Historical information

In Iowa, between 1900 and 1919, library buildings were also erected in communities that were not funded by Andrew Carnegie.  In several instances, these buildings, designated on this site as ‘Carnegie-Era’ libraries, were built through the commitment of the entire community.  In other towns, the library building was primarily the gift of a local donor, who then often served on the library board of trustees.  Interestingly, these latter were the situations that were initially touted as the ideal scenario by Alice S. Tyler, the Secretary of the Iowa Library Commission until 1913.  In the early editions of the Iowa Library Quarterly, several of these libraries were featured as the model for future libraries in the state.  Despite Tyler’s enthusiasm for this other model of a local donor, the vast majority of the library buildings built in Iowa during this period were funded instead by Carnegie.  As our understanding of the roles Iowa’s libraries played in their communities is expanded, the Carnegie-Era communities provide a valuable counterpoint to the Carnegie-funded libraries.

                                                                                                                                                                               Text by SLS

 

In addition to the nine communities listed above, the following seventy-one communities and seven academic institutions were also building and developing their public and academic libraries. The documents below are short articles from Iowa Library Quarterly (ILQ) documenting news from these Carnegie-Era libraries in smaller communities throughout Iowa.

– Emily Schartz

Public Libraries

Adel | Alta | Anita | Ankeny | Anthon | Aurelia | Avoca | Belle Plaine | Callendar | Castana | Central City | Clarion | Clearfield | Coon Rapids | Corning | Creston | Decorah | Dow City | Eddyville | Exira | Farmington | Fonda | Forest City | Fort Madison | Galva | Garden Grove | Greene | Grand Junction | Hartley | Hawkeye | Holstein | Ida Grove | Independence | Keokuk | Keota | Kiron | Lamoni | Lansing | Lenox | Letts | Lewis | Lyons | Maxwell | Mediapolis | Mitchell | Mitchellville | Monroe | Morning Sun | New Sharon | Norwalk | Orange City | Ocheydean | Oxford Junction | Parkersburg | Paton | Paullina | Primghar | Redfield | Rockford | Rock Rapids | Rock Valley | Scranton | Seymour | Sutherland | Toledo | Washington | Waukon | Wellman | West Branch | What Cheer | Whiting

 

Academic Libraries

Amity College | Highland Park College | Leander Clark College | Lenox College | Morningside College | Iowa State University | University of Iowa

 

General Information about Libraries in Iowa

• 1902 ILQ 2.3 pg 56 List of Gifts to Iowa Libraries from July 1901 to July 1902
• 1902 ILQ 2.4 List of Free Public Libraries and Librarians
• 1903 ILQ 3.1 Library Buildings
• 1903 ILQ 3.2 Small Buildings
• 1904 ILQ 4.2 Trustees Buildings
• 1913 ILQ 7.4 pg 59 A Free Gift to Libraries
• 1915 ILQ 7.12 pg 190 Carnegie Grants
• 1918 ILQ 8.5 pg 76 Heatless Libraries
• 1919 ILQ 8.11 pg 172 Carnegie Remembrance
• 1919 ILQ 8.11 pg 173 State Fair Exhibit
• 1920 ILQ 8.16 pg 226 Carnegie Survey

 

Adel

• 1912 ILQ 6.15 Adel pg. 231
• 1913 ILQ 7.4 Adel pg. 64
• 1914 ILQ 7.5 Adel pg 76
• 1920 ILQ 8.13 Adel pg. 196

Alta

• 1911 ILQ 6.9 Alta pg 145
• 1914 ILQ 7.5 Alta pg 76
• 1914 ILQ 7.6 Alta pg 92
• 1916 ILQ 7.16 Alta pg 253
• 1918 ILQ 8.6 Alta pg 93
• 1919 ILQ 8.9 Alta pg 143

Amity College

• 1905 ILQ 5.4 Amity College (College Springs) pg 57

Anita

• 1913 ILQ 7.4 Anita pg 64
• 1915 ILQ 7.9 Anita pg 139
• 1915 ILQ 7.12 Anita pg 190
• 1916 ILQ 7.13 Anita pg 204
• 1917 ILQ 8.1 Anita pg 10
• 1918 ILQ 8.6 Anita pg 93

