TULSA COUNTY
Tulsa Carnegie Library Statistics
The Carnegie Library Grant for Tulsa was originally awarded $12,500.00, which was raised to 42,500.00 in 1913, and again raised to 55,000.00 in 1915. These grants were awarded after statehood in 1907.
J. W Hawk was the architect, with Henry Whitfield as consulting architect. Incidentally, Whitfield was Carnegie's brother-in-law, and he contributed several plans for Carnegie libraries during the span of the library program's construction period.
Tom O'Keefe of Tulsa was awarded the bid as contractor.
The Tulsa Carnegie Library
The letter written in 1904 to request a library grant for Tulsa expresses the difficulties felt by many Territorial towns. In the letter, Mrs. H. J. Seaman states that the city of Tulsa faces difficulties in keeping up the public schools:
"There is no solid basis as yet for taxation, except personal property..."
The letter continues with the sentiment felt by many in the new settlements:
"The gift of a few thousand would be of more benefit to us at present to help tone down the newness, or I might say, the unsettled state of things, than to wait for the natural progress of civilization which will ultimately come to all these towns."
The Tulsa Carnegie library was torn down c. 1965.