The latest in a series of ‘Carnegie Lectures’ took place in the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum last Wednesday with the speaker making the journey all the way from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh to talk about ‘Carnegie, Education and Pittsburgh’.

Keith Webster, who is the Dean of Libraries at Carnegie Mellon University, charted the history of the institution that started life as Carnegie Technical School in 1900, funded by Andrew Carnegie.

It is now one of the world’s leading universities, famous for its education and research in computer science and engineering, and for its renowned conservatory programmes in the fine arts.

Keith referred to Andrew Carnegie as ‘The patron saint of libraries’ in his lecture and concluded with a quotation from the obituary on Carnegie by the Carnegie Institute of Technology’ that “Andrew Carnegie’s greatness will survive his death. His ardent spirit will live in the hearts of those who knew him”.

Keith is pictured in the centre of the photograph flanked by, from left to right, Andrew Carnegie himself; Scott Mory, Vice President of Advancement at Carnegie Mellon, who accompanied Keith on his trip to Dunfermline; Carnegie Dunfermline Trust Chief Executive, Gillian Taylor; and Andrew Croxford, current Chairman of the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust.

Gillian is delighted with the response to the winter series of lectures.

She said: “This lecture was the fifth we have staged so far and they have all sold out. It has been great to see so many people engage with the story of the legacy of Andrew Carnegie.

"We are looking forward to the final lecture on Thursday, April 27, when the archivist at Skibo Castle, Victoria Connor, will be speaking about Andrew Carnegie’s wife Louise Whitfield."

Tickets for this lecture entitled ‘The Lady of Skibo’ are on sale online priced £5, and also from the Birthplace Museum each day between 11am and 3pm.