The following list of Carnegie libraries in Illinois provides detailed information on United States Carnegie libraries in Illinois, where 106 public libraries were built from 105 grants (totaling $1,661,200) awarded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York from 1903 to 1914. In addition, academic libraries were built at five institutions (totaling $90,000).
Carnegie libraries
| Library | City or town | Image | Date granted[1] | Grant amount[1] | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aledo | Aledo | May 21, 1913 | $10,000 | 200 N. College Ave. | In June 1974, the Mercer Carnegie Library was one of two buildings in Aledo named “Landmarks in Mercer County” by the Historic Sites Division of the Illinois Department of Conservation. Closed as a library in April 2019 upon opening of new location. | |
| 2 | Arcola | Arcola | Mar 27, 1903 | $10,000 | 407 E. Main St. | ||
| 3 | Aurora | Aurora | Jan 16, 1901 | $50,000 | 1 E. Benton St. | Opened 22 Aug 1904, extensively altered in 1969, closed 23 May 2015 | |
| 4 | Beardstown | Beardstown | Jan 22, 1903 | $10,000 | 105 W. 3rd St. | Now city hall | |
| 5 | Belleville | Belleville | Aug 11, 1913 | $45,000 | 121 E. Washington St. | Dedicated 20 Jan 1916 | |
| 6 | Belvidere | Belvidere | Apr 8, 1910 | $17,500 | 320 N. State St. | Constructed in 1912 and opened to the public in February 1913. A 15,000 square foot expansion was added in 1987. | |
| 7 | Blue Island | Blue Island | Mar 14, 1902 | $15,000 | Open 1903–1970 | ||
| 8 | Brookfield | Brookfield | Apr 3, 1912 | $10,000 | 3609 Grand Boulevard | Opened June 27, 1914. An annex added in 1958 and the building was demolished in 1985 when a new facility was built. On July 31, 2021, the new Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library opened across the street at 3541 Park Avenue. The original Carnegie library site currently serves as the Library's parking lot and Pollinator Garden. The concrete "Public Library" sign from the Carnegie library has been installed in the garden. | |
| 9 | Carmi | Carmi | Jan 14, 1914 | $10,000 | 203 N. Church St. | Now a genealogy library | |
| 10 | Carrollton | Carrollton | Oct 3, 1901 | $10,000 | 509 S. Main St. | ||
| 11 | Centralia | Centralia | Feb 14, 1901 | $20,000 | 515 E. Broadway | ||
| 12 | Charleston | Charleston | Oct 3, 1901 | $15,000 | 712 6th St. | Opened 15 Jan 1904 | |
| 13 | Chicago Heights | Chicago Heights | Mar 14, 1902 | $15,000 | 1627 Halsted St. | Open 1903–1972, demolished 1974 | |
| 14 | Chillicothe | Chillicothe | Apr 19, 1915 | $10,000 | 822 N. 2nd St. | ||
| 15 | Danville (Main) | Danville | Dec 21, 1901 | $65,000[2] | 307 N. Vermillion St. | Now a museum | |
| 16 | Danville Veterans Branch | Danville | Dec 21, 1901 | — | Part of Danville Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Historic District | ||
| 17 | Decatur | Decatur | Feb 6, 1901 | $60,000 | Demolished 1970 | ||
| 18 | DeLand | De Land | Apr 25, 1911 | $8,000 | 130 N. Highway Ave. | Open 1912–2009 | |
| 19 | Delavan | Delavan | Apr 28, 1913 | $10,000 | 208 Locust St. | ||
| 20 | Des Plaines | Des Plaines | Apr 10, 1906 | $5,000 | Open 1907-1936 | ||
| 21 | Downers Grove | Downers Grove | Feb 13, 1906 | $8,500 | Was completely surrounded by an addition in 1956, Demolished 1975 | ||
| 22 | Edwardsville | Edwardsville | Feb 12, 1903 | $12,500 | 112 S. Kansas St. | ||
