This is an image of Carnegie Public Library, Fort Worth, Texas. There were over 1,600 Carnegie libraries built in the United States and almost 1,000 more in other countries between 1883 and 1929, financed by Scottish-American businessman Andrew Carnegie. Curiously, most of them had an imposing set of stairs leading up to the main doors, to symbolize how users were elevating themselves.

The Fort Worth Carnegie Library was designed by Herbert H Green. Funding was approved in 1899, and the library opened in 1901. This photograph was probably taken soon after it was completed, the landscaping does not look very long-established. The photograph is credited to Charlie L Schwartz, but I could not find any information on him. There are several Charles or Charlie Schwartz’s in Texas in the 1900 census, but none of them are listed as photographers. This very substantial-looking building was razed in 1937 — one wonders why?