Carnegie Building

Carnegie Building. . This building is named in honor of the American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919). Following the burning of Science Hall on January 6, 1903, the growing University was in dire need of new facilities. Later that year, President David Ross Boyd secured a $30,000 grant from the Carnegie Foundation for the construction of a university library. Although Carnegie had given thousands of dollars to many cities to build libraries, the University of Oklahoma was the first educational institution ever to receive such assistance. A contract to build the new building was signed in the fall of 1903, and the University's first library was completed in 1904, and formally opened in 1905. By May 1912, the library had amassed over 20,000 volumes, including departmental collections and government publications. , In 1920, the building was remodeled for use by the newly formed School of Education, headed by its first dean, W.W. Phelan. In September of that year, the library's collections were moved to the “New” Library (now Jacobson Hall), and this building was renamed the Education Building. By 1929, the School of Education had broadened its scope of instruction and was designated the College of Education. In 1952, that college moved into Collings Hall, named after its first Dean, Ellsworth Collings. , Beginning in 1917, the Carnegie Building also housed the University High School, which trained many of the state's outstanding citizens. The high school was a secondary school operated by the College of Education until it was discontinued in 1973. , It was not until 1943 that the building was officially named the Andrew Carnegie Building. The Carnegie Building has had many uses since the Education department moved out, including a campus post office, financial aid offices, and counseling services. The Carnegie Building is still utilized by the university and stands as a reminder of the university's unique history.