A brief history of Chatham Public Library - Chatham Village Historical Society

The Chatham Public Library plays an important role in the village of Chatham. A mainstay of the community as well as Chatham Central School District, the library is a valuable resource for readers, researchers, and students.

Nearly 120 years of Chatham, NY history

The Chatham Public Library opened in September of 1905, with a collection of approximately 5000 books. Today the library includes a large collection of books for all ages, reference books, local historical documents, the Chatham Courier on microfilm and online, and offers a variety of children’s and community events, museum passes, and more. The Chatham Public Library is one of only two public libraries in New York state that are operated by a school district.

Where it starts…a Carnegie, and Chatham

This story can’t be properly told without introducing wealthy industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie was born in 1835 into a modest weaver’s household in Scotland, and moved to the United States with his family at age 12.

At 18 years of age, Carnegie took a job with the Pennsylvania Railroad. The railroads were one of the first big businesses in the country, and the Pennsylvania Railroad among the biggest. This involvement in the railroad industry led to Carnegie’s later success in the business of railroads, which in turn led to his involvement in the U.S. steel industry, where he largely, made his fortune.

Because of his modest upbringing, and in light of the vast fortune he amassed as an adult, Carnegie felt strongly about public works, and funded many public institutions. These included the 1881 building of a Carnegie library in his hometown in Scotland, and a 1884 donation of $50,000 to Bellevue Hospital Medical Center (now part of New York University Medical Center) to create what is now called the Carnegie Laboratory.

Perhaps Carnegie’s most notable philanthropic contribution was libraries. Thanks to the generous donations of Andrew Carnegie, just over 2,500 public and academic libraries were established throughout the U.S. and globally between the years of 1883 and 1929. There’s a good reason Carnegie was half-jokingly referred to as “the patron saint of libraries” – by 1929, Carnegie had helped build nearly half of the libraries in the United States.

As you may have guessed, one of those Carnegie libraries is right here in the village of Chatham, New York.

Chatham’s civic leaders reach out

The year is 1901, and here in Chatham, early civic leaders and longtime friends Dr. John Wheeler and William Howland are considering the ways in which a library would benefit the village. Both outspoken advocates of education, they decide to write to Andrew Carnegie and request assistance in creating a library that would be connected to the local school system, but also remain open to the public year round.

Carnegie was intrigued by this idea, [considered novel at the time and thereby making this application stand out] and bestowed a $15,000 grant to build the Chatham Public Library.

Construction on the Chatham Public Library began in 1903, with the building opening on September 27, 1905. The design was based on the Beaux Arts style of noted architect James A. Ware.

Unfortunately, Dr. John Wheeler died after a long struggle with failing health just 3 years later in 1908; his wife Gertrude donated the beautiful Tiffany window that is a centerpiece of the library in his honor and memory. Titled “Instruction”, it reflects his passion for learning and teaching.

Out of 107 Carnegie libraries in New York, the Chatham Public Library is the only one in Columbia County.

The Chatham Public Library today

The Chatham Public Library is at 11 Woodbridge Avenue, Chatham NY, located next to (and as part of) Chatham Middle School. It includes a well stocked selection of books, reference materials, and a historical collection, and is part of the Mid-Hudson Library System. It maintains a dedicated children’s room and offers programs like Lego club, pre-school story hour, and enrichment programs for children and adults. With a library card from any library in the Mid-Hudson Library System, readers can access Libby, a free app that makes ebooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines available online.

The Chatham Public Library also has a community room, which is where Chatham Village Historical Society typically meets the third Wednesday of each month (March-December) from 5:30-7:30pm. Interested community members are welcome to join us. Learn more about CVHS membership and meetings here.

This post is based on the Chatham Village Historical Society social media post shared on March 21, 2023.

– Ilana, on behalf of Chatham Village Historical Society

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