He returned to Scotland for health reasons in 1897, and was recruited by Andrew Carnegie, who had recently acquired a Scottish home, Skibo Castle.

Booker T. Washington's published correspondence gives details of how Bertram acted as an intermediary between Carnegie and the recipients of his largesse.

Bertram took a close interest in the design of new Carnegie libraries, commenting on the architectural plans submitted by applicants.

Apparently, this was at the request of an Iowa senator: hitherto Carnegie had only funded libraries at places to which he was personally connected.

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.

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.

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.