Humanities and Social Sciences Library, New York Public Library
The creation of the Humanities and Social Sciences Library had more to do with the establishment of the New York Public Library, and no one person was responsible for it. Rather, three institutions merged to create NYPL and, by extension, cause the library to be built.
In 1886, Samuel J. Tilden, former New York State governor and presidential candidate, left nearly 3 million dollars to New York City to establish a free public library. Nothing was done until trustee John Bigelow came up with the idea to merge the city’s two largest libraries, the Astor Library and the Lenox Library. Both libraries were not funded well and were in financial trouble. The plan was used as an example of private philanthropy working for the public good. The two libraries merged, and the grass-roots Free Circulating Library, with its eleven branches and traveling department, also merged with them to create the “New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Trusts.”
With the creation of NYPL and the funding by Andrew Carnegie of 65 branches for the new system, a central library would be needed. This is then what led to the eventual hiring of Carrère and Hastings to create the Humanities and Social Sciences Library.