Founded 1800 Libraries

Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie is credited with founding 1800 public libraries, his donations “aggregating $51,596,963.”

New York, June 9. – Andrew Carnegie has founded 1800 public libraries, representing donations aggregating $51,596,963, according to his own statement in the current number of Collier’s weekly. Up to Dec. 31, 1908, the philanthropist says he erected in the United States 956 library buildings with branches at a cost of $34,870,745. England and Wales came second in the list, with 329 buildings and fifty-nine branches, at a cost of $7,859,550.

“Founded 1800 Libraries,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed March 21, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1896.