History of Brazil, Indiana & the Brazil Public Library

A Town on the National Road

The Village of Brazil, Indiana, was founded in 1866, along the historic National Road. Soon after, rich coal and iron ore deposits drew miners and industry to the area. The town grew quickly, earning a reputation for toughness with its infamous row of saloons known as “Bloody Row.” Yet even in those rough early years, Brazil had a nucleus of citizens devoted to education, culture, and community building. Churches were organized, schools debated, and in time, a public library began to take shape.

Early Efforts to Build a Library

In the 1870s, when libraries were still rare even in large cities, a group of determined women in Brazil dared to create one. In 1878, Mary B. Schultz donated sixteen books and Mary B. Richardson added fourteen more. To raise funds, strawberry festivals and ice cream socials were held. In 1879, a fundraiser at Turner’s Hall brought in $107 for new books, and the first Library Board was established. That same year, Agnes McCrea was appointed as the first librarian. For years, the books moved from office to office, but the effort never faded. Many of the early supporters were miners and working families who gave what they could to support a library for the whole community.

The Carnegie Grant

By the early 1900s, the library had grown but still lacked a permanent home. In 1901, Florence Crawford traveled to New York to petition Andrew Carnegie for funding. Carnegie was abroad at the time, but on February 8, 1902, his secretary confirmed a pledge of $20,000, provided the city furnished a site and guaranteed at least $2,000 annually for maintenance. The Brazil City Council quickly accepted, and a site was purchased from Mrs. Carter for $2,400.

Construction began soon after, with the building designed in Bedford limestone. It is said to be the only Carnegie library in the nation marked with a carved inscription stating that it was donated by Andrew Carnegie.

Dedication in 1904

The new library was formally dedicated on the evening of October 18, 1904. The program included music, prayers, speeches from civic leaders and the State Librarian, and a rousing conclusion with the singing of America. Newspapers urged the people of Brazil—especially the youth—to take pride in the gift and make full use of it.

Growth and Adaptation

• 1989 – The library acquired a portion of the Maurer Wood Building to serve as an accessible annex, with support from Dr. Robert Maurer and the Clay Civic Memorial Foundation.
• 2005–2007 – A major renovation doubled the library’s size. The project added a large meeting room (divisible into two), a warming kitchen, restrooms, offices, and a smaller meeting space on the ground floor. The upper level gained a computer lab, a large fiction room, and laptop space. A ground-level entrance and elevator were also installed, making the building fully accessible.
• 2005 – Brazil became a pilot member of Evergreen Indiana, joining a statewide library consortium.
• 2008 – The Maurer Wood Annex was demolished to provide expanded parking.

Today

From its earliest days—when a handful of donated books were circulated out of private offices, supported by miners’ wages and strawberry socials—to the construction of a Carnegie building in 1904 and the renovations of the 21st century, the Brazil Public Library has been a story of resilience and community spirit. More than 120 years after its dedication, the library continues to serve as a cornerstone of learning and culture in Clay County, just as its founders hoped.