| 23 | El Paso | El Paso | Sep 1, 1905 | $6,000 | 149 W. 1st St. 40.73956°N 89.0185°W | ||
| 24 | Evanston | Evanston | Dec 14, 1903 | $50,000 | Open 1907–1960 | ||
| 25 | Farmington | Farmington | Jan 29, 1906 | $5,600 | 266 E. Fort St. | ||
| 26 | Flora | Flora | Feb 20, 1903 | $10,000 | Open 1903–1990 | ||
| 27 | Freeport | Freeport | Feb 21, 1901 | $30,000 | 314 W. Stephenson St. | Open 1902–2004 | |
| 28 | Fulton | Fulton | Dec 14, 1908 | $5,000 | 501 10th Ave. | Opened 27 Oct 1909 | |
| 29 | Galena | Galena | Apr 20, 1905 | $12,500 | 601 S. Bench St. | Dedicated 4 July 1908. Part of Galena National Register Historic District | |
| 30 | Galesburg | Galesburg | Feb 14, 1901 | $50,000 | Opened 1902, burned 9 May 1958 | ||
| 31 | Galva | Galva | Feb 10, 1908 | $8,000 | 120 NW 3rd Ave. | Opened July 1910 | |
| 32 | Geneva | Geneva | Jan 23, 1907 | $7,500 | 127 James St. | Opened 1908 | |
| 33 | Gilman | Gilman | Sep 29, 1915 | $10,000 | 117 E. 2nd St. | Open 1916–2002 | |
| 34 | Glen Ellyn | Glen Ellyn | May 17, 1912 | $10,000 | 671 Crescent Blvd. | Open 1914–1995, extensively altered, now school district offices | |
| 35 | Grayville | Grayville | May 16, 1911 | $6,000 | 110 W. Mill St. | Open 1912–2010. Razed sometime between 2021 and 2024. | |
| 36 | Greenup | Greenup | Jan 27, 1904 | $8,000 | 101 N. Mill St. | Now a museum | |
| 37 | Greenville | Greenville | Apr 23, 1903 | $11,000 | 414 W. Main St. | ||
| 38 | Griggsville | Griggsville | Apr 19, 1915 | $5,000 | 119 S. Corey St. | Opened 1916 | |
| 39 | Harrisburg | Harrisburg | Mar 21, 1908 | $12,500 | 101 E. Church St. | Open 1909–2000, now a church | |
| 40 | Harvey | Harvey | Feb 1, 1905 | $13,500 | 155th St. and Turlington Ave. | Open 1906–1971 | |
| 41 | Havana | Havana | Oct 3, 1900 | $8,000 | 201 W. Adams St. | Opened 1902 | |
| 42 | Highland Park | Highland Park | Mar 27, 1903 | $12,000 | Demolished 1929 | ||
| 43 | Hillsboro | Hillsboro | Nov 25, 1903 | $11,000 | 214 School St. | ||
| 44 | Hoopeston | Hoopeston | Feb 12, 1903 | $12,500 | 110 N. 4th St. | Opened 1905 | |
| 45 | Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Feb 6, 1901 | $40,000 | 201 W. College Ave. | ||
| 46 | Jerseyville | Jerseyville | Apr 11, 1902 | $12,000 | 105 N. Liberty St. | Opened 1904 | |
| 47 | Kewanee | Kewanee | Mar 14, 1901 | $25,000 | 102 S. Tremont St. | Opened 1908 | |
| 48 | La Grange | La Grange | Mar 27, 1903 | $12,500 | Open 1905–1968 | ||
| 49 | La Harpe | La Harpe | Dec 20, 1904 | $5,000 | 209 E. Main St. | Opened 1906 | |
| 50 | LaSalle | LaSalle | Jun 2, 1904 | $25,000 | 305 Marquette St. | Opened 19 Jan 1907, designed by Chicago architect Victor Andre Matteson | |
| 51 | Lewistown | Lewistown | Dec 16, 1905 | $5,400 | 321 W. Lincoln Ave. | ||
| 52 | Lincoln | Lincoln | Mar 6, 1901 | $25,000 | 725 Pekin St. | ||
| 53 | Litchfield | Litchfield | Jan 6, 1903 | $15,000 | 400 N. State St. | Tourism Office and Chamber of Commerce | |
| 54 | Macomb | Macomb | Apr 13, 1903 | $15,000 | 235 S. Lafayette St. | Opened 1904 | |
| 55 | Marion | Marion | Feb 13, 1909 | $18,000 | 206 S. Market St. | Opened 29 Feb 1916 | |
| 56 | Marseilles | Marseilles | Jun 2, 1904 | $10,000 | 155 E. Bluff St. | Opened 23 Nov 1905 | |
| 57 | Mattoon | Mattoon | Jun 21, 1901 | $25,000 | 1600 Charleston Ave. | Opened 1903 | |
