International Museum Day 2026: Museums Uniting a Divided World

May 18th marks International Museum Day, and this year’s theme, Museums Uniting a Divided World, really resonated with us here at the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum. The International Council of Museums, or ICOM, says the theme, “highlights the potential of museums to act as bridges across cultural, social, and geopolitical divides, fostering dialogue, understanding, inclusion and peace within and between communities worldwide.” At a time of political unrest and war, we wanted to look back at Andrew Carnegie’s numerous attempts at achieving global peace.

Sepia photograph of the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands

Copy of the cheque for $ 1,500,000 for building of the Peace Palace, dated 11 May 1903

Silk scroll gifted to Andrew Carnegie in 1912 by the International Institute of China for his efforts in the cause of peace. Depicts a dove with a thistle in its beak crossing the Pacific Ocean while an American Eagle and a Chinese dragon watch from each side

After selling his steel business in 1901, Carnegie devoted his time in giving his money away to causes important to him. This included the peace movement that was growing in popularity both in Europe and the United States. In April 1907, he convened the National Arbitration and Peace Congress in New York City, ahead of the second Hague Peace Conference. He had already pledged a donation of $1.5 million (nearly $38 million today) for the building of the Peace Palace in Hague, which was to house the Permanent Court Arbitration established after the first Hague Peace Conference of 1899, as well as a library specialising in professional literature on international law. The foundation stone for the Peace Palace was laid in 1907, and it opened in August 1913, less than a year before the onset of the First World War.

Cartoon of Andrew Carnegie depicted as Santa Claus, with a bag full of money and his sleigh being pulled by a dove. Artist name Norman, circa 1910

Blue ceramic plate depicting the Peace Palace, with the inscription “Peace Palace at The Hague inaugurated 1913 / Andrew Carnegie’s gift to humanity”

Carnegie contributed financially to several peace societies, but his most generous act was the establishment of the 1910 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to which he gave an astounding $10 million, equating to over $350 million today. Although he lived long enough to see the end of the war, it took a physical toll on his health, and his wife Louise described the global conflict as having broken his heart. The Endowment paved the way for the League of Nations, which was later succeeded by the establishment of the United Nations after the Second World War.

Framed print of a cartoon depicting Andrew Carnegie as an Angel of Peace, published in 1913 by Charles J. Budd

What’s it like to do work experience with Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum?

In May we had two students from Dunfermline High School, Ray and Ethan spend 15 hours with Mark at the Museum. Here’re some notes of their experience and photos from their time, we have added some context information in brackets!  

We got welcomed in and then we had to fill some paperwork out [to make Ray and Ethan official volunteers for the museum during their work experience].  

Then we had a chance to go and explore the museum ourselves looking for our favourite objects.   

Then we went up to a locked room to move legs [from a temporary display case] and to think where to put the legs [to maximise the storage cupboard space].  
 
We had to move the [hand] sanitiser dispensers up in to the [storage] room which we had to think how they would all fit, then we had lunch [they had earned a break after the physical work]. 

Figure 1. Storeroom with hand sanitisers.

Then we went to the glen with the kids from Queen Anne High School, [these students visit every Monday to volunteer to build confidence and we share what working in a museum is all about]. We tried out different activities and rate them for the appropriate age group for the activities, [these are new Activity Bags for families to borrow to take to The Glen for a boost of wellbeing for everyone in the family]. 

On another day we [helped] create a display on Pittencrieff Park in [a temporary display case] in the museum, then we had to go and take a tourist board sign down from the front of the museum since it’s no longer valid, [VisitScotland Quality Assurance star rating is no longer supported and a new scheme is now assessing the museum].  

 Figure 2. Temporary exhibition case with objects telling the story of Pittencrieff Park.

Figure 3. Map of Scotland, showing red dots of where some visitors have come from.

Figure 4. Map corner for visitors to place a sticker on where they call home.

If you’d like do some work experience with us, please drop an email to info@carnegiebirthplace.com letting us know your details and why you are interested.

From our collections - letters to Andrew Carnegie

This week marks the biennial Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy celebrations, where the international family of Carnegie institutions recognises individuals making a positive change in the world. This year’s recipients have all contributed vast amounts of money towards arts, culture, and education, and are, according to Carnegie Corporation of New York president Professor Dame Louise Richardson, “true standard bearers of (Andrew Carnegie’s) legacy”.

