Henderson Colored Branch Library (Henderson County, KY)

In 1904, Henderson Carnegie Public Library built the first library structure for African Americans in the United States. Maria Carr was the library attendant/librarian. The library, a room built onto the back of the Eighth Street Colored School, held 100 books on the seven shelves constructed by J. B. Williams and H. J. Renn. The library was built without the permission of the Carnegie Corporation, resulting in the Henderson Public Library being put on the Carnegie default list. The branch was merged into the main library in 1954. For more see Library Service to African Americans in Kentucky, by R. F. Jones; and "Library for Colored People," The Evening Bulletin, 07/02/1904, p.1.