| 58 | Maywood | Maywood | Aug 19, 1904 | $12,500 | 121 S. 5th Ave. | Opened 31 Mar 1906 | |
| 59 | Mendota | Mendota | Jan 14, 1904 | $10,000 | 901 Washington St. | Now a museum | |
| 60 | Metropolis | Metropolis | Jan 27, 1912 | $9,000 | 317 Metropolis St. | Dedicated 27 Nov 1915 | |
| 61 | Milford | Milford | Dec 30, 1904 | $7,000 | 2 S. Grant Ave. | ||
| 62 | Moline | Moline | Aug 16, 1901 | $40,000 | 504 17th St. | Open 1903–2008 | |
| 63 | Morris | Morris | Jan 6, 1912 | $12,500 | 604 Liberty St. | Open 1913–1970, replaced on the same site | |
| 64 | Mount Carmel | Mount Carmel | Apr 10, 1909 | $15,000 | 120 E 5th St | Currently in use as an attorney's office. In use as a Library until 1970 | |
| 65 | Mount Carroll | Mount Carroll | Jan 19, 1905 | $11,000 | 208 N. Main St. | ||
| 66 | Mount Vernon | Mount Vernon | Mar 27, 1903 | $15,000 | 101 S. 7th St. | Opened 1905 | |
| 67 | Olney | Olney | Jan 6, 1903 | $11,500 | 401 E. Main St. | Now a museum | |
| 68 | Onarga | Onarga | Dec 13, 1906 | $5,000 | 209 W. Seminary Ave. | Opened 1907 | |
| 69 | Oregon | Oregon | Apr 20, 1905 | $10,000 | 300 Jefferson St. | Designed by Pond and Pond.[3] | |
| 70 | Pana | Pana | Jan 31, 1911 | $14,000 | 303 E. 2nd St. | ||
| 71 | Paris | Paris | Mar 14, 1902 | $18,000 | 207 S. Main St. | ||
| 72 | Park Ridge | Park Ridge | Dec 2, 1909 | $7,500 | 1 N. Northwest Hwy. | Open 1913–1957, now a beauty salon. Designed by Pond and Pond.[3] | |
| 73 | Paxton | Paxton | Mar 20, 1903 | $10,000 | 254 S. Market St. | ||
| 74 | Pekin | Pekin | Aug 8, 1900 | $17,500 | Open 1902–1972, demolished 1974 | ||
| 75 | Peoria Lincoln Branch | Peoria | Dec 13, 1909 | $20,000 | 1312 W. Lincoln Ave. | Renovated and a 12,000 foot addition was constructed on the rear of the building in 2013. | |
| 76 | Peru | Peru | Apr 8, 1910 | $15,000 | Putnam St. | Open 1910–1986 | |
| 77 | Petersburg | Petersburg | Dec 13, 1906 | $8,000 | 220 S. 6th St. | ||
| 78 | Pittsfield | Pittsfield | Nov 24, 1905 | $7,500 | 205 N. Memorial St. | ||
| 79 | Plano | Plano | Dec 20, 1904 | $10,250 | 15 W. North St. | ||
| 80 | Polo | Polo | Apr 13, 1903 | $10,000 | 302 W. Mason St. | ||
| 81 | Ridge Farm | Ridge Farm | Apr 28, 1909 | $9,000 | 104 N. State St. | ||
| 82 | Robinson | Robinson | Aug 6, 1904 | $11,000 | 301 E. Main St. | Open 1906-1976 | |
| 83 | Rochelle | Rochelle | Apr 25, 1911 | $10,000 | 619 4th Ave. | ||
| 84 | Rockford | Rockford | Mar 6, 1901 | $70,000 | 215 N. Wyman St. | Was completely surrounded by a 1967 addition; demolished in 2018 | |
| 85 | Rushville | Rushville | Feb 13, 1906 | $7,500 | 104 N. Monroe St. | ||
| 86 | Savanna | Savanna | Apr 23, 1903 | $11,350 | 326 3rd St. | ||
| 87 | Sheffield | Sheffield | May 2, 1911 | $4,000 | 136 E. Cook St. | ||
| 88 | Shelbyville | Shelbyville | Jan 22, 1903 | $10,000 | 154 N. Broadway | ||
| 89 | Sheldon | Sheldon | Jun 1, 1915 | $9,000 | 125 N. 5th St. | ||
| 90 | Spring Valley | Spring Valley | Jan 27, 1912 | $15,000 | 215 E. Cleveland St. | ||
| 91 | Springfield | Springfield | Mar 8, 1901 | $75,000 | Demolished in 1974[4] | ||
| 92 | St. Charles | St. Charles | Dec 13, 1906 | $12,500 | 1 S. 6th Ave. | ||
| 93 | Sterling | Sterling | Jan 2, 1903 | $17,500 | 102 W. 3rd St. | ||
| 94 | Streator | Streator | Feb 19, 1901 | $35,000 | 130 S. Park St. | ||
| 95 | Sycamore | Sycamore | Jan 13, 1903 | $12,000 | 103 E. State St. | ||