Ankeny

• 1912 ILQ 6.14 Ankeny pg 222

Anthon

• 1905 ILQ 5.1 Anthon pg 13 

Aurelia

• 1917 ILQ 8.4 Aurelia pg 61

Avoca

• 1909 ILQ 6.1 Avoca pg 6
• 1914 ILQ 7.8 Avoca pg 124
• 1916 ILQ 7.16 Avoca pg 253

Belle Plaine

• 1906 ILQ 5.7 Belle Plaine pg 107
• 1908 ILQ 5.13 Belle Plaine pg 198
• 1909 ILQ 6.1 Belle Plaine pg 6
• 1915 ILQ 7.9 BellePlaine pg 140

Callendar

• 1915 ILQ 7.9 Callendar pg 140

Castana

• 1910 ILQ 6.6 Castana pg 86

Central City

• 1916 ILQ 7.14 Central City pg 222
• 1918 ILQ 8.8 Central City pg 126

Clarion

• 1907 ILQ 5.9 Clarion pg 136
• 1908 ILQ 5.13 Clarion pg 198
• 1908 ILQ 5.14 Clarion pg 215
• 1913 ILQ 7.1 Clarion pg 13
• 1914 ILQ 7.7 Clarion pg 109
• 1918 ILQ 8.6 Clarion pg 94

Clearfield

• 1916 ILQ 7.16 Clearfield pg 254

Coon Rapids

• 1913 ILQ 7.4 Coon Rapids pg 61
• 1913 ILQ 7.4 Coon Rapids pg 64
• 1914 ILQ 7.7 Coon Rapids pg 109

Corning

• 1901 ILQ 1.1 Corning pg 6
• 1905 ILQ 5.4 Corning pg 57
• 1912 ILQ 6.15 Corning pg 232
• 1913 ILQ 7.1 Corning pg 13
• 1913 ILQ 7.3 Corning pg 46
• 1913 ILQ 7.4 Corning pg 61-62
• 1915 ILQ 7.11 Corning pg 173
• 1919 ILQ 8.12 Corning pg 190

Creston

• 1909 ILQ 6.1 Creston pg 6

Decorah

• 1914 ILQ 7.6 Decorah pg 93
• 1914, Jul. 8, The Garner Signal, Library Notes
• 1915 ILQ 7.9 Decorah pg 141
• 1915 ILQ 7.11 Decorah pg 174
• 1919 ILQ 8.9 Decorah pg 143-144

Dow City

• 1916 ILQ 7.14 Dow City pg 222

Eddyville

• 1909 ILQ 6.4 Eddyville pg 62
• 1918 ILQ 8.8 Eddyville pg 127

Exira

• 1914 ILQ 7.6 Exira pg 93
• 1915 ILQ 7.10 Exira pg 157
• 1916 ILQ 7.13 Exira pg 206

Farmington

• 1915 ILQ 7.9 Farmington pg 141

Fonda

• 1914 ILQ 7.8 Fonda pg 125

Forest City

• 1905 ILQ 5.3 Forest City pg 42
• 1917 ILQ 8.4 Forest City pg 62
• 1918 ILQ 8.5 Forest City pg 79

Fort Madison

• 1907 ILQ 5.9 Fort Madison pg 137
• 1907 ILQ 5.11 5.12 Fort Madison pg 181
• 1908 ILQ 5.15 Fort Madison pg 231
• 1910 ILQ 6.8 Fort Madison pg 126
• 1915 ILQ 7.10 Fort Madison pg 157
• 1918 ILQ 8.6 Fort Madison pg 95

Galva

• 1907 ILQ 5.11 5.12 Galva pg 181
• 1909 ILQ 6.1 Galva pg 6

Garden Grove

• 1917 ILQ 8.3 Garden Grove pg 46

Greene

• 1913 ILQ 7.3 Greene pg 47
• 1913 ILQ 7.4 Greene pg 64

Grand Junction

• 1915 ILQ 7.12 Grand Junction pg 191
• 1916 ILQ 7.13 Grand Junction pg 206
• 1916 ILQ 7.16 Grand Junction pg 255
• 1917 ILQ 8.1 Grand Junction pg 12
• 1919 ILQ 8.10 Grand Junction pg 157

Hartley

• 1913 ILQ 7.2 Hartley pgs 24-25
• 1913 ILQ 7.4 Hartley pg 64
• 1914 ILQ 7.5 Hartley pg 77

