A history of Pittsburgh's Carnegie Libraries is included in a new book
published by the University of Pittsburgh Press titled *Palace of Culture,
Andrew Carnegie’s Museums and Library in Pittsburgh*. The author of this
book is Robert J. Gangewere, former adjunct professor of English at Carnegie
Mellon University and former editor of *CARNEGIE* magazine for three
decades.
Also included in the book is a history of Pittsburgh's original Buhl
Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science. The Buhl Planetarium and
Institute of Popular Science (a.k.a. Buhl Science Center) merged with
Carnegie Institute in 1987, thus the reason Buhl's history is included in
this book. Mr. Gangewere interviewed me, regarding Buhl's history, for this
book.
Mr. Gangewere will conduct a free-of-charge lecture on the new book, and a
book signing this TUESDAY AFTERNOON, OCTOBER 18, 2011, from 3:00 to 5:00
p.m. (EDT) at the Carnegie Museum of Art Theater in the Oakland section of
Pittsburgh.
Here is more information about the book --
Link to information from the University of Pittsburgh Press web site:
http://www.upress.pitt.edu/BookDetails.aspx?bookId=36260
Here is a book description from the CARNEGIE Magazine web site:
[image: alt] Palace of Culture
Told through the eyes of a longtime insider and gifted storyteller, the
far-reaching history of Andrew Carnegie’s lasting gifts to the Steel City
and their worldwide influence comes to life in *Palace of Culture, Andrew
Carnegie’s Museums and Library in Pittsburgh*.
Published by University of Pittsburgh Press and written by Robert J.
Gangewere, former adjunct professor of English at Carnegie Mellon University
and former editor of *CARNEGIE* magazine for three decades, Palace of
Culture is a thorough look at the life and times of Andrew Carnegie’s
Carnegie Institute, which today comprises four distinctive museums and a
separately operated system of libraries.
“It makes for a fascinating account that not only is a tribute to Andrew
Carnegie’s vision but also demonstrates that libraries, museums, and concert
halls can have a powerful, even transformative impact on cities,” says Petra
Chu, professor of art history at Seton Hall University.
In his 2004 farewell note in *CARNEGIE* magazine, Gangewere promised to
tackle this important project by sharing unforgettable stories—like when
Carnegie, sitting on a log in Cresson, Pennsylvania, first told minister
William Holland that he wanted to do something special for Pittsburgh, like
build a library. “It’s a very American story with no simple parallel in the
larger world of museums,” Gangewere wrote. “I can’t wait to tell it.” After
scores of interviews and unprecedented research, Gangewere has accomplished
his goal.
Join Gangewere for one of his scheduled talks about his book: October 18
from 3-5 p.m. in the Carnegie Museum of Art Theater; November 9 from 7-9
p.m. at Ligonier Public Library; and January 14, 2012, from 2-4 p.m. at
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in Oakland.
--
gaw
Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director,
Friends of the Zeiss < http://friendsofthezeiss.org >
Electronic Mail - < gawa...@planetarium.cc >
SPACE & SCIENCE NEWS, ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR:
< http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/#news >
Twitter: < http://twitter.com/spacewatchtower<http://twitter.com/#%21/spacewatchtower>>
Facebook: <
http://www.facebook.com/pages/SpaceWatchtower/238017839577841?sk=wall >
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh:
< http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago:
< http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear:
< http://johnbrashear.tripod.com >
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries:
< http://andrewcarnegie.tripod.com >
* Civil War Museum of Andrew Carnegie Free Library:
< http://garespypost.tripod.com >
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh:
< http://inclinedplane.tripod.com >
* Public Transit:
< http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit >
