
Mar 12, 1906 | $30,000 | 1536 Hewitt Ave 44°57′56.73″N 93°9′58.41″W / 44.9657583°N 93.1662250°W |
Built in 1907, now incorporated into the Giddens/Alumni Learning Center.[9] |
Notes[edit]
- ^ Jones erroneously reports this number as 64, while Bobinski reports the number of grants at 58. However, Jones lists 65 public libraries in his gazetteer, and Anderson lists 57 grants.
- ^ a b c d e f Clemens, Kevin (2011). Carnegie Libraries of Minnesota. Lake Elmo, Minn.: Demontreville Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-9789563-7-0.
- ^ a b c d At various times, Bobinski and Jones disagree on these numbers. In these cases, Jones' numbers have been used due to both a more recent publication date and a more detailed gazetteer of branch libraries, which are often where the discrepancies occur.
- ^ a b Grants for multiple libraries (Minneapolis and St. Paul) are listed only by their total amount, not broken down for each branch (excepting Duluth, for which individuals amounts are known).
- ^ "Jacques Art Center". Jacques Art Center. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ "Giiwedinong Treaty Rights & Culture Museum". Retrieved 2024-01-24.
- ^ "City council discusses options for historic Carnegie Library building - Pipestone County Star". 12 November 2020.
- ^ "About the Library". Redwood County Public Library. 2009. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
- ^ "Giddens Learning Center". Hamline University. 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
References[edit]
- 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.
- Clemens, Kevin (2011). Carnegie Libraries of Minnesota. Lake Elmo, Minn.: Demontreville Press, Inc. ISBN 978-0-9789563-7-0.
- 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.
External links[edit]
- Carnegie Libraries Tour – Placeography, Minnesota Historical Society