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James Bertram (1872–1934) was the personal secretary of Andrew Carnegie, the industrialist and philanthropist, from 1897-1914. Bertram also served the Carnegie Corporation of New York from its inception in 1911 as secretary and trustee until his death in 1934. He thus continued to have an important role in Carnegie's philanthropic projects after Carnegie's death in 1919.[1]
Bertram was born in Corstorphine, near Edinburgh, the Scottish capital where was educated at Daniel Stewart's College.[1] His first position was with the Great Northern and Northeastern Railway company in Edinburgh. He emigrated to South Africa, where he continued to work in the railway industry. He returned to Scotland for health reasons in 1897, and was recruited by Andrew Carnegie, who had recently acquired a Scottish home, Skibo Castle.
Bertram by 1908 supervised Carnegie's library program in the USA.[2] Carnegie became less directly involved with the project in his old age. Booker T. Washington's published correspondence gives details of how Bertram acted as an intermediary between Carnegie and the recipients of his largesse.[3] Washington obtained Carnegie funding for an academic library at Tuskegee and advised other institutions on how to obtain Carnegie funding. Washington found that it was worth cultivating Bertram, and when the latter asked for a domestic servant from Tuskegee he was not sent the standard letter denying that the institution trained domestic servants.
Bertram took a close interest in the design of new Carnegie libraries, commenting on the architectural plans submitted by applicants. His interventions discouraged extravagant architectural features, although he continued with trademark features such as steps to the main entrance symbolising the reader's spiritual elevation. He encouraged adherence to published guidelines. Bertram authored Notes on Library Buildings, a work which included complete plans, in 1910.[4]
Carnegie began funding libraries in Iowa before the arrival of Bertram in the USA.In 1892, Fairfield, Iowa, received a grant from Andrew Carnegie for $30,000 to build a public library. Apparently, this was at the request of an Iowa senator: hitherto Carnegie had only funded libraries at places to which he was personally connected. At the turn of the century his giving increased dramatically. By 1903 44 Carnegie libraries had been built for Iowa communities (Carnegie also funded academic libraries in the state, including a second library at Fairfield).The Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project notes that Bertram was empowered by Andrew Carnegie to carry on negotiations, answer questions, and oversee contractual arrangements. The Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project further asserts that Bertram, and not Carnegie, was the one who established the eligibility requirements for a community to receive funding. While he did not exhibit much of a fluid or articulate communication style -- leaving his letters, notes, responses, etc. more confused and misinformed than enlightened by his instructions, Bertram considered the power Carnegie entrusted to him as a kind of sacred trust demanding his protection. Therefore, Bertram established the primary requirements that the community population should be sufficiently large to support the library. He also determined, as time went on, that beautiful architectural enhancements that adorned the library buildings – domes, marble staircases, statues -- had to be eliminated in order to cut down on costs and to improve the libraries functionality and working space for library services. He began a campaign of informing inquiring groups with pamphlets on the need for practicality of design so that the grant amount would cover the construction costs to make it ready for immediate occupancy and fulfillment of its purpose. Bertram's rigorous guardianship of the Carnegie trust had the immediate effect he desired; however, it also caused substantial difficulties for some Iowa communities seeking to build libraries with Carnegie funding. Alice S. Tyler, secretary of the Iowa Library Commission from its inception in 1900 until 1913, objected to Bertram's stipulations, seeking to have them removed and encouraging communities to pursue local financial support and reject the Carnegie funds.[5] Of about 100 Iowa communities which applied for Carnegie funds, 5 chose not to accept.[6]
Bertram also involved himself with grants for pipe organs, and other projects.