New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-25
Senator Lodge Makes Pre-
sentation of S2,0OO,0OO
Widener Memorial.
BISHOP GREER d. d.
AND HERRICK IL. ID.
Years Gifts to University Tot
$685., 0OO-S125,000 Hill Pro-
fessorship Established.
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by itlfSIdHH " AZ" - ''''i''r'
Cambridge, Mass, June 24.-The
most noteworthy event on Harvards
commencement day was the dedication
of the 100000 Widener Memorial
Library. erected in memory OF one of
Harvards sons, Harry Elkins Wldener,
who sank with the Titanic. Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge made the speech OF
presentation In behalf OF Mrs. George
u. Widener Of Philadelphia, and Presi-
dent Lowell accepted the memorial for
the university.
This building rs a htting memorial
OF mothers love FOR her son, cut of
in the prime Vf YOUTH said President
Lowell IN his acceptance speech. mar
ward has in its possession the hnesi
building Of its kind ever constructed
and the best adapted library IN the
world. As walked through the build
ing to-day felt that it was rare debt
of gratitude we owe to our benefac-
tTess.'
Following President Lowell's address,
Mrs. FitZ Eugene Dixon, sister OF Harry
Elkins WidCner, unveiled portrait OF
her brother.
President Lowell announced at the
alumni dinner in the afternoon that
Harvard was just $4,000 short Of the
million dollar mark in gifts received
during the last academic wear. The
largest Of these was Sl25,OoO from
friends Of James J. Hill, the Western
railroad magnate, to establish pro-
fessorship Of railroad transportation IN
the graduate school of business admin
istration.
Among the speakers who addressed
the alumni were Myron 7. Herrick. eX-
Ambassador to France; Governor David
l. Walsh and Lionel De Jersey Harvard,
a descendant of the universty's found
er and a member Of the graduating
class. Mr.. Harvard is to leave New
York on Saturday for England, where
he will enter the ranks OF the BRUSH
army.
At the commencement exercises, LIZ
degrees were conferred by PRESIDENT
Lowell, including twelve honorary de-
grees. Among the recipients OF hon
orary degrees were:
Master of Arts Alexander Hamilton
Rice, explorer of tropical America;
Bella Lyon Pratt, sculptor, Of Boston;
Charles Lawrence Hutchinson, banker
of Chicago Doctor of Diyinity-Ihe
Right Rev. David Hummell Greer,
bishop of New York. Doctor of Laws
John Farwell Moors, banker. Of Boston;
Isaac Sharpless, President OF Haveriord
College; Theodore Newton Vail, Presi,
dent of the American Telephone and
Telegraph Company; Edgar Eontgom-
cry Cullen, ex-Chief Justice Of the New
York Court of Appeals, and Myron
Timothy Herrick, eX-Ambassador to
France.
The Widener Memorial Library ranks
third among the Libraries OF this coun-
try in the number of volumes 1t Will
accommodate. Specifically intended TO
house the rare collection of books be-
uueathed to the university by Mr..
Widener, the building was planned on
a scale TO care for the entire Harvard
library, with allowance for great en-
largement in the number of books. The
capacity Of 100000 volumes, with pro
vision for extension TO hold 100000, is
exceeded in this country only by the
New York Public Library and the Con-
gressional Library.
The building. stcnding within the col
lege 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 IL harmon
ICES with the colonial halls in its I'M
mediate vicinity. The exterior is of
brick and limestone, with long, square
headed windows. Romanesque arches and
Corinthian columns. Within the hollow
square Of the structure is courtyard.
The principal entrance, on the north
side. is by thirt- granite steps, through
portico formed by twelve limestone
Corinthian columns. The three hlgh
doors are of glass and wrought iron.
The marble colonnade of the entrance
hall and broad marble staircase lead
directly to the central section, where
- no1lactlnn = located.
Within the vestibule are two simple
memorial tablets, and in the entrance
hall is a tablet placed by the class OF
1907 and bearing the following inscrip-
ton:
1907, LOVED THE BOOKS WHICH HE
HAD COLLECTED AND THE COL
LEGE TO WHICH HE BEQUEATHED
THEM. "HE LABORED NOT FOR
HIMSELF ONLY BUT FOR ALL THOSE
WHO SEEK LEARNING" This Me
mortal Has Been Placed Here BY His
Classmates.
On the Rrst floor arc the Offices of
William c. Lane, the college librarian,
and Professor Archibald {. Coolidge,
director of the university library; the
treasure ROOM" equipped with metal
bookcases, and a room for the library
council. The stairwsys at the sides
lead to the reading room, l02 feet long,
with soft toned glass skylights; the
card catalogue and delivery room and
the periodical room. The bookstacks
extend through eight low studded stor-
les. and space has been reserved in the
basement for two more floors Of stacks
for future needs. On the third floor
are rooms for special collections and
departmental Libraries, photograph
room and map room. Seventy studies
for professors and three hundred
reading stalls for research students are
placed close to the stacks.
The Widener collection contains
about 5000 volumes. All of these are
rare books, gathered by Mr.. Widener
through tireless search of this country
and Europe. Among them are a
Shakespeare First Folio. a famous CaX-
ton. the English Bible of 1000, and a
first edition of Burton's Anatomy.
There are also many first editions OF
famous American writers, each auto
graphed by the author.
The task of moving the books OF the
Harvard library from the buildings
where they have been temporarily
housed begins to-day. II is estimated
that more than six months will be re-
ouired TO complete the moving and ar
rangement of the volumes. The library
however, will be ready for working use
when the college term opens on Septem.
her %, and during the summer mos'
of the rooms will be open TO the pubic