Carnegie Branch Library (Meridian, Mississippi) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Carnegie Branch Library
|
|
 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 2721 13th St., Meridian, Mississippi |
|---|---|
| Built | 1913 |
| MPS | Meridian MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 79003385 |
| Added to NRHP | December 18, 1979 |
The Carnegie Branch Library was located in Meridian, Mississippi. It was one of two libraries in the city that were built with money from Andrew Carnegie. He was a very rich person who gave a lot of money to help build libraries across the country.
This library was built for African Americans. The other library was built for white people. Today, the other building is the Meridian Museum of Art. Both library buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Sadly, the Carnegie Branch Library was torn down in 2008.
Contents
History of the Library
A group of women in Meridian started a book club in the 1880s. It was called the Fortnightly Book and Magazine Club. They began collecting money to build a public library for their city. The books they gathered became the first collection for Meridian's library.
Getting Help from Andrew Carnegie
Many people in the city wanted a library. So, the club asked Israel Marks for help. He was a local leader and knew Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie was a philanthropist, which means he was a wealthy person who gave money to good causes.
In 1904, Mr. Marks convinced Carnegie to give $38,000 to Meridian. This money was for building two libraries. One library was for white people, and the other was for African Americans. The library for white people received $30,000. The library for African Americans received $8,000.
Some people thought this was the only Carnegie library built just for African Americans. However, another one was built in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1905. It was called the Louisville Free Public Library, Western Colored Branch.
Building the Libraries
The city used the money to create both libraries. The building for the white library was an old church. It was located at 25th Avenue and 7th Street. The African American library was built new. It was at 13th Street and 28th Avenue. A local Methodist church donated the land for this building.
The African American library was very important. It was the first and only library for black people in Mississippi for many years. It stayed that way until after World War I.
Changes Over Time
Both libraries served the city until 1967. At that time, the libraries became integrated. This means people of all races could use the same library. The collections from both libraries were combined. All the books and materials moved to a new building called the Meridian Public Library.
The old white library building was changed. In 1970, it became the Meridian Museum of Art. The former African American library building was torn down on May 28, 2008.
