History: Black River Falls Library History
Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Photos & Additional Information:

19th Century Industrialist Donates to Public Libraries

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI.), November 21, 2007, Page B-1

19th century industrialist donates to public libraries

Andrew Carnegie   Andrew Carnegie was a 19th century industrialist who worked his way up from poverty to being the owner of a steel mill in Pittsburg. The company eventually became U. S. Steel.

As a youth, he and other working boys were allowed to borrow books from the library of Colonel James Anderson. There wasn’t a public library system in the country at that time, so Carnegie remembered how important it has been to him to have the chance to borrow the books.

When he retired, Carnegie began to give away his money. His trust funds helped build nearly three thousand public libraries all over the English-speaking world.

At one time, Wisconsin had 63 Carnegie library buildings. While a number have been torn down, a few still serve as libraries. Others are now used as civic centers, museums, offices or restaurants.