WASHBURN UNIVERSITY CARNEGIE LIBRARY

In 1904, Andrew Carnegie gave $40,000 to Washburn College (now Washburn University) for the construction of a college library. It was dedicated June 13, 1905 during Commencement Week exercises. For fifty years it housed the university library, classrooms, offices, and a sociology library. In 1955 the library moved to Morgan Hall, the new administration and classroom building, and Carnegie was renovated for the Law School and the Law Library.

The Law School occupied Carnegie until 1966 when, on June 8, a tornado devastated the Washburn University campus and much of Topeka. A group of students was taking an exam on the second floor and another group was taking a law review course in the basement. Most of the second floor group were able to make it safely to the basement, except for two women who were on the basement stairs when it hit. They were blown into a nearby restroom and pinned against the wall. Miraculously, no one on campus was killed. Most were unharmed and others suffered only cuts and bruises.

During the survey of damage, it was decided that Carnegie and 5 other major buildings would be torn down, but many alumni lobbied to save one of the old buildings. Experts determined that Carnegie had the least damage, so it was allowed to be rebuilt. They were also swayed by the recent installation of a central air conditioning unit which, except for some of the ductwork, was undamaged. Portable classroom units replaced the damaged and razed buildings and the university re-opened for fall semester. By spring semester 1967, Carnegie was rebuilt and the education department moved in. The Law School had been planning for a new building, so they decided to continue using the portable classrooms until it was completed.

Carnegie continues to be the home of the education department, and it continues to house a library. The Curriculum Resouces Center, in the basement, is a model preK-12 school library and teacher reference center, staffed by librarian, Judy Druse and library assistant, Paula Inman.

Dedication of the Washburn College Carnegie Library.
The following is reproduced from a 1905 Washburn College Bulletin, (page 2)

The Carnegie Library will be dedicated at Commencement time. President William F. Slocum, Lb. D., of Colorado College, will deliver the dedicatory address. The friends of the College will want to have a part in this event, which means so much in the development of Washburn.

The Library is by far the finest building upon the Campus, and the best architecturally in Topeka. It is of the renaissance classical style, with random ashlar walls of native stone, liberally trimmed 'with buff cut stone, and surmounted by a tesselated roof of interlocking terra-cotta tile.

The interior finish is of oak, the walls are decorated in colors, and the floors are covered with cork carpet. The book-stacks are of steel. The basement has a ceiling eleven feet in height, with full windows at the sides and rear. It contains a stack room, two large seminar rooms, an unpacking room, a fire-proof vault, and toilet accommodations.

The first story contains a large reference room, a reading room, and a delivery room, all of which have wide archways between, and practically constitute one room over one hundred feet in length. It also contains a librarian's room, a cataloging room, and coat and cloak rooms. The stack-room at the rear extends upward through the first and second stories. The second story contains an art room, two large study rooms, four seminar rooms, and coat and cloak rooms.

The building furnishes every modern and up-to-date convenience. It is heated by steam from the central heating-plant, and is fitted throughout with combination electric and gas chandeliers, the lights of which are controlled from the librarian's desk. The full $40,000 presented by Mr. Carnegie has been expended upon the building. It will prove a great addition to the working equipment of the College.

Credits:
Historical Summary provided by Martha Imparato, Special Collections Librarian at Mabee Library
"Current" Library Photo: Martha Imparato
1940's Photo: Marvin J. Silver
"Building Underway" Cornerstone Photo: H. L. Goss
All other photos courtesy of the WU Archives