Carnegie Library (Muncie, Indiana)
History
The Carnegie Library was dedicated on January 1, 1904. The library was built after a donation of $55,000 was given to the City of Muncie by Andrew Carnegie, with the goal to assist them in expanding their library system throughout the community. The library was one of the first structures in Indiana built from the funding of Andrew Carnegie, who was a major philanthropist, who supported library systems throughout the world. The plot of land where the building is located was a gift from local businessman George Spilker. As of 2015, the library continues to house the local history and genealogy department of the Muncie Library System.
Architecture
The design and building of the library was conducted by the architectural firm of Wing and Mahurin of Fort Wayne, Indiana. The exterior structure is made of Indiana Limestone and modeled after Greek and classical architectural forms. The exterior of the building remains in its original state. The neoclassical architectural style includes a Romanesque dome located on the roof, in the central part of the library.
Local history and genealogy
The Carnegie Library offers a variety of resources to aid researchers in discovering local history and their ancestry. Some of the resources include: cemetery records; census records; county histories and records; court documents; directories; family histories; funeral home records; microfilm for various Muncie and Delaware County newspapers from 1837–present; obituaries; Sanborn fire insurance maps for 1883, 1887, 1889, 1892, 1902, and 1911–1950; and vital records such as marriage, birth, and death records from the 19th and 20th centuries.
See also
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "MUNCIE PUBLIC LIBRARY". MUNCIE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
- ^ The Historical Structure Report Phase II. Rep. Muncie: Muncie Public Library
- ^ "Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved 2015-08-01. Note: This includes Gary S. Prater (October 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Muncie Public Library" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-08-01. and Accompanying photographs.
- ^ "Local History and Genealogy Resources | MUNCIE PUBLIC LIBRARY". www.munciepubliclibrary.org. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
External links
- Muncie Public Library
- Muncie Public Library Historic Documents Digital Media Repository, Ball State University Libraries
- "What Middletown Read" database A collaborative project between the Center for Middletown Studies, Muncie Public Library, and Ball State University Libraries