There are numerous institutions and organizations bearing the Carnegie name, covering many different fields such as scientific research, arts, and international affairs. However, not all of Andrew Carnegie’s philanthropy was large-scale and global. We have recently finished processing hundreds of archival items in our collection backlog, and uncovered dozens of letters from people from all walks of life pleading Carnegie for financial help. Many who write to him are not asking for help for themselves, but rather a friend or a family they know, who are in a dire financial state. The letters are often accompanied by notes from clergymen, or solicitors, essentially someone in a respectable profession, vouching for the poor fortune and legitimacy of the claim.

One letter stood out from the rest, due to its very emotional content and unusual story. A young girl named Janet Duff from Dunfermline wrote to Carnegie on June 10th, 1907, asking for money so she could get an artificial leg. It is unclear exactly how old Janet was, or why she came to need a prosthetic leg, but this is what she wrote:

“Dear Sir

I have heard of you doing so many kind acts that I venture to ask you if you would be as kind to help me to get a leg – I have wanted a leg since childhood and it would be a great boon to both my parents and my-self if I had a leg if you would be as kind as help me – if you think me impeartmeat (sic) please burn this and don’t think any more about it

Miss Janet Duff

105 Pittencrieff St

Dunfermline”

Despite probably receiving hundreds of letters like this one, there is evidence to show that Carnegie read many of these letters personally. He often scribbled notes on the back, advising his solicitor John Ross how to proceed. In Janet Duff’s case, he wrote “if a worthy cause would like to do this and as you think best please”.

Janet Duff’s letter to Andrew Carnegie

“No gift I have made or can ever make can possibly approach that of Pittencrieff Glen”

The museum is currently playing host to magical installation, foraged from Andrew Carnegie’s greatest gift to Dunfermline, Pittencrieff Park, installed by local artist, Natasha Bell.

Natasha is an ethical florist, whose mission is to run a sustainable, ethical floristry business by foraging, reusing, and recycling and by only using seasonal, local materials. She uses fallen branches and trees where possible, but if cutting is needed, she cuts plants mindfully to encourage growth. This approach resonated with the gardening team in Pittencrieff Park, who work tirelessly to preserve the park for the people of Dunfermline.

Images showing Natasha and her colleague, Ebony, foraging in the Glen and working in the museum

It was Andrew Carnegie’s hope that, by transferring the ownership of the Glen to the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust, the Trustees would be able to bring “sweetness and light” to the people of Dunfermline. Every year, the Park is enjoyed by over 1.5million visitors, who come to enjoy Carnegie’s gift

Natasha’s installation will remain the museum for the next few months. As the leaves dry and fall ,the installation will change in its feel and atmosphere, just like the changing seasons of the Park.

The museum is open 11-4 daily, free admission

Details from the installation in the Museum, March 2024

Caring for your Carnegie Linen

Find out more about the Damask linen for sale in our shop below

Inspired by the Collection

For the last 18 months or so, we have been working on a project to look at our retail offer and how it can be more sustainable. This has resulted in a number of exciting outcomes, including the redeveloped shop space and a number of new stock ranges. This blog looks at one of those ranges in more detail.

The museum collection is fully of beautiful objects that were gifted to Andrew Carnegie as acknowledgement of his generosity of money and effort toward several causes. These range from fine caskets made of precious medals to a walking stick made from the coffin of an accused “witch”. These objects often tell the story of the gift its self, or of the culture from which it came. They are a fascinating insight into the impact Andrew Carnegie had around the world.

One such item is a Chinese, hand painted silk scroll that was gifted to Andrew Carnegie and his wife Louise in 1912 by the International Institute of China in acknowledgement of their efforts in pursuit of peace. The painting depicts a peace dove, clutching a Scottish thistle, crossing the Pacific Ocean between the USA and China. On one side, the American Eagle watches the dove's progress while holding the flags of the USA and United Kingdom in its claws. On the other side, a Chinese dragon awaits the dove's arrival, while the star of Jerusalem shines its light in the background.

