Carnegie Building

Opened in 1910, the Carnegie Building served as Howard University's main library from its opening until Founder's Library was completed in 1939. It housed the School of Religion until 1941. Today, it houses the Office of Undergraduate Studies and the Office of the Dean of the Chapel. It can be accessed from The Yard, Howard's central quadrangle.

When opened in 1910, the building, then called Carnegie Library, was designed to hold 60,000-70,000 books. The building's exterior reflected the Italian Renaissance, with free standing columns and an antae at the main entrance. At a cost of the then-healthy sum of $50,000 through a grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, it was considered one of the most beautiful libraries on a college campus in America.

Today, the building houses several facilities:

• Office space for the Office of Undergraduate Studies
• Office space for the Office of the Dean of the Chapel
• Little Chapel
• Meeting Rooms

About the Building Name

Carnegie Building is named for Andrew Carnegie, one of the wealthiest Americans in history, worth over $10 billion in today's dollars. For the decade prior to the building's construction, Carnegie was considered the richest man in the world. After making his fortune investing in steel, railroad, and steel companies, he became one of history's greatest philanthropists. In particular, he funded libraries, including Howard's Carnegie Library, as well as projects related to education, world peace, and science. He wrote "The Gospel of Wealth," which explained why the wealthy should use their resources to promote the welfare and happiness of others. 

Howard History

• United States President William Taft and building namesake Andrew Carnegie spoke at the dedication of Howard University's Carnegie Library in 1910.

Learn More

• DC Historic Sites- Howard University
• Catalog of the Officers and Students of Howard University: 1910-11

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Photo credit: Justin D. Knight