Hawkeye

• 1901 ILQ 1.2 Hawkeye pg 21

Highland Park College

• 1909 ILQ 6.4 Highland Park College (Des Moines) pg 61-62
• 1911 ILQ 6.10 Highland Park College (Des Moines) pg 162
• 1914 ILQ 7.8 Highland Park College (Des Moines) pg 125

Holstein

• 1901 ILQ 1.4 Holstein pg 62

Ida Grove

• 1906 ILQ 5.8 Ida Grove pg 125
• 1908 ILQ 5.16 Ida Grove pg 252
• 1914 ILQ 7.6 Ida Grove pg 94

Independence

• 1909 ILQ 6.1 Independence pg 7
• 1912 ILQ 6.13 Independence pg 204
• 1915 ILQ 7.10 Independence pg 157
• 1920 ILQ 8.13 Independence pg 196
• 1920 ILQ 8.16 Independence pg 227

Iowa State University

• 1906 ILQ 5.8 Iowa State University pg 124
• 1909 ILQ 6.3 Iowa State University pg 45
• 1912 ILQ 6.15 Iowa State University pg 231
• 1913 ILQ 7.4 Iowa State University pg 61

Keokuk

• 1908 ILQ 5.14 Keokuk pg 216
• 1912 ILQ 6.13 Keokuk pg 204-205
• 1912 ILQ 6.15 Keokuk pg 233
• 1913 ILQ 7.1 Keokuk pg 15
• 1913 ILQ 7.2 Keokuk pg 25
• 1913 ILQ 7.4 Keokuk pg 62
• 1913 ILQ 7.4 Keokuk pg 64
• 1914 ILQ 7.7 Keokuk pg 110
• 1915 ILQ 7.9 Keokuk pg 142
• 1915 ILQ 7.12 Keokuk pg 191
• 1916 ILQ 7.14 Keokuk pg 223
• 1917 ILQ 8.2 Keokuk pg 31
• 1919 ILQ 8.12 Keokuk pg 191

Keota

• 1912 ILQ 6.15 Keota pg 233

Kiron

• 1909 ILQ 6.1 Kiron pg 7

Lamoni

• 1907 ILQ 5.9 Lamoni pg 138

Lansing

• 1913 ILQ 7.4 Lansing pg 64
• 1915 ILQ 7.9 Lansing pg 142

Leander Clark College

• 1906 ILQ 5.8 Leander Clark College pg 127-128
• 1914 ILQ 7.5 Leander Clark College pg 79

Lenox

• 1902 ILQ 2.4 Lenox pg 71

Lenox College

• 1909 ILQ 6.1 Lenox College pg 7

Letts

• 1914 ILQ 7.6 Letts pg 94
• 1914 ILQ 7.7 Letts pg 110
• 1915 ILQ 7.10 Letts pg 158
• 1915 ILQ 7.11 Letts pg 175

Lewis

• 1914 ILQ 7.6 Lewis pg 94
• 1915 ILQ 7.10 Lewis pg 158

Lyons

• 1919 ILQ 8.10 Lyons pg 158

Maxwell

• 1914 ILQ 7.7 Maxwell pg 110
• 1917 ILQ 8.3 Maxwell pg 46
• 1919 ILQ 8.12 Maxwell pg 192

Mediapolis

• 1915 ILQ 7.11 Mediapolis pg 175
• 1918 ILQ 8.7 Mediapolis pg 112

Mitchell

• 1912 ILQ 6.13 Mitchell pg 205

Mitchellville

• 1913 ILQ 7.1 Mitchellville pg 15
• 1913 ILQ 7.2 Mitchellville pg 26

Monroe

• 1910 ILQ 6.7 Monroe pg 109

Morningside College

• 1910 ILQ 6.7 Morningside College pg 110
• 1911 ILQ 6.10 Morningside College pg 164
• 1912 ILQ 6.13 Morningside College pg 205
• 1912 ILQ 6.15 Morningside College pg 234
• 1914 ILQ 7.8 Morningside College pg 127

Morning Sun

• 1916 ILQ 7.13 Morning Sun pg 207

New Sharon

• 1915 ILQ 7.9 New Sharon pg 143

Norwalk

• 1905 ILQ 5.2 Norwalk pg 29-30

Ocheydean

• 1914 ILQ 7.5 Ocheydean pg 78

Orange City

• 1916 ILQ 7.13 Orange City pg 207

Oxford Junction

• 1903 ILQ 3.2 Oxford Junction pg 31
• 1905 ILQ 5.3 Oxford Junction pg 44

Parkersburg

• 1905 ILQ 5.4 Parkersburg pg 59
• 1916 ILQ 7.15 Parkersburg pg 240
• 1916 ILQ 7.16 Parkersburg pg 256
• 1919 ILQ 8.12 Parkersburg pg 192

