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List of Carnegie libraries in Illinois

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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).

Key

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  Building still operating as a library
  Building standing, but now serving another purpose
  Building no longer standing
  Building listed on the National Register of Historic Places
  Building contributes to a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places

Carnegie libraries

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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 Red brick Carnegie library building, Brookfield, IL 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°44′22″N 89°01′07″W / 40.73956°N 89.0185°W / 40.73956; -89.0185
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
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 til 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

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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

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carnegie libraries in Illinois.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b 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.
  2. ^ This is the total grant for both Danville branches.
  3. ^ a b Karen E. Schnell (November 10, 1993). "National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation: Illinois Carnegie Libraries". p. 52. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  4. ^ "Remnants of Springfield's Carnegie library unearthed at fairgrounds". State Journal-Register. November 10, 2011.
  5. ^ "Wackerle Center for Career, Leadership & Fellowships". www.monmouthcollege.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-04.

References

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  • 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.

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