Carnegie Libraries in Ontario: Vintage Postcards

January 4, 2023 | Fiona

"A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never failing spring in the desert." – Andrew Carnegie

During the early 20th century, 125 libraries in Canada were built with grants from the Carnegie Foundation. Of those, 111 were built in Ontario between 1903 and 1922. Many buildings were designed by local architects and were usually downtown, next to town halls, churches, near parks or in civic squares. These libraries were an integral part of the community and formed a key part of civic life.

According to the The Best Gift: A Record of the Carnegie Libraries in Ontario, “Picture post cards were frequently used to express a community’s pride in its Carnegie Library." Digital Archive Ontario, a historical resource of digitized items from Toronto Public Library, has an extensive postcard collection that includes over 100 vintage images of Ontario's public libraries.

Grid of nine postcards of old library buildings

Some of the Carnegie library postcards available on Digital Archive Ontario. View all.

Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie, 1835–1919, was born in Scotland and immigrated with his family to the United States. He became one of the wealthiest and most famous industrialists of his time. He founded the Carnegie Steel Company, which became the largest steel manufacturer in the United States.

When he retired in 1901 he sold his company to J. P. Morgan for $480 million dollars and then devoted his life to philanthropic work. Public libraries were of special interest to him. He donated $56 million for the building of 2,509 libraries worldwide with $2,556,660 granted for library construction in Canada.

Drawing of Carnegie building a tower of blocks that are libraries with smokestacks belching smoke in the background and text that says building a very solid temple of fame.

Although Carnegie is remembered as a great philanthropist, many disagreed with his business practices which included maximizing profits while paying his workers as little as possible. Harper's Weekly, March 30, 1901.

Carnegie library grants

Two conditions had to be met in order for a town to receive a grant. First, the community had to provide the site for the building. Second, the community had to raise 10 percent of the endowment annually for the maintenance and upkeep of the library, which included books and staff.

Carnegie's secretary, James Bertram, personally approved all the Ontario grants. Starting in 1908, due to concerns about building functionality, he also approved all library building plans. In 1911 he wrote an instructional pamphlet Notes on the Erection of Library Buildings which provided cities and towns suggested floor plans. The design of the building exterior was left up to the community.

Pages open to show blueprints of various rectangular floorplans

These drawings were sent to communities to help guide them in planning their Carnegie library. From Notes on the Erection of Library Buildings, courtesy Carnegie Mellon University.

Typical architectural style

Most Carnegie libraries were built in the Beaux-Arts style that was popular from the 1880s through the 1920s. This style uses symmetry to create formality and elegance and Greek and Roman decorative elements such as classical columns, sculpted friezes, porticos and domes create a grand and imposing architectural statement.

You'll notice the similarities in design in the postcards below.

Watford Public Library

This was one of 15 Carnegie libraries designed by Guelph architect William Austen Mahoney.

Brick two storey library building with text Carnegie Public Library, Watford, Ontario.

Watford Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Lindsay Public Library

This library opened in 1904 and was designed by architect George Martell Miller who designed many neoclassical buildings.

A red brick one storey library building next to a fire hall with tall clock tower and text Public Library and Fire Hall, Lindsay Ontario.

Lindsay Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Wallaceburg's Carnegie library

Opened in December, 1907, this library was designed by architect A. M. Piper.

Wallaceburg's Carnegie library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Seaforth Public Library

Seaforth Public Library opened in 1912. James Bertram, Carnegie's secretary, is buried outside Seaforth with his wife who was from Seaforth.

Seaforth Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Picton Public Library

Picton Public Library was designed by architect Frank Peden. He also designed many Bank of Montreal buildings across Canada.

Red brick library building with people standing on the sidewalk out front.

Picton Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Preston Public Library

Preston Public Library opened in 1910. The building closed in 1973 when Preston, Galt and Hespeler merged to form the Cambridge library system.

Preston Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Grand designs

Here are a few examples of larger libraries funded by Carnegie grants, including some of the more distinctive designs.

