Civic Pride in a Lost America: Library Postcards
Carnegie Libraries of Kansas
Cities A-I
In 1985, Allen Gardiner had his excellent resource The Carnegie Legacy in Kansas published by the Kansas State Library. Once again, it is online as a pdf file.
Many of these library buildings were submitted for status on the National Register of Historic Places. The pertinent form is hosted on the Kansas State Historical Society site.
Abilene
(L) RPPC with annotation on back:
These cards are Walter Forney's work. (I)t is sure a good view of the Library.
(R) Rather pretty ca. 1907 postcard, printed in Germany for an New York firm, and distributed by A.L. Duckwall.
(L, below) L.L. Cook photo card, never mailed.
(R, below) Drawing, probably from the architect, published by C.L. Hubbard & Co. as a postcard. Mailed in August, 1908.
Late 1905 grant; late 1908 opening, probably owing to an early form of urban renewal needed to clear the designated space.
First addition, 1933. Second addition, 1977. Total renovation, 2009.
Anthony
1908 Carnegie grant. Built in 1911. Replaced in 1995. Still standing as of 2012.
Multi-angle views at an NPS site.
Photo postcard shows the dirt street and a horse trough.
Arkansas City
(L) This card was sold by S.H. Kress. The library is clearly labeled:
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Presented to the people
19 of Arkansas City by 07
ANDREW CARNEGIE
I guess you had to extrapolate a little for the meaning.
(R) 1968 Curt Teich chrome postcard. By this time the library was over 60 years old and still handsome.
1906 Carnegie grant. Replaced 1980: fate unknown.
The Library's history is on an Arkansas City website. Currently, the library is housed in the former post office building. It seems strange that a post office in a ca.12,000 person town is more appropriately sized for its library
Burlington
(L) My copy of this card was a salesman's order card for the Sexichrome brand, another of those marques which I suspect to be either a Commercial Colortype Company or a Curt Teich product. Either way, it's a Chicago product.
(R) Unattributed photo postcard.
1910 Carnegie grant. Built in 1912. Added to the National Register of Historic Buildings in 1987, but replaced in 1994.
Now a part of the Coffey County Library.
Chanute
Dedicated in 1906. Sometime along the way, the tower was removed, essentially destroying the Romanesque character. (Few Carnegie libraries were built in this 19th century revival style.)
The library was replaced early in the 21st century.
(L) V. G. Chapman card.
(R) 1907 card, maker unknown.
Cherryvale
(L) Photo postcard, date uncertain.
(R) ca. 1913 E.C. Kropp card..
1912 grant: opened 1913. Still in use with limited hours.
Another utilitarian library building, but its windows are rather attractive.
Clay Center
Late 1909 grant. Still in use, and on the National Register of Historic Places, despite some necessary repairs after the 1973 tornado. A planned renovation seems to have been scaled back to cosmetic work only. This is a utilitarian building that is rather ochre, not gray.
Commercialchrome card.
Concordia
Grant from 1907: building completed, 1909. Building outgrown by 1969 and eventually replaced.
Now houses the Cloud County Historical museum.
Notice the stone blockwork which presages the 1950s, when lannonstone facings reached a near-craze in the Milwaukee, and to a lesser extent, the Chicago suburbs.
(L) Photo postcard mailed in 1909. Those don't look like 2 year old trees.
(R) Card mailed in 1925. Someone in the Commercialchrome retouch department thought this winter shot needed to feature willows and roses.
Dodge City
1905 Carnegie grant.
Gardiner calls this 1905-7 building 'Free Style' or 'Free Eclectic Style.'
I call it the spiffiest use of cement west of Wright's Unity Temple. I haven't seen a post-1937 picture: Dodge City snagged a WPA project to build an addition.
This is a Fred Harvey card. I imagine there were parts of the West where the library was the most exciting structure.
Downs
Downs' current population is 910, according to the page from whence my information comes.It is said to be one of two Carnegie libraries in the state not built in a county seat, and one of the two smallest.
1905 grant: still in use, and intact.
(L) ZIM card, mailed 1909.
(R) The card was printed in Germany and mailed in 1914.
El Dorado
A Classical Revival building designed by John F. Stanton and built in 1912. Replaced, and turned into offices in 1987.
(L) This is not a photo postcard, but a quality print of a lovely library of dressed stone.
(R) This Curt Teich American Art postcard was mailed in 1919.
Emporia
(L) Fred Harvey card with divided back.
Note the total lack of landscaping.
(R) Possibly by E.C. Kropp. I have a newer version of this view marked as E.C. Kropp.
Built in 1906, after the persistent Mrs. Amanda Wicks, librarian, decided in 1901 to pursue a Carnegie grant. The building was replaced in 1979, and now houses the Lyon County Historical Museum. Furthermore, it is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fort Scott
1901 Carnegie grant: built in 1902. The Second Renaissance Revival building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Apparently this building is still in use.
(L) German post card, printed for the Souvenir Post Card Co. of New York.
(R) This sepia monochrome card by an unknown (possibly Albertype) publisher was mailed in 1910.
Garden City
1909 grant.
Moved from the Carnegie building to the old post office in 1964. Became the Finney County Public Library in 1983, prior to a new library facility being built.
A very stern looking new library.
Goodland
Built in 1913. Replaced in 1975. It's now the Carnegie Arts Center.
Per Gardiner, the special 1909 election that brought it into existence was one in which women were allowed to vote.
Goodland was also another of those towns that didn't want to take 'tainted' money.
'C.T. Blue Sky' 1935 Curt Teich postcard
Great Bend
1906 grant: 1908 Eclectic Neoclassical building.
Does Eclectic = shoddy roof? Persistent water damage to the second floor doomed this Carnegie building in 1963. There must have been a lot of pondering--and mold growth--going on, because it took until 1971 until its demolition.
This Commercialchrome card was used as a salesman's aide. In 1923, 2000 cost $6.00.
Hays
1910 grant. Built in 1911. Strong resemblance to the Carnegie building in El Paso, IL. Demolished because of sagging floors (from the weight of the books). [Acceptable Reason #2]
Photo postcard mailed in 1941.
Herington
1913 grant: still in use.
The Commercialchrome card also features the town's Masonic temple.
Hiawatha (Morrill Free Library)
1906 grant: 1907 building, slightly wider than the standard Carnegie plan. Renovated in 1967.
More photos on a Hiawatha pictures web site.
(L) Photo postcard mailed 1910.
(R) Curt Teich 'C.T. Blue Sky' card from 1928, never mailed.
Hutchinson
1902 grant: Opened in 1904.
(L) Souvenir Post Card.
(R) Sold by Hutchinson Book & Art.
In 1946, became the Union Labor Temple and the library moved to a new building.
You can't help but wonder what monstrosity was cropped from the left side of the photograph.
Independence
Opened 1907. Air conditioned, 1956 (hey, it's important to me!). Still in use.
Beautiful 'LITHO-CHROME' card printed in Germany for the South-West News Company, Kansas City, Mo. Never postally used, it must date before 1914.
Iola
Card sent 1912 by Ina C., who was 'tatting a streak.'
Probable C.U. Williams 'Photo-ette' card, mailed in 1914.
Impressive photo postcard, mailed in 1913.
1906 - 1966
Slightly unusual design.
Gardiner states that it was built of concrete blocks from a local cement factory. Perhaps that savings enabled it to be large for the size of its community. Still, it was outmoded by 1965.