University Library > Internet Resources > 50th Anniversary of Andersen Library

50th Anniversary of Andersen Library
(1953-2003)

Table of Contents:

Whether or not you were around 50 years ago when Andersen Library first opened its doors, there's never been a better time to take advantage of the Library's awesome resources and services! And during this year's Golden Jubilee celebration, Andersen will be an especially exciting place - with special Anniversary exhibits, displays and contests. So come and celebrate!

Chronology

The campus initially consisted of one building ("Old Main"). Eventually the library collection was housed on the third floor of the west wing addition to this building (destoyed by fire in 1970, along with all of Old Main except the east wing which is now known as Hyer Hall). In 1878, when the school was 10 years old, there were 600 volumes in the library collection. In 1879 the Encyclopedia Britannica was purchased. The collection continued to grow in subsequent years.
  • Ground-breaking for a $725,000 library building took place on April 9, 1951. (M. 1952, pp.38-39)
  • "Moving Day" was Wednesday, February 25, 1953.
    The campus community, led by President Robert C. Williams, hand-carried the 41,000-volume collection from the third floor of Old Main's west wing into the new library building (photograph 1, photograph 2). The library was open for business the next day. (R.P. 2/24/53, p.1 and M. 1953, pp.118-119)
  • An open house was held on Sunday, June 7, 1953. (W.R. 6/11/53 p.1)
  • Naming September 28, 1953: The building was named Harold Andersen Library and a room for browsing recreational reading was designated the Dwight Warner Room. (W.R. 9/24/53 p.1)
    Harold G. Andersen (1891-1979) was a lifelong Whitewater resident, a graduate of the class of 1917, and a member of the Board of Regents 1947-1960 (also its President for several terms). He participated in moving the books from Old Main to the new library building in February 1953. Dwight Warner (1900-1947) was born and raised in Whitewater, attended Whitewater for two years (graduated from UW-Madison), managed his family's large area dairy farm, and served as a member of the Board of Regents 1944-1947. He was killed in an automobile accident in early 1947.
  • The dedication service was held on October 23, 1953. (R.P. 6/2/53)
    In the dedication program is the following information:
    "Planned with an eye to the future, the main library has stacks to shelve 101,000 books, two and one-half times the number catalogued when the building was occupied. ... Beauty and utility were prime concerns in the planning of the library building. The entrance halls are paneled from floor to ceiling in travertine marble imported from Italy. The reading rooms are paneled in blond rif-sawn oak. Pastel walls blend with the light wood to produce a quiet, cheerful atmosphere conducive to study."
  • The Library received its first microfilm and microcard readers in 1955.
  • The Wisconsin Historical Society's third Area Research Center was added to the campus in 1963. Graham Street, which ran between Andersen Library and Old Main (now the pedestrian Walker Wyman Mall) was closed.
  • $1,800,000 addition to the Library was completed in the fall of 1965.
  • Another addition was completed in 1970.
  • Library staff celebrated the arrival of the Library's first automated public catalog (no more cards!) in 1988.
(W.R.=Whitewater Register, R.P.=Royal Purple, M.=Minneiska)

Events

  • A Library Graphic Design Contest was held January 27-March 3, 2003.
  • Book Moving Day was commemorated during the week of February 23-March 1, 2003 with special bookmarks and an historical display on the Library's second floor (near the Circulation Desk). There was a brief re-enactment of the move on stairs in Hyer Hall with Chancellor Miller, Provost Telfer, Library Director Joyce Huang, several senior library staff, and students on Tuesday, February 25, 2003.
  • Golden Anniversary Celebration (Friday, October 24, 2003)

Library Graphic Design Contest Winner

During the period January 27-March 3, 2003 there was a contest, open to any current UW-Whitewater student, faculty, or staff member, to design a graphic representing Andersen Library and its 50th birthday. Many excellent designs were submitted! Thank you to all who submitted designs! Some of the submitted designs are available for viewing at http://library.uww.edu/SUBJECT/displaycontest2/designsubmissions.htm. Also, thank you to the selection committee (Greg Theune from Photo/Graphics, and Carol Elsen, Jennie Vano, and Joyce Huang from the Library). They had a difficult job.

The winning design was submitted by Andy Riel:

Andersen Library Graphic

Participate/Donate

How can you participate?
Share your history! Your contributions of knowledge about the Library's history--anecdotes, photographs, etc. are welcome and will help to make the celebration a success!

If you would like to make a financial contribution, that is welcome also. Please use the attached form. (Word Document- download free Microsoft Word Viewer if needed)

Contact Sharon Knight at (262) 472-5515.

More Information

  • Bohi, M. J. (1967). A History of Wisconsin State University, Whitewater, 1868-1968.
  • Haney, R. C. (1997). Campus Cornerstones, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
  • Minneiska. (various years).