Carnegie Library

There are 2,509 free public libraries all over the world thanks to the generosity of Andrew Carnegie.

Carnegie, a poor, uneducated, Scottish immigrant whose family settled in Pennsylvania, was self made in his intellectual, economic, and cultural development due to the kindness of Colonel James Anderson.

The colonel would open his private book collection to workers every Saturday. This allowed Carnegie to obtain the knowledge needed to help educate himself.

Carnegie vowed he would make similar opportunities available to other poor workers, if he were to ever become wealthy.

From 1883-1929 he gave over $56 million to cities and towns all over the world to build libraries.

Down in Dawson, Ga the community first began to try to raise money for a library service on May 4, 1871. “The Bottle,” a temperance drama was presented to raise funds.

That same month, the Excelsior Debating Society raised $35 for the library through a debate on “Is the education of a man more important than that of a woman?”

The first Library Association was organized May 3, 1878. The library hall was located in one of the editorial rooms of the Dawson Journal.

In 1899 Carnegie’s foundation that funded libraries saw a dramatic increase in libraries that coincided with the rise in women’s clubs called the Wednesday Afternoon Club.

Every Wednesday women would gather at a members home for fellowship, socializing, and dedication to bettering their community.

In 1906 the Dawson Library Association was formed as an out growth of the Wednesday Afternoon Club. The club had 32 members and the library was located in a room over T.D.Lee’s drug store.

On March 14, 1913 the Carnegie foundation provided the town of Dawson $10,000 to construct a public library.

The library was completed in 1914 and named the Dawson Library. Later it was changed to the Kinchafoonee Regional Library.

A partial restoration took place in 1957. In 1999 a new building was constructed to house the library.

Today the Carnegie Library is rented for community events by TCHPS.