Carnegie Free Library
Carnegie Free Library

Carnegie Free Library

The picture shows the Carnegie Library, which was the precursor of today's Public Library. Actually, El Paso Public Library is the oldest public library in Texas. It was founded by the teacher Mary Irene Stanton in 1894, when she donated her personal collection for a boy's Reading Club, to help her students. The books were placed in a room in the Sheldon building. The room became so popular that adults asked for the privileges of reading Stanton's books and the membership was extended to all, including women. The first library association was formed in 1896 consisting of Stanton as librarian and other women. In the same year the reading room was moved to City Hall. In 1899 it became open to the public. By 1900, the library had more than 1,500 books on the shelves and the first trained librarian was hired. With the financial support of the Carnegie Foundation of the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, a separate building was built in 1904, the Carnegie Library. Mauran, Russell and Garden, architects from St. Louis, designed the library. It was a one-story structure with half a basement and was built on the block then known as Buckler Square, later renamed Carnegie Square. One of the most important forces in the development in the El Paso Public Library has to be the tenure of Maud Durlin Sullivan, who came to the library in 1908. Sullivan built a huge collection of books, musical scores and art prints, acquired books written in Spanish, developed a usable system of access and exhibited art in the library. Sullivan served as librarian until her death in 1943. In 1954 a new library building opened at the same site.

Área: Central / Downtown

Colección: Stansel Postcard Collection

Fuente: University of Texas at El Paso Library - Special Collections Department

ID de referencia: PH049-1-1-017

Cargado por: El Paso Museum of History

Comentarios

Hacer un comentario
Gracias por su comentario

Reportar esta entrada

Elige la razón más importante para este reporte

Tu nombre

Tu correo electrónico

Detalle opcional

Gracias por su reporte

Más sobre la misma comunidad-colección

Fort Bliss - Wall Of Giants

Cutting Ribbon Ceremony - 2015 - Celebrating Fort Bliss at the ...

Circle Of Giants - Fort Bliss

After the ribbon cutting ceremony for Fort Bliss. Circle of ...

Six Wall Of Giants - Fort Bliss

Cake celebrating the Six Wall Of Giants - Fort Bliss.

Sixth Wall Of Giants - Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas

Sixth Wall Of Giants - Fort Bliss. Starting from the left: ...

Sixth Wall Of Giants - Fort Bliss

Sixth Wall Of Giants - Fort Bliss Seated is Lisa Heinemann who ...

Sixth Wall Of Giants - Fort Bliss

Sebastian G. Ribas - Normand ( Operations Manager) installing ...

ishine 2015

This year will be our first Youth National Day of Prayer in El ...

DIGIE

Behind the Digital Wall--this area is behind the screens for the ...

DIGIE

Behind the Digital Wall--this area is behind the screens for the ...

DIGIE

Behind the Digital Wall--this area is behind the screens for the ...

DIGIE

Behind the Digital Wall--this area is behind the screens for the ...

El Paso Police Officer George Herold - 1889 - 1916

George Herold is proudly wearing his badge, mounted and dressed ...

Muñoz Great-Grandparents

El Paso 1926. Leandro & Marina Muñoz

St. Ignatius Graduation

Luis Muñoz (right)

Officers W. N.Glover & Jesus M. Perez - 1913

Officers W. N.Glover & Jesus M. Perez - 1913

Chilled with chico

Found Chico at the interactive wall

Art museum visit

Saturday scout outing

Raymond L. Telles

Raymond L. Telles (1915-2013) was the first Mexican-American ...

Raymond L. Telles y Lindon B. Johnson

Raymond L. Telles was the first Mexican-American elected mayor ...

Raymond L. Telles

Raymond L. Telles (1915-2013) was the first Mexican-American ...

El Ingrediente Verde

The grand opening of the Green Ingredient.

home.search_collection