Andrew Carnegie

AndrewCarnegieandrewcarnegie,knownasthekingofsteel,builtthesteelindustryintheunitedstates,and,intheprocess,becameoneofthewealthiestmeninamerica.hissuccessresultedinpartfromhisabilitytoselltheproductandinpartfromhispolicyofexpandingduringperiodsofeconomicdecline,whenmostofhiscompetitorswerereducingtheirinvestments.carnegiebelievedthatindividualsshouldprogressthroughhardwork,buthealsofeltstronglythatthewealthyshouldusetheirfortunesforthebenefitofsociety.heopposedcharity,preferringinsteadtoprovideeducationalopportunitiesthatwouldallowotherstohelpthemselves.“hewhodiesrich,diesdisgraced,”heoftensaid.amonghismorenoteworthycontributionstosocietyarethosethatbearhisname,includingthecarnegieinstituteofpittsburgh,whichhasalibrary,amuseumoffinearts,andamuseumofnationalhistory.healsofoundedaschooloftechnologythatisnowpartofcarnegie-mellonuniversity.otherphilanthrophicgiftsarethecarnegieendowmentforinternationalpeacetopromoteunderstandingbetweennations,thecarnegieinstituteofwashingtontofundscientificresearch,andcarnegiehalltoprovideacenterforthearts.fewamericanshavebeenleftuntouchedbyandrewcarnegie`sgenerosity.hiscontributionsofmorethanfivemilliondollarsestablished2,500librariesinsmallcommunitiesthroughoutthecountryandformedthenucleusofthepubliclibrarysystemthatweallenjoytoday.