Harrington Park Historical Society Presents “Andrew Carnegie–From Steel to the Building of Libraries”

April is National Libraries Month, why not come and celebrate this important event with the Harrington Park Historial Society as they present Mr. Rick Feingold in his lecture on Andrew Carnegie and his enormous impact on the history of public libraries in our country.  Rick Feingold teaches American Business History at Bergen Community College and holds an MBA from Penn State University and a B.A. in History from Rutgers University.  He lectures at various civic, historical societies, libraries, and other public venues on a variety of historical topics.

Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) was among the wealthiest and most famous industrialists of his day. Through Carnegie Corporation of New York, the innovative philanthropic foundation he established in 1911, his fortune has since supported everything from the discovery of insulin and the dismantling of nuclear weapons, to the creation of Pell Grants and Sesame Street. The work of the Corporation and its grantees has helped shape public discourse and policy for more than one hundred years. Millions of people have benefited from Carnegie’s foresighted generosity — a legacy of real and permanent good.

Andrew Carnegie amassed an enormous fortune in the steel industry and then became a major philanthropist. During the late 19th century, when steel was first used as railroad track, Carnegie perfected low-cost steel production. The Carnegie Steelworks, in Homestead, PA, employed men producing steel under primitive industrial working conditions. This program will feature the 1892 strike at Homestead which pitted the Pinkerton Detective Agency against the steelworkers ending with 10 deaths. After Carnegie sold his steel company to J.P. Morgan he gave all his money away by building over 2,500 libraries. Many still exist today.

Immediately following Mr. Feingold’s presentation there will be a reception. All lectures are free and open to the public. For more information on the Society and its activities, please contact Gerri Gibney at 201 768-2615, or visit the Society at www.harringtonparkhistoricalsociety.com or on Facebook.