The Hampton Public Library hosted its 120th birthday celebration Monday to commemorate the building’s dedication in 1905.
The library was dedicated after Hampton’s board of trustees applied to Andrew Carnegie’s foundation. Carnegie, one of the wealthiest Americans in history, donated roughly $350 million during the last years of his life. He donated funds to build over 2,500 libraries across the United States, including 101 in Iowa.
Monday’s celebration started with guest speaker, Dr. Shana Stuart, Director of the Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project, who gave a history on not only the Hampton Library but other Carnegie libraries across the state. Stuart tells RadioOnTheGo News after selling his steel company in 1901, Carnegie vowed to donate a lot of his fortune to foundations and universities.
“Very early on in the 1880s, Carnegie had made a vow that he would give away the bulk of his fortune. So he had his wife sign a prenup that she would be in agreement with that. And he was given a lot of grief for complaining about having to work hard to give away his money. But he did try to establish different entities that supported education and learning and discovery throughout the United States, his adopted country, to give away 90 % of his wealth.”
Stuart says Iowans were invested in their communities and sought grants from the Carnegie foundation to help build libraries.
*Stuart #2 “…serving your community.” (:41)
“If the community persevered and worked hard to get the money, all of the ones that applied in Iowa received that funding. Hampton’s was a very easy process, very little official correspondence involved in that process. There are 48 that are still standing, a testament to the craftsmanship at the era and how invested communities were in those buildings. So I think it’s a great testament that, you know, Hampton here has been able to continue to utilize their building and have been able to update it so that it’s accessible and it’s still a gorgeous building that’s serving your community.”
Some other highlights from Monday’s celebration included the recreation of the dedication photo from 1905 and the introduction of library staff and board members.
List of staff and board of trustee members below;
Photo is a portrait of Andrew Carnegie displayed in the Hampton Public Library
