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

Victoria Sinclair and Shelley Mozelle

Victoria Sinclair to the left of the image and Shelley Mozelle ...

Victoria Sinclair

Liz Sinclair, Victoria Sinclair, Miss El Paso 2014, Shelly ...

Victoria Sinclair

Liz Sinclair, Victoria Sinclair, Miss El Paso 2014, Shelly ...

Victoria Sinclair

Victoria Sinclair --Miss El Paso 2014-with friends.

Elizabeth Garrett

Elizabeth Garrett (1884-1947) was a nationally acclaimed soprano ...

Lobby of Hilton Hotel

The photograph shows the Lobby of the Hilton Hotel (from Mills ...

Kitchen, Hilton Hotel, El Paso, TX circa 1935

The image shows the kitchen and the cooking staff of the Hilton ...

Bell Boys of Hilton Hotel

The photograph shows the bell boys at the Hilton Hotel in ...

Guest Room in Hilton Hotel

The photograph shows one of the guest rooms at the Hilton Hotel ...

Victoria Sinclair

Victoria Sinclair - Miss El Paso 2014.

Dining Area of Hilton Hotel

The picture shows the dining area of the Hotel Hilton in 1930. ...

Miss Merle Garner

The photograph shows Miss Merle Garner. She was the swimsuit ...

Reva Reyes with Dancing Partner Mr. Villareal

El Paso native Reva Reyes posed here with her dancing partner, ...

Miss Reva Reyes

Reva Reyes circa 1925 became an international actress, singer, ...

Elliott Chess

Elliott Chess was an El Paso native who served in WWI and later ...

Dee & Dawn Burns

The two sisters Dee and Dawn Burns took their picture in the ...

Angelina Virginia Winkler - El Paso, Texas

Angelina Virginia Winkler wrote the book Texas Hood's Brigade. ...

Two Men Drinking

The image shows two men sitting together and drinking. The scene ...

Baby in Carriage

The photograph shows a baby in his/her carriage. It is signed ...

Miss El Paso - Victoria Sinclair

Crowning of Miss El Paso 2014, Victoria Sinclair.

Miss El Paso and Miss El Paso Teen

Victoria Sinclair, Miss El Paso 2014 and Miss El Paso Teen 2014. ...

Miss El Paso

Victoria Sinclair after her crowning for Miss El Paso and Miss ...

Miss El Paso and Miss El Paso Teen

Miss El Paso 2014 and Miss Teen El Paso 2014. Miss El Paso ...

home.search_collection