Carnegie Library Building at Davenport, Iowa architect drawing

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Few subjects on this board tie so directly to a single town's ambitions as this architect's drawing of the Carnegie library in Davenport, Iowa. Andrew Carnegie funded more than 1,600 public libraries in the United States, and towns like Davenport had to provide a site and commit to running the building, which made each project a matter of civic pride. Presentation drawings like this one helped city officials and donors picture the finished building before construction began. The classical design typical of the period, with its symmetry and formal entrance, was meant to signal learning and permanence.

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