Paton

• 1909 ILQ 6.4 Paton pg 63
• 1910 ILQ 6.6 Paton pg 89

Paullina

• 1915 ILQ 7.12 Paullina pg 191

Primghar

• 1913 ILQ 7.4 Primghar pg 64
• 1916 ILQ 7.14 Primghar pg 223
• 1920 ILQ 8.14 Primghar pg 200

Redfield

• 1915 ILQ 7.12 Redfield pg 192
• 1916 ILQ 7.13 Redfield pg 207
• 1917 ILQ 8.2 Redfield pg 32

Rockford

• 1917 ILQ 8.2 Rockford pg 32
• 1920 ILQ 8.16 Rockford pg 228

Rock Rapids

• 1908 ILQ 5.15 Rock Rapids pg 232-233
• 1909 ILQ 6.1 Rock Rapids pg 8-9
• 1910 ILQ 6.8 Rock Rapids pg 127
• 1913 ILQ 7.4 Rock Rapids pg 63
• 1915 ILQ 7.10 Rock Rapids pg 159
• 1919 ILQ 8.12 Rock Rapids pg 192

Rock Valley

• 1916 ILQ 7.14 Rock Valley pg 223

Scranton

• 1916 ILQ 7.13 Scranton pg 207

Seymour

• 1912 ILQ 6.13 Seymour pg 205

Sutherland

• 1916 ILQ 7.13 Sutherland pg 208
• 1916 ILQ 7.16 Sutherland pg 256

Toledo

• 1919 ILQ 8.10 Toledo pg 160
• 1919 ILQ 8.11 Toledo pg 176
• 1920 ILQ 8.16 Toledo pg 228

University of Iowa

• 1903 ILQ 3.3 State University of Iowa pg 47
• 1906 ILQ 5.6 University of Iowa pg 92
• 1906 ILQ 5.7 University of Iowa pg 107-108
• 1907 ILQ 5.11 5.12 University of Iowa pg 181-182
• 1908 ILQ 5.13 University of Iowa pg 199
• 1909 ILQ 6.3 University of Iowa pg 45
• 1910 ILQ 6.6 University of Iowa pg 88
• 1910 ILQ 6.7 University of Iowa pg 109
• 1911 ILQ 6.11 University of Iowa pg 175
• 1913 ILQ 7.2 University of Iowa pg 25

Washington

• 1902 ILQ 2.1 Washington pg 13
• 1906 ILQ 5.8 Washington pg 128
• 1907 ILQ 5.9 Washington pg 140
• 1908 ILQ 5.15 Washington pg 233
• 1909 ILQ 6.3 Washington pg 45
• 1911 ILQ 6.9 Washington pg 148
• 1911 ILQ 6.10 Washington pg 164
• 1912 ILQ 6.13 Washington pg 206
• 1914 ILQ 7.5 Washington pg 80
• 1915 ILQ 7.10 Washington pg 160
• 1915 ILQ 7.12 Washington pg 192
• 1916 ILQ 7.15 Washington pg 240
• 1917 ILQ 8.1 Washington pg 14
• 1918 ILQ 8.5 Washington pg 80

Waukon

• 1908 ILQ 5.15 Waukon pg 233
• 1914 ILQ 7.5 Waukon pg 79
• 1915 ILQ 7.9 Waukon pg 143
• 1916 ILQ 7.15 Waukon pg 240

Wellman

• 1909 ILQ 6.1 Wellman pg 10
• 1913 ILQ 7.4 Wellman Library Advertising pg 64
• 1913 ILQ 7.4 Wellman Library Benefits pg 64
• 1914 ILQ 7.8 Wellman pg 128
• 1916 ILQ 7.14 Wellman pg 224

West Branch

• 1904 ILQ 4.4 West Branch pg 62
• 1911 ILQ 6.9 West Branch pg 148
• 1915 ILQ 7.11 West Branch pg 176

What Cheer

• 1913 ILQ 7.2 What Cheer pg 27

Whiting

• 1913 ILQ 7.2 Whiting pg 27
• 1918 ILQ 8.5 Whiting pg 80
• 1919 ILQ 8.10 Whiting pg 160