Visual History of Memorial Library (Virtual Exhibit): Introduction

Welcome to this virtual exhibit!

This project was originally intended to be a permanent physical wall-exhibit throughout the various floors of Memorial Library. The selection and descriptions were created prior to the Pandemic by a team of librarians. This original plan to implement the physical exhibit was put on pause during COVID-19. In 2021, Jeremy Pekarek, repurposed the curated photographs and descriptions, into a virtual platform.

This exhibit focuses primarily on a visual history of Memorial Library. Each tab represents a unique feature of the library since the building was dedicated. All of the photographs chosen are preserved physically within the College Archives and may be available online at Digital Commons@Cortland.

Co-Creators

This exhibit was curated by Jeremy Pekarek (Archivist & Instructional Services Librarian), Janet Ochs (Computer Applications Program Coordinator), Jennifer Moore (Instructional Services Librarian), and Hilary Wong (Instructional Services Librarian).

1956

1895

Both photographs are from 1960

When the Cortland Normal School was founded in 1868, no room was officially dedicated for a library. However, the first principle, James Harmon Hoose, did keep a collection of books in his office he would often loan to students. It was not until just before the turn of the century that the first library started to emerge at Cortland. The first librarian was Mildred E. Morse. She served from 1914-1919. This is the same year when the fire destroyed the entire school, forcing Cortland to relocate permanently on top of the hill with the construction of Old Main.

During the inter-construction years, classes were held all around the City of Cortland including the YMCA, various churches, and the library was temporarily located in a house on Greenbush Street and ran by Marguerite Robinson. She served Cortland until 1951.

After Old Main was finished in 1923, a new room within the building was dedicated for the library. Old Main also housed a Campus School Library for school children at the time (the children’s library would move into Ella Van Hoesen Hall until the Campus School was retired in 1981).

 The library in Old Main consisted of a large reading room, stacks, a small office, a workroom, a reserve book room, and educational seminar room. Adjacent to the main library, the elementary school library resided. With the collection and staff increasing, the library required a building of its own.

In 1945 the first official plans to build a library were drawn up. The building was to be located north-east of Old Main. However, after land was purchased along Graham and Prospect Terrace, the plans changed and library was relocated to the water towers. The design also received a complete overhaul as well and the building was modernized. Construction began on the new building in 1959 and was complete in 1961.