Time for another Sepia Saturday post, time to take a look back in history. Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share images and posts of bygone days. This week we’re inspired to find photos based on the photo above.
I accept this challenge and sought out photos of libraries. This prompt is fitting as it in the US we’re finishing National Library Week.
Stitt Library at BUMED, 1902
From the Navy Medicine Flickr Commons collection, this library had a telescope inside. That’s where the stairs must lead to.
National Library of Ireland, circa 1900
Dallas Public Library, circa 1910
From the SMU Library Digital Collection
In Mudgee, Gulgong, Australia, 1878
From State Library of New South Wales – While I admit I love the elegant, stately libraries of city centers, this simple, rustic library tugs at my heartstrings. I love how this man started a library out in the wilderness.
Carnegie Library, Greenville, Texas, 1904
During the late 19th and early 20th century, tycoon Andrew Carnegie built libraries in the US and around the world. If a town applied for the program and promised to maintain a library staff and collection, they could receive funds to build what was then known as a Carnegie Library. Above and below are two examples of the grand libraries.
Carnegie Library, Dallas, 1920
These are great photos! I particularly love that Australian circulating library. My mom’s home town of Gloversville, N.Y. had a Carnegie Library that I visited on a research trip and featured in A to Z 2016 https://mollyscanopy.com/2016/04/library-research-leads/ Thanks so much for your Blogiversary visit to Molly’s Canopy! I look forward to our continued connection through Sepia Saturday.
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Last year I toured an ancient library in Europe. It must have had 30’ ceilings or higher. Books wall to wall and floor to ceiling. Amazing.
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Some of the old libraries were built like temples, some like bank vaults. But I’ve always loved the eccentric small town !ibraries. They were usually designed by book lovers.
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Some very impressive library photos to be sure. As a lover of books, I could stay in each one of them for days on end.
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