Life of Andrew Carnegie, from the Histories of Poor Boys and Famous People series of booklets (N79) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

This is "Life of Andrew Carnegie," a late 19th-century booklet made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of their "Histories of Poor Boys and Famous People" series, distributed with Duke brand cigarettes. In an era of rapid industrialization, immigration, and widening class disparities, this small, mass-produced object reflects America’s fascination with the self-made man. Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish immigrant who rose to dominate the steel industry, was the embodiment of the "American Dream". These booklets reinforced capitalist ideologies, suggesting that anyone, regardless of background, could achieve wealth and success through hard work and determination. Yet, they conveniently omitted the exploitative labor practices and vast inequalities that fueled Carnegie's empire. Consider how this image of Carnegie, with its emphasis on respectability and achievement, obscures the realities of the working class. It evokes questions about whose stories are told and how they shape our understanding of history.