Meridian in Lauderdale County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Carnegie Branch Library for Blacks

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 6, 2019

1. Carnegie Branch Library for Blacks Marker

Inscription. The 13th Street Colored Branch Library, also known as the Carnegie Library for Blacks, opened in 1913 on a site donated by St. Paul Methodist Church. The library was one of twelve segregated libraries funded by Andrew Carnegie. The one-story, red brick building was the first and only library for African Americans in the state until after WWI and served Meridian's African American community for more than sixty years. Closed in 1974, the building was demolished in 2008.

Erected 2018 by Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Carnegie Libraries, and the Mississippi State Historical Marker Program series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.

Location. 32° 22.182′ N, 88° 42.376′ W. Marker is in Meridian, Mississippi, in Lauderdale County. It is at the intersection of 13th Street and 28th Avenue, on the right when traveling east on 13th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13th Street, Meridian MS 39301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Mississippi. It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Impact of Churches (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Whitfield "Big Central" High School

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); Wechsler School (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Wechsler School (approx. ¼ mile away); Dial House Site (approx. ¼ mile away); Freedom School (approx. 0.3 miles away); Merrehope (approx. 0.3 miles away); East Mississippi Female College (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Meridian.

Also see . . . Wikipedia article about the Meridian Carnegie Branch Library for Blacks. (Submitted on October 11, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Former location of the Carnegie Branch Library for Blacks and marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 6, 2019

2. Former location of the Carnegie Branch Library for Blacks and marker.

View from marker looking west on 13th Street. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 6, 2019

3. View from marker looking west on 13th Street.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 11, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 902 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 11, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.