Approaching Andrew Carnegie

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Lucien Warner

After years of crowding the science laboratory and exhibit cases on the main floor, and toying with the idea of an addition to Spear, the need for a brand new library building became clear.  In 1901, Lucien C. Warner (pictured), an Oberlin College Trustee, wrote to the great steel baron Andrew Carnegie seeking financial assistance with a new library.

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Andrew Carnegie

1901 Andrew Carnegie (pictured) had sold his stake in U.S. Steel and begun to devote himself to philanthropy.  He would ultimately go on to provide the funding for over 2000 libraries.

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Letter from Warner to Carnegie

Second page of Warner's letter to Carnegie.

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Henry Churchill King

Oberlin College's first request for financial assistance from Carnegie was ignored, and Warner wrote then College President Henry Churchill King (pictured) of the abrupt and impatient manner displayed by Carnegie's personal secretary James Bertram, during a meeting held in New York in 1903.

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Letter from Warner to King

Lucien Warner letter to Henry Churchill King, November 18, 1904, with information indicating that Mr. Carnegie was not as kindly disposed to academic libraries as he was to public libraries, since the former are more expensive to build and maintain while serving smaller populations.