1890
Carnegie again offers Pittsburgh money ($1 million) to erect a massive building for a library, museums, and concert hall. This time around, the City accepts, having fixed its pesky tax issue in 1887.
1881
Carnegie, who has made his fortune in railroads, oil, and steel, offers Pittsburgh $250,000 for public library building if the city commits to annual funding. City Council rejected the offer because the city couldn’t legally use tax money for a library.
1853 May 19
Andrew Carnegie writes to the Pittsburgh Dispatch arguing that he should have access to the Anderson Library, a private library on the North Side intended for “working boys.”
1848
William Carnegie moves his family, including 13-year-old Andrew, from Dunfermline, Scotland, to Pittsburgh.
1801-1866
Various subscription, Congregational, private, and school libraries and reading rooms serve some residents of Pittsburgh.