There are some items in the collection that are unlikely to be on display because of their fragility. This scroll is one of them – it is currently in amazing condition but is extremely susceptible to light damage, and the silk can easily be damaged by the weight of hanging it.  We are always looking for new ways to engage our visitors with objects that we cannot display beyond reproducing them digitally.

In early 2022 we chose this scroll as a potential source of inspiration for a new range of products for our museum shop. We were lucky enough to receive some funding towards an artist commission, and after a great response to our call out we chose Haddington based artist Helen Wyllie to work with. Helen has an incredible portfolio of collaborations with creative organisations as well as her own range of products featuring her artwork. Helen visited the museum when it was closed and was able to get up close to the scroll for inspiration.

Some examples of Helen Wyllie’s artwork inspired by the scroll

Over the next few months Helen produced a range of artwork inspired by elements of the painting which could be applied across a range of exclusive products for the shop, as well as signage, interpretation, and packaging. Together these elements create a coherent range that tells the story of the source painting. The first products on the shelves were the dove and eagle pin badges, which have proven immensely popular with our visitors. Slowly the range has grown to include enamel mugs, notepads, stickers, tea towels and limited-edition artist prints. Helen’s illustrations really capture the vibrancy and movement of the painting, while bringing her own contemporary twist to the designs.  

A selection of item from the new product range. Pictured: enamel mugs, eagle and dove pin badges, notepad, and limited edition artist print.

Display in the museum shop showcasing the new products

The museum shop is open 11-4 daily.

Breathing new life into old stock

For the last 18 months or so, we have been working on a project to look at our retail offer and how it can be more sustainable. This has resulted in a number of exciting outcomes, including the redeveloped shop space and new stock ranges. This blog looks at one of those ranges in more detail.

Dunfermline has long been a centre for linen, and the story of linen manufacturing is central to the story of Andrew Carnegie and his family. It was the industrialisation of linen production that changed his family’s fortunes and drove them to make the move to the USA. The museum itself is home to an Irish Jacquard handloom that dates from around 1840.

By the early 20th Century, there were eleven linen factories in Dunfermline, each with its own design team. In 1929, the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust approached James Mathewson & Sons to commission a souvenir napkin to commemorate the opening of the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum which had opened in 1928. The napkin was designed by their head designer Alexander (Sandy) Robertson, who had learned his trade at the firms’ Bothwell Works factory.

Blakckand white image showing the pattern for the Carnegie Linen.

The resulting napkin (above) is a masterpiece of damask design, incorporating imagery and symbols that tell the story of Andrew Carnegie, all surrounding an image of the Birthplace Cottage itself. These napkins were manufactured by Mathewson & Sons until they closed their mill in 1932.

Fast forward 65 years to 1994, and an original pointpaper design for the napkin was rediscovered in the museum collection along with two original napkins and a test sampler. The Trustees of the CDT approached Ian Dale of Angus Handloom Weavers, Brechin, to put the design back into production. The linen has been woven ever since, and continues to be a popular item in the museum shop, particularly with international audiences.

Master weaver, Ian Dale of Angus Handloom Weavers, working on the Jacquard loom in the museum

In 2021, we started to look at the stock in the museum shop and think about new and exciting ways to produce exclusive products. The linen stood out to us as a resource that could be utilized as a raw material and turned into something really beautiful. However, we stalled at a number of hurdles – manufacturers had large minimum orders requiring a large financial investment and a big risk for the museum.

Fate was on our side – in early 2022 Dunfermline became home to Kalopsia Collective. Assemble by Kalopsia Collective is a textiles product service with a unique offer – they manufacture items efficiently and quickly in small numbers, while also aiming to reduce waste. They have curated a range of beautiful, contemporary products to which clients can apply their own textiles. This model appealed to us on so many levels – we can produce unique, local, hand made, high quality items items that can be ordered quickly in response to demand, which ultimately allows us to try out new products and experiment with very little risk.

When the museum opened in March for the 2022 season, we stocked a range that included messenger bags, purses, make up bags, scrunchies and lavender sachets. These proved popular and we have since added aprons and rucksacks. The quality of the linen alongside the quality of design and manufacture makes for products that are not only beautiful but practical and useful.

The museum shop is open 11-4 daily.