Morgan Davis in his March 20 letter to the editor (“$5 million spent on monument to robber baron Carnegie,”) uses facts like a hammer. Though sometimes he doesn’t have a nail.
The Carnegie Library in Snohomish was indeed built with a grant from the industrialist Andrew Carnegie. Along with 1,689 other libraries in the U.S., and a total of 2,509 worldwide. Yes, he was a “robber baron” who turned to philanthropy at the end of his life, selling his steel business, and giving away a huge fortune by the time of his death. By 1919 about 50 percent of all of the public libraries in the nation had been built by grants from Andrew Carnegie.
The money was given, no strings attached, to cities who provided a workable plan and proposal for their library. His only goal was to enlighten and educate. All libraries were to be free and open to all. In the deep south, where this wasn’t allowed, black communities applied for and were granted funds for their own libraries.
There is only one library actually named “Carnegie.” Even our library, popularly referred to as the Carnegie Library, was officially the “Snohomish Public Library.”
Davis’ point, to liken Andrew Carnegie to the Koch brothers is interesting. Here is the difference. Andrew Carnegie supported education for the masses; endorsed scientific and rational thought, and gave generously to promote world peace. He wanted to endow the next generation with the advantages he had.
All that said, we want the Carnegie Library restored because it will be lovely again, and it is part of our history.
Janice Lengenfelder
Snohomish
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