Although the Carnegie Corporation ended its library building program in 1917, the impact of the “Carnegie library” continues to be felt throughout the United States. In small towns and in large cities, many public libraries continue to operate in landmark Carnegie buildings.

Between 1903 and 1914 Andrew Carnegie pledged $590,000 to the Cleveland Public Library for the construction of fifteen branch libraries, due largely to the energetic persuasion of William Howard Brett, who directed the Library from 1884 to 1918. By 1911, Brett had become such an expert on library design that Carnegie began to send all plans for new Carnegie buildings to Brett for his advice. Six of Cleveland Public Library’s original Carnegie branches are still open as branch libraries.

This online exhibit features historic photographs of all fifteen Carnegie Branches. Also included are basic facts about each building, including street addresses, and a selection of correspondence between Brett and Carnegie that puts a human face on the Carnegie library phenomenon. A select list of print and electronic resources has been provided to help you with further research on Andrew Carnegie.

• Woodland Branch, 1904
• South Brooklyn Branch, 1905
• St. Clair Branch, 1905
• Miles Park Branch, 1906
• Broadway Branch, 1906
• Hough Branch, 1907
• Carnegie West Branch, 1910
• South Branch, 1911
• Lorain Branch, 1912
• Sterling Branch, 1913
• Quincy Branch, 1914
• East 79th Branch, 1916
• Jefferson Branch, 1918
• Brooklyn Branch, 1919
• Superior Branch, 1920