Free and Public

Ralph A. Griffiths

Description

A study of the thirty-five Carnegie libraries built in towns and industrial communities in Wales before the First World War. The library system is in a transformative phase that attracts much attention; these Carnegie buildings have never been fully recorded, and some are in critical condition. This book illustrates their social, cultural and architectural significance, and how they reflect Carnegie’s extraordinary philanthropic vision. It reviews the free and public library system in Wales and Great Britain from the first Public Libraries Act of 1850, followed by an account of Carnegie’s career as ‘the richest man in the world’ and the importance he attached to promoting libraries for all, regardless of age and gender. The haphazard development of public libraries in the nineteenth century is the context in which Carnegie’s links with Wales are noted, along with the circles in which he moved in Britain. The largest section discusses the libraries’ locations, sites and patrons, and the buildings themselves. It concludes with Carnegie’s legacy in Wales, not least the role of his UK Trust in the county library movement after 1911.

Preface
Illustrations
1. The Public Library
2. Andrew Carnegie, 1835-1919
3. Philanthropy and the Free Library
4. Early Public Libraries in Wales
5. Andrew Carnegie and Wales
6. Creating Carnegie Libraries
7. Building the Carnegie Libraries
Sites
Architects and builders
Architectural styles
Inside the libraries
Patrons
8. Abortive Proposals for Carnegie Libraries
9. The Carnegie Legacy in Wales
Gazeteer of Carnegie Libraries built in Wales
Notes
List of Sources

Sujets

• buildings
• Wales
• Architecture

Informations

• Publié par: University of Wales Press
• Date de parution: 15 juin 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781786837752
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 23 Mo

Extrait

Free and Public

Cartoon by R.B., fromWeekly Mail, 28 June 1902 (by permission of Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru/The National Library of Wales)

FREE AND PUBLIC  A N D R E WC A R N E G I EA N D T H EL I B R A R I E SO FW A L E S

RALPH A. GRIFFITHS

UNIVERSITY OF WALES PRESS 2019

© Ralph A. Griffiths, 2021

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to The University of Wales Press, University Registry, King Edward VII Avenue, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NS.

www.uwp.co.uk

British Library CataloguinginPublication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN eISBN

9781786837745 9781786837752

The right of Ralph A. Griffiths to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 79 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Photograph on chapter openers by philipp k. from FreeImages Typeset by Chris Bell, cbdesign Printed by CPI Antony Rowe, Melksham, United Kingdom

Illustrations Abbreviations Preface

CONTENTS

1. The Public Library 2. Andrew Carnegie, 1835–1919 3. Philanthropy and the Free Library 4.Wales Early Public Libraries in 5.Carnegie and Wales Andrew 6.Carnegie Libraries Creating 7.the Carnegie Libraries of Wales Building  Sites  Architects and builders  Architectural styles  Inside the libraries  Patrons 8.Proposals for Carnegie Libraries Abortive 9. The Carnegie Legacy in Wales

Notes Gazetteer of Carnegie Libraries Built in Wales List of Sources Index

vii ix xi

1 7 11 19 25 33 41 43 52 54 58 64 71 81

89 105 141 149

ILLUSTRATIONS

Map. The Carnegie libraries of Wales

Figure 1. Portrait of Andrew Carnegie

Figure 2. Whitchurch library

Figure 3. The entrance of Cathays library

Figure 4. ‘Her turn next’: Cardiff hopes for a Carnegie grant

Figure 5. Penarth library

Figure 6. Plaque at Treharris library

Figure 7. Sculpture of Carnegie at Abergavenny library

Figures 8a, 8b.

Rooms at Cathays library

Figure 9. The opening of Rhyl’s library

Figure 10. Plaque at Bangor library

Figure 11. Margaret Carnegie visits Aberystwyth library

Figure 12. Margaret Carnegie with the library committee inside Aberystwyth library

Figures 13–39.

Selected images of the Carnegie libraries of Wales

37

3

9

38

42

48

50

57

59

65

67

86

87

120f

DWB

ODNB

ABBREVIATIONS

RCAHMW

DictionaryofWelshBiographyDownto1940(London, 1959), revisedhttps://biography.wales

OxfordDictionaryofNationalBiography, ed. H. C. G. Matthew (Oxford, 2004), andhttp://www.oxforddnb.com

RoyalCommissionontheAncientandHistorical Monuments of Wales