Brantford Public Library

Architects Stewart, Stewart & Taylor designed the impressive Brantford Public Library with a projected portico and four columns in 1902. (James Bertram disliked domes and considered them wasteful ornamentation.)

Large two storey library with grand staircase, columns and dome.

Brantford Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Goderich Public Library

Goderich diverged from the standard Beaux-Arts design and in 1902 built a Romanesque-styled library with a distinctive corner tower.

Brick library building with a large rounded turret.

Goderich Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Fort William Public Library

Opened in 1912, the large Fort William Public Library is now a branch of the Thunder Bay Public Library.

Fort William Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Woodstock Public Library

With its grand portico and columns, this library was designed by Chadwick & Beckett of Toronto and opened in 1909.

Large brick and stone library building with six pillars.

Woodstock Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Hamilton Public Library

This library in Hamilton opened in 1909. It had a grand double staircase with a white marble banister. The building is now used as a courthouse.

Hamilton Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Galt Public Library

Designed by architect Frederick William Mellish and opened in 1903, this tall building has a grand portico, columns and detailed frieze.

Tall two and a half storey red brick library with pillars.

Galt Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Corner buildings

James Bertram disliked library plans that used a corner site and especially disapproved of a corner entrance. In his opinion, such designs created wasted space and irregular interior space. There were only six corner buildings designed in Ontario — Guelph (1901), Brockville (1903), Dundas (1904), Perth (1906), Brussels (1909) and Toronto's Riverdale Branch (1909).

Guelph Public Library

Opened in 1904, Guelph Public Library was designed by architect William Frye Colvill.

Library building with corner entrance and large dome.

Guelph Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Brockville Public Library

Brockville architect Benjamin Dillon designed this library which opened in 1904.

Brick and stone library with corner entrance.

Brockville Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Perth Public Library

Distinguished architect Frank Darling designed Perth Public Library in 1906.

Brick and stone one storey library with corner entrance.

Perth Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Brussels Public Library

Brussels Public Library was designed in 1910 by William J. Ireland, a builder and architect in Stratford.

Brussels Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Stone buildings

Very few Carnegie libraries were built in stone. Here are three of them.

Fergus Public Library

Fergus Public Library was praised by Carnegie staff for its design and the Ontario Department of Education published plans for other libraries to follow. It was designed by architect William Austin Mahoney and opened in 1911.

Vintage postcard of square shaped stone builing with crest in corner

Fergus Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

St. Mary's Public Library

This library opened in 1905 and matched the stone and ornamentation of the Town Hall. It was designed by local architect Joseph A. Humphis and built by local stonemason Robert Clyde of rough cut limestone.

Vintage postcard of two stone buildings with orange roofs and one with bell tower

St. Mary's Public Library and Town Hall. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

New Liskeard Library

This building was designed by North Bay architect Henry Westlake Angus in 1911 and used local limestone.

Vintage postcard of stone building with large doors and entrance

New Liskeard Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Toronto’s Carnegie libraries

Toronto received two grants from the Carnegie Foundation. Carnegie’s first grant to Toronto of $350,000 was the largest amount given anywhere in Canada. Toronto used the funds to open a new Central Library in 1909 and three branches: Yorkville in 1907, Queen & Lisgar in 1909 and Riverdale in 1910. Several years later a second grant funded three almost identical branches designed by Toronto architect Eden Smith. Beaches, High Park and Wychwood all opened in 1916.

Three neighbouring municipalities (now a part of Toronto) also received Carnegie funds. Western Branch in West Toronto opened in 1909. Weston Branch opened in 1914 and Mimico opened in 1915.

(We do not have any postcards of the Weston, Wychwood and Yorkville buildings. But you can learn more about those branches on TPL's website.)

Central Library

The Central Library in Toronto was the largest Ontario Carnegie library. A. H. Chapman designed a building with strong neoclassical elements including Corinthian pillar, brick pilaster, bracketed cornice and rounded pediments around each door. Learn more.

