Carnegie Legacy in Kansas logo: Link that takes you to the home page  
  Table of Contents about Andrew Carnegie About Allen Gardiner, author of The Carnegie Legacy in Kansas Further information about Libraries featured in this book Carnegie Legacy in Kansas logo: Link that takes you to the home page  

CANTON

EARLY LIBRARY HISTORY
 
The Canton Literary Study Club was organized in April, 1909, by twelve women. In December of that year a public library was opened by the club in the city hall. The club operated this library with volunteers until 1916 when a paid librarian was hired.
 
Carnegie Library: Canton, Kansas
THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY
 
In 1915, Mrs. P. M. Grattan told of seeing a Carnegie library in Illinois while on a trip there, and this gave the Literary Study Club the idea of writing to the Carnegie Corporation. The Coporation agreed to give a grant but due to the small size of the population and the amount of annual tax that would be needed to meet the pledge to Carnegie, the offer was to be valid only if the library became a township project.
 
Accordingly, in June, 1916, an election was held and the issue of supporting a library by a township tax passed by seven votes. The Carnegie Corporation offered $6,000,00 for a building on November 9, 1916. The Literary Study Club gave $250.00 and others gave $1,000.00 to secure a site. Lots on Main Street across from the Opera House were purchased for the library site.
 
Plans for the building had just been sent by the Carnegie Corporation for Canton to examine when the United States entered the World War and work was discontinued until after peace was declared. In 1920, Mayor J. A. Frick received a wire from the Carnegie Corporation asking if Canton was still interested in receiving the library. He immediately wired back in the affirmative, and interest in the project was revived, but the architectural plans had to be made smaller and less elaborate because building materials were much more expensive than in the original plans.
 
The architectural firm of Washburn & Stookey, of Ottawa, designed the building. The contract was let to S. E. Willey, of Ottawa, in July, 1921. The township spent $2,200.00 for the building in addition to the $6,000.00 Carnegie grant. The Canton Literary Study Club donated its library and furnishings to the new library. The library was opened October 1, 1921.
 
This was the last public library grant given by the Carnegie Corporation in the entire United States.
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING
 
The library is rectangular, one story above a raised basement 24' x 50'. The exterior is of red brick with minimal detailing. There is a small porch above the front entrance which is located