| 96 | Taylorville | Taylorville | Mar 27, 1903 | $14,000 | 222 W. Market St. | Opened 1904, now a law office | |
| 97 | Toulon | Toulon | Jul 23, 1914 | $6,000 | 306 W. Jefferson St. | ||
| 98 | Tuscola | Tuscola | Apr 13, 1903 | $10,000 | 112 E. Sale St. | ||
| 99 | Vienna | Vienna | Jan 20, 1908 | $6,000 | 401 Poplar St. | ||
| 100 | Warren | Warren | Aug 17, 1910 | $7,000 | 210 Burnett Ave. | ||
| 101 | Waterman | Waterman | Jan 31, 1913 | $3,500 | 110 S. Elm St. | ||
| 102 | Waukegan | Waukegan | Mar 20, 1903 | $27,500 | 1 N. Sheridan Rd. | Open 1903–1965 | |
| 103 | Waverly | Waverly | May 16, 1911 | $4,500 | 291 N. Pearl St. | ||
| 104 | Wilmette | Wilmette | Mar 20, 1903 | $11,000 | Open 1905–1951 | ||
| 105 | Winchester | Winchester | Feb 10, 1908 | $7,500 | 215 N. Main St. | ||
| 106 | Wyoming | Wyoming | Nov 3, 1913 | $5,600 | 119 N. 7th St. |
Academic libraries
| Institution | Locality | Image | Year granted | Grant amount | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ewing College | Ewing | Mar 12, 1906 | $10,000 | |||
| 2 | Monmouth College | Monmouth | Sep 1, 1905 | $30,000 | 800 block of East Broadway | Now Poling Hall, houses the business, dean of students, and registrar offices and the career center[5] | |
| 3 | North-Western College | Naperville | Apr 18, 1905 | $25,000 | Now Carnegie Hall, houses the computer science department at North Central College | ||
| 4 | Shurtleff College | Upper Alton | Mar 2, 1907 | $15,000 | Now the biomedical library for Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine | ||
| 5 | University of Chicago | Chicago | Nov 7, 1907 | $10,000 | 1116 E. 59th St. | Andrew Carnegie was one of many donors to the William Rainey Harper Memorial Library which opened June 11, 1912. |
See also
Notes
- ^ At various times, Bobinski and Jones disagree on these numbers. In these cases, Jones' numbers have been used due to both a more recent publication date and a more detailed gazetteer of branch libraries, which are often where the discrepancies occur.
- ^ This is the total grant for both Danville branches.
- ^ Karen E. Schnell (November 10, 1993). "National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation: Illinois Carnegie Libraries". p. 52. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
- ^ "Remnants of Springfield's Carnegie library unearthed at fairgrounds". State Journal-Register. November 10, 2011.
- ^ "Wackerle Center for Career, Leadership & Fellowships". www.monmouthcollege.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
References
- Anderson, Florence (1963). Carnegie Corporation Library Program 1911–1961. New York: Carnegie Corporation. OCLC 1282382
- Bobinski, George S. (1969). Carnegie Libraries: Their History and Impact on American Public Library Development. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association. ISBN 0-8389-0022-4.
- Jones, Theodore (1997). Carnegie Libraries Across America. New York: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-14422-3.
- Miller, Durand R. (1943). Carnegie Grants for Library Buildings, 1890–1917. New York: Carnegie Corporation of New York. OCLC 2603611
Note: The above references, while all authoritative, are not entirely mutually consistent. Some details of this list may have been drawn from one of the references (usually Jones) without support from the others. Reader discretion is advised.