Fort Worth Library
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Seeking funds for a public library, local woman asked the philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, to donate "the price of a good cigar". He gave $50,000. With that and substantial local gifts, including land donated by Mrs. Sarah J. Jennings, the first city library opened on this site, 1901. First librarian, Mrs. Charles Schevber, was active in parks movement and local art circles. She was vice president, 1911-1917, American Federation of Art. The old library was razed in 1938. This building in modern Classic style is four times as large as the original library. (1967)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
At the turn of the 20th century, cities across America won free public libraries by tapping the fortune of steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, who gave away tens of millions to build them. When a Fort Worth woman asked him for "the price of a good cigar," he answered with $50,000, and paired with local gifts of money and land, the city's first library opened on this site in 1901. Its first librarian was also a leader in the parks and art movements of the era, reflecting how libraries anchored civic and cultural life.
Why it matters
Carnegie libraries democratized reading and learning in growing American cities, and Fort Worth's stands as an example of local civic ambition meeting Gilded Age philanthropy.
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Related people
- · Andrew Carnegie
- · Sarah J. Jennings
- · Mrs. Charles Schevber
Themes & tags
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