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Primary sourceNewspaper article1889

The Best Fields for Philanthropy

Andrew Carnegie · 1889

Andrew Carnegie's 1889 essay ranking libraries, universities, parks and concert halls as the best objects for charitable giving.

Carnegie wrote this essay himself, setting out the philanthropic priorities that guided his later donations.

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What it is

The Best Fields for Philanthropy is an essay written by Andrew Carnegie, published in 1889 in The North American Review as a follow-up to his earlier essay on wealth. In it, Carnegie sets out which kinds of charitable giving he considers most valuable.

Why it matters

This essay became the blueprint for Carnegie's own later giving, which included libraries, universities, parks and concert halls, such as Carnegie Hall. It shows how Carnegie thought carefully about where his fortune could do the most good, rather than giving money without a plan, reflecting the broader debates of his era about the responsibilities of the very wealthy.

Look closer

  • Why might Carnegie have written a second essay specifically about where philanthropy should go?
  • What does his ranking of libraries and universities above other causes suggest about his values?
  • How does this essay connect to the real buildings and institutions Carnegie later funded?

This newspaper article is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Andrew Carnegie on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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