1907 Carnegie Public Library Bradford PA Postcard
About This Vintage Postcard
This striking colorized lithograph captures the dignified facade of the Carnegie Public Library in Bradford, Pennsylvania. Opened in 1901, this library was one of the many cultural institutions across the United States funded by industrialist Andrew Carnegie, who donated $25,000 for its construction. The architectural design features a prominent classical portico with the words "Free to the People" inscribed above the entrance, a hallmark of Carnegie's philanthropic mission. Situated in the heart of the historic oil town of Bradford, the building represents the early 20th-century commitment to public education and civic pride during the region's industrial boom.
Details
Era: Divided Back (Postmarked 1910; Logo design c. 1907)
City: Bradford
State or Region: Pennsylvania (PA)
Country: USA
Topic: Carnegie Library, Andrew Carnegie Philanthropy, Classical Architecture, Public Libraries, Pennsylvania History
Condition: Circulated
Postage: 1c Green Benjamin Franklin stamp; postmarked Bradford, PA, July 27, 1910
Address Side: divided back
Orientation: Horizontal (Landscape)
Artist / Photographer: Unknown
Publisher: The Valentine & Sons' Publishing Co., Ltd., New York
Printer: Printed in Great Britain
Print Type: Colorized Lithograph
Additional Information
This card bears the Valentine & Sons' "Famous Throughout the World" globe logo on the reverse, a trademark first introduced in 1907. It provides an excellent example of the "Golden Age" of postcards, being postmarked in Bradford on July 27, 1910, and received in Coopers Plains, NY, the following day. The sender, writing on July 27, 1910, sends greetings to a "Dear Friend" to let them know they arrived safely in the "land of living." The Carnegie Library building seen here remains a cornerstone of the Bradford community and is a designated historic site, serving as a lasting testament to the "Carnegie Formula" of providing free knowledge to all citizens.
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