Occasionally, Facebook is useful. For example, I got an alert in August that Dianna Stampfler was giving a talk at the historic Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library. Of course, I clicked it. I’m a die-hard Dianna Stampfler fan. I once spent four days on the Tall Ship Manitou with Dianna (and 20 other passengers) to hear ghost stories from her book, Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses.

Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library History Lesson

The talk at the Ishpeming was not a spooking story but focused on the fascinating history of Carnegie libraries in Michigan, with special emphasis on the Ishpeming location.

Stepping into the Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library is like stepping into a piece of history. Its grand entrance and century-old architecture stand as a testament to Andrew Carnegie’s legacy, who believed that libraries were the key to a community’s prosperity.

Dianna Stampfler: Champion of Michigan History

Dianna Stampfler is no stranger to Michigan’s historical landscape. For over 20 years, she has been promoting and preserving the state’s history through her company, Promote Michigan. Stampfler has long been passionate about telling the stories of Michigan’s iconic lighthouses. She says, “If anybody’s a lighthouse fan, I’m your girl for that.” 

Her interest in Carnegie Libraries began five years ago. Dianna shared that this was her first time presenting her Carnegie Library research in Ishpeming, adding a local touch to her usual program by focusing on the city’s unique historical library. “What’s really neat about this presentation,” she said, “is that I can adjust it to highlight the libraries in the community where I’m speaking. Tonight’s talk includes special content about Ishpeming’s library that I didn’t include in my presentation yesterday in Escanaba.”

Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library

The Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library, completed in 1904, is one of 61 libraries in Michigan partially funded by Andrew Carnegie. Like many industrial towns in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Ishpeming was selected for a Carnegie library due to its deep ties to the mining industry—an area in which Carnegie had significant investments. Dianna shared fascinating insights into Carnegie’s business ventures in the region, emphasizing how his philosophy of giving back to working-class communities helped establish libraries like Ishpeming’s.

The Ishpeming Carnegie Library has its own unique features and history. For example:

• The third floor featured as the backdrop for the law library scenes in the iconic movie “Anatomy of a Murder,” which was based on a novel by local attorney and author John D. Voelker.
• One of the library’s stacks has a floor made of frosted glass—a quirky feature that has even sparked conversations in Reddit threads.
• Unlike many other Carnegie libraries, Ishpeming’s was built on a corner lot, creating a striking, grand entrance that sets it apart from others in Michigan.

Carnegie believed libraries were essential for fostering educated, self-sufficient communities. As Dianna highlighted in her presentation, he once said, “A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people.” His philanthropy in Ishpeming and other Michigan towns was not just an investment in buildings but in the future of education and community enrichment for generations to come.

The History Behind Michigan’s Carnegie Libraries

Andrew Carnegie’s grants helped build 61 libraries in Michigan between 1900 and 1923. Andrew Carnegie’s right-hand man, James Bertram, was the guy you needed to know if you wanted funding for a library. He developed a questionnaire, basically a grant application. People began calling it the Carnegie Formula. It required communities to answer a set of questions and commit to long-term financial support before a grant was approved. 

The questions included: What is the name of your town? What is the most recent population? How many volumes do you have? Clearly, these were not unreasonable questions. However, they also had to allocate 10 percent of whatever the grant amount was to maintain and operate the library in future years. Andrew Carnegie had an eye on the future, wanting the libraries not only built but maintained for future generations.

If you catch one of Dianna’s Carnegie Library talks, she’ll share her research that reveals fascinating details about the design and funding of these libraries. For instance, unlike today’s philanthropic efforts, Carnegie didn’t require that his name be prominently displayed on the libraries he funded. Still, many communities chose to honor him by inscribing “Carnegie Library” on the buildings, recognizing his generosity.

The presentation also touched on the specific guidelines Carnegie set forth for the library designs, which included spaces for both men and women, a dedicated children’s reading area, and community spaces for events. This vision created libraries that became integral to the social fabric of their towns, as evidenced by the Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library’s continued service to the community more than a century later.

Preserving and Promoting Michigan’s History

Through her work at Promote Michigan, Dianna raises awareness about Michigan’s historical landmarks, including its Carnegie libraries. She emphasized the importance of preserving these buildings as living parts of the community, even as some libraries have been repurposed into art centers, museums, or even boutique hotels. In Ishpeming, the library remains a vibrant public institution. I’m sure Andrew Carnegie would be pleased. 

Dianna’s presentation at the Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library was a celebration of local history and a call to preserve the state’s cultural landmarks. Her work with Promote Michigan shines a light on the stories behind Michigan’s historic buildings, and her passion for preserving these stories ensures that they will continue to inspire future generations. The Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library, with its rich history and ongoing service to the community, is a powerful example of the enduring legacy of Andrew Carnegie’s vision. 

For more on Dianna Stampfler’s work and Michigan’s historical treasures, visit Promote Michigan. 

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