Carnegie Library at FAMU facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Carnegie Library
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FAMU's Carnegie Library
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Tallahassee, Florida |
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| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | William Augustus Edwards |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000949 |
| Added to NRHP | 17 November 1978 |
The Carnegie Library at FAMU is a very old and important building. It stands on the campus of Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida. This two-story building, with its grand white columns, was built in 1908. It became a part of the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. This means it's officially recognized as a special place in history.
This library was one of many built across the country with money from a rich helper named Andrew Carnegie. He was a famous businessman who believed in helping people learn. He funded many public and college libraries, which were then named "Carnegie Libraries" after him. The Carnegie Library at FAMU is the oldest brick building on the campus. It was also the very first Carnegie Library built for a Black land-grant college.
The city of Tallahassee originally turned down a Carnegie Library. This was because Andrew Carnegie's rules said the library had to serve everyone, including Black people. At that time, laws in Tallahassee kept Black and white people separate. So, the library was built at what is now FAMU instead. FAMU's earlier school, the State Normal and Industrial College for Colored Students, needed a new library. Their old library had been in a mansion that burned down in 1905. The Carnegie Library was built right where that mansion used to be.
The building was designed by an architect named William Augustus Edwards. It was finished in 1908. On November 17, 1978, it was officially added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
A Special Museum for History
In 1976, a new center called the Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum opened. It was first known as the Florida Black Archives. This important center started inside the Carnegie Library at FAMU. It collects and shares the history of African Americans.
Over time, the archives grew bigger. In 1996, it expanded into the nearby Union Bank building. Then, in 2006, a brand new building was added. The museum's exhibits teach visitors about African American history in Florida. They show the important roles of the African-American church and school life at FAMU. You can also learn about key people in politics, science, medicine, and inventions. The museum also shares stories about military experiences and much more.
The idea for the archives came from history professor James N. Eaton in the early 1970s. He wanted to collect historical items and share them with students and the public. By the fall of 1976, he had gathered the collection and set up the first exhibits.
In 2007, the archives were given a special new name. They were named after two important people: Carrie P. Meek and Dr. James N. Eaton. Carrie P. Meek was a respected Florida politician and a former U.S. Congresswoman. She was also a graduate of FAMU. She helped get money from Congress to make the archives bigger. Dr. James N. Eaton was the history professor who first imagined and started the archives. He was also its first director.