Drawing of large stone library building.

Central Library in Toronto. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Riverdale Branch

This branch, seen here in approximately 1911, has a neo-classical corner design. Learn more.

Vintage postcard of intersection with buggy and streetcar by a brick buiding at corner

Riverdale Branch in Toronto. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

High Park Branch

Architect Eden Smith said his buildings, like this one, were in the English Collegiate 17th century style. Learn more.

Black and white postcard with brick library in front of church

High Park Branch and Presbyterian Church, Toronto. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Beaches Branch

This branch was constructed at the corner of Kew Gardens on a site provided by the City of Toronto, despite opposition from local residents and the Parks Committee to having a building on park property. Learn more.

Sepia postcard showing building through an open park

Beaches Branch in Toronto. View on Digital Archive.

West Toronto Branch

This library incorporates features of Edwardian Classicism. Its orange-red exterior is embellished with Ohio sandstone. It was renamed Annette Street Branch in 1962. Learn more.

Vintage postcard of large two storey brick building on sunny day

West Toronto Branch in Toronto. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Mimico Public Library

Sepia postcard of single storey square building in grassy residential area

Mimico Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Birge-Carnegie Library

This library was built as part of Victoria College at University of Toronto. It was the only academic library to receive Carnegie funding.

Vintage postcard of large stone building that looks like church

Birge-Carnegie Library in Toronto. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Destroyed buildings

The late 1950s through the 1970s were not a good time for Carnegie libraries in Ontario. Several were demolished to make way for new and more modern buildings. Will a renewed interest in heritage buildings ensure their preservation for future generations?

Chatham Public Library

With its grand domed ceiling, this was the first Carnegie library to open in Ontario. By 1983 it was destroyed.

Postcard of bright red building with blue dome

Chatham Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Collingwood Public Library

The first recorded request for an Ontario Carnegie grant was from Collingwood Public Library in 1899. It opened in 1904 and sadly was destroyed by fire in 1963.

Vintage postcard of large brick building covered partially in foliage and located on a green area

Collingwood Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Berlin Public Library

Berlin Public Library (the city was renamed Kitchener in 1916) opened in 1904. The building was demolished in 1962.

Vintage postcard of two storey stone building with balconies

Berlin Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Cornwall Public Library

With its unique corner turret, this library opened in 1903. A new library was built on a different site and the Carnegie building was torn down in 1956.

Vintage postcard showing brick building with narrow turret jutting up and a large arched entry

Cornwall Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Ottawa Public Library

Andrew Carnegie himself opened Ottawa Public Library on April 31, 1906. It was his first visit to Canada and in his speech, he said “I do not think that Washington compares with the buildings I have seen here.” Designed by architect E. L. Horwood, it was made of Indiana sandstone with the main entrance bracketed by four Corinthian columns and inside was a grand staircase and marble interior. It was demolished to create a new library that opened in 1973. The Corinthian columns were saved and moved to a local park. Learn more.

Vintage postcard with large two storey building with giant columns

Ottawa Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Sarnia Public Library

Architect R. M. Burrowes designed the fine Beaux-Art Sarnia Public Library with a central rotunda and domed roof. It was demolished in 1960.

Vintage postcard of single storey building with dome and gazebo nearby in park

Sarnia Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

St. Catharines Public Library

This library was demolished in 1977 and the massive stone with the words "Public Library" moved to the site of the new library.

Large two storey stately building in pristine park as shown in vintage postcard

St. Catharines Public Library. View on Digital Archive Ontario.

Explore more online

Over 100 vintage images of Carnegie libraries in Ontario (Digital Archive Ontario)
List of Carnegie libraries in Ontario with key details (Government of Ontario)
Information on Carnegie libraries in Toronto (Toronto Public Library)

Edits: Corrected number of libraries designed by architect William Austen Mahoney on Jan. 10, 2023. Added links about three TPL buildings not featured on Jan. 17, 2023.

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