New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1915-06-24

/ named the new chair 34 honor OF Mr.
Fiji because OF his aecom plishnnent,
as d builder and operator OF railroads
In offering the professorship they ex-
pressed the opinion that there was
q place and need for instruction in
the fundamental principles Of rail-
road operation and administration.
Third aLrgest In Country.
The Widener Memorial Library
ranks third among the libraries OF
this country in the number of vol
umes which 1t will accommodate.
Specifically intended to house the
rare collection OF, books bequeathed
to the university by Mr.. Widener, the
building was planned on a scale to
care for the entire Harvard library,
with allowance for great enlargem ent
In the number OF books. The capa-
city of 100000 volumes with pro-
vision for extention to hold 1900, 900,
Is exceeded in this country only by
the New York Public library and
the congressional library
Site of Old Gore Hall.
The building, standing within the
college yard near Massachusetts,
avenue, is. on the site Of the old Gore
hall, the former library building,
which was torn down. In style and
material it harmorikes with the Col
onial halls in its immediate. vicinity.
The exterior Of brick and limestone.
with long, square-headed windows,
Romanesque arches and Corinthian
columns. The outside measurements
are ESQ by 200 feet. within the hol :
low square OF the structure is
courtyard, Ito bq 100 feet. The prin-
cipal entrance, on the north side. Is
by thirty granite steps, through
portico formed by twelve limestone
Corinthian columns. The three high
doors are of glass and wroght iron.
The marble colorado OF the A,-
trance hall and broad marble star
case lead Directly to the central sec
ton. where the Widener collection is
simple memorial tablets, and in the
class Of 1907 and bearing the fol-
lowing inscription:
Harry Elkins Widener
A. B. 1907
Loved the Books
Which He Had Collected
and the College
To Which He Bequeathed Them
He Labored
Not for Himself Only
But for all Those
Who Seek Learning"
This Memorial
Has Been Paced Here by His
Classmates.
Memorial Section.
The memorial section consists OF
two rooms. On the south wall OF
the inner room, which will house
the Widener collections, over q mar
ble-f framed fireplace. is the portrait
Of Mr.. Widener, by F'errier. the Paris
artist. The bookcases in this room
have plate-glassI shelves and bronze
sashes The outer room includes the
office of the special li1Harian of the
collection, George p. Winship, who
served for twenty years as librarian
Of the John Carter Brown library at
Brown university.
On the first floor are the offices OF
William c. Lane, the college lfbrar-
an, and Prof. Archibald G. Cool
dge. director of the university Tor
he library council. The stairways OF !
he sides lead to the reading-room.
1872 feet long, with soft-toned glass
,kylight; the card-catalogne and de
livery room and the periodical room.
rhe book racks extend through eight |
ow STUDIED stories. and space has |
oeen reserved in the basement TOR |
.wo more floors Of stacks, for future !
needs. On the third floor are rooms |
ina a special collections and depart
mental libraries. a photograph room
Ind a map room. Seventy studies for
orofes and 500 reading stalls for
research students are placed close
10 the stacks.
Almost 5000 Volumes.
The widener collection contains |
about 1000 volumes. All of these
are rare books, gathered by Mr.. Wild
ener through tireless search of this /
country and Europe. Among them
are Shakespeare First Folio, ia
nous Caxton, the English Bible of |
1850 and a first edition OF Burton's
Anatomy There are also many first
editions of famous American writers, |
each autographed by the author.
The task of moving the books of /
the Harvard library from the build /
Ings where they have been temporari
" housed begins today. 1t is es-
timated that more than six months |
will be required to complete the moy-
ing and arrangement of the volumes.
The library. however, will be ready
FOR working use when the college
term opens on September IT and
during the summer most of the
rooms will be open to the public.