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| ===== The Washington College Library ===== | ===== The Washington College Library ===== |
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| After receiving the [[charter|charter]] to found Washington College in May 1823, a first order of business included collecting books to begin the College's library. The [[wheaton_nathaniel_s|Rev. Nathaniel Wheaton]] traveled to England during the summer of 1823, obtaining about 400 titles in 1,146 volumes. ((In discussing the library collections, it is important to distinguish between the number of individual works (titles) and the number of volumes (physical bulk). For instance, one title might be comprised of 32 volumes.)) Primarily religious and classical literature from the 17th-18th centuries, Trinity still retains many of the volumes from "the Wheaton Collection," though at the time some students found the collections outdated. | After receiving the [[charter|charter]] to found Washington College in May 1823, a first order of business included collecting books to begin the College's library. The [[wheaton_nathaniel_s|Rev. Nathaniel Wheaton]] traveled to England during the summer of 1823, obtaining about 400 titles in 1,146 volumes. ((In discussing the library collections, it is important to distinguish between the number of individual works (titles) and the number of volumes (physical bulk). For instance, one title might be comprised of 32 volumes.)) Primarily religious and classical literature from the 17th-18th centuries, Trinity still retains many of the volumes from "the [[wheaton_s_library|Wheaton Collection]]," though at the time some students found the collections outdated. |
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| Beginning in 1824, students were charged $1.00 per [[terms|term]] for use of the library, which was only open for several hours a day. The library was housed in [[seabury_hall_old_campus|Seabury Hall]] after its completion in 1825. | Beginning in 1824, students were charged $1.00 per [[terms|term]] for use of the library, which was only open for several hours a day. The library was housed in [[seabury_hall_old_campus|Seabury Hall]] after its completion in 1825. |
| The library staff included the Reverend John Humphrey Barbour and student assistants whenever possible. Barbour had catalogued the book collection and created a card catalog, but many books went missing due to "untrained though well-wishing student amateurs." | The library staff included the Reverend John Humphrey Barbour and student assistants whenever possible. Barbour had catalogued the book collection and created a card catalog, but many books went missing due to "untrained though well-wishing student amateurs." |
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| By the 1890s, "students constantly complained that the Library was not being kept up to date and that the book collection was more suitable to the older curricula which had been adopted in 1884." ((Weaver, p. 234)) However, others found value in its rich collections of older materials dating to the 17th and 18th centuries, including religious pamphlets, government documents, medical works, scientific periodicals and English literature, History, and Political Economy. In 1895, Trinity College became a member of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) which distributes government publications to participating libraries for public use; Trinity was still a member in 2023. | By the 1890s, "students constantly complained that the Library was not being kept up to date and that the book collection was more suitable to the older curricula which had been adopted in 1884." ((Weaver, p. 234)) However, others found value in its rich collections of older materials dating to the 17th and 18th centuries, including religious pamphlets, government documents, medical works, scientific periodicals and English literature, History, and Political Economy. In 1895, Trinity College became a member of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) which distributes government publications to participating libraries for public use; it remains a member today. |
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| The library collections totaled 39,682 volumes by 1900 and the library was open five to six hours per day. Since the Department of Natural History moved to the brand-new [[boardman_hall|Boardman Hall]] that year, the library had more space, and both the book collections and student population boomed in part to a growing curriculum. | The library collections totaled 39,682 volumes by 1900 and the library was open five to six hours per day. Since the Department of Natural History moved to the brand-new [[boardman_hall|Boardman Hall]] that year, the library had more space, and both the book collections and student population boomed in part to a growing curriculum. |
| In 1912, [[morgan_j._pierpont|J. P. Morgan]] traveled to Hartford to visit his cousins and Trinity trustees, Francis and James Goodwin. During the visit, Morgan spoke with President [[luther_flavel_sweeten|Flavel Sweeten Luther]], who mentioned the need for a new library. Morgan enthusiastically agreed to fund the building, which could also serve as memorial to his late friend [[williams_john|Bishop John Williams]]. It was a project that could fulfill two needs the College had been hoping to achieve since 1899. | In 1912, [[morgan_j._pierpont|J. P. Morgan]] traveled to Hartford to visit his cousins and Trinity trustees, Francis and James Goodwin. During the visit, Morgan spoke with President [[luther_flavel_sweeten|Flavel Sweeten Luther]], who mentioned the need for a new library. Morgan enthusiastically agreed to fund the building, which could also serve as memorial to his late friend [[williams_john|Bishop John Williams]]. It was a project that could fulfill two needs the College had been hoping to achieve since 1899. |
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| ===== The Williams Library ===== | ===== The Williams Memorial Library ===== |
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| Though Morgan died in 1913, [[williams_memorial|Williams Memorial]] still began construction later that year, under Morgan's chosen architect Benjamin Wistar Morris, Class of 1893. Dedicated in October 1914, Williams Memorial was built with space for a bigger library and reading room on the second floor. Significantly, Williams' location was "at precisely the point specified in the original campus plan prepared by [[burges_william|William Burges]]." At the time of its completion, the library contained 65,000 volumes. | Though Morgan died in 1913, [[williams_memorial|Williams Memorial]] still began construction later that year, under Morgan's chosen architect Benjamin Wistar Morris, Class of 1893. Dedicated in October 1914, Williams Memorial was built with space for a bigger library and reading room on the second floor. Significantly, Williams' location was "at precisely the point specified in the original campus plan prepared by [[burges_william|William Burges]]." At the time of its completion, the library contained 65,000 volumes. |
| |Trinity College Archives]]}}] | |Trinity College Archives]]}}] |
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| In 1983, Trinity installed two OCLC computer terminals which allowed students to search over nine million catalog records. Librarian Ralph Emerick believed that "within five years," Trinity would change from using a card catalog (which cost at the time $90,000 to upkeep) to a retrieval system through OCLC ($50,000 per year). | In 1983, Trinity installed a OCLC computer terminal which allowed students to search over nine million catalog records. Librarian Ralph Emerick believed that "within five years," Trinity would change from using a card catalog (which cost at the time $90,000 to upkeep) to a retrieval system through OCLC ($50,000 per year). |
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| The year 1984 brought the creation of the CTW Consortium, establishing a collaboration with Connecticut College and Wesleyan University that has lasted decades. The "CTW System" became a reality in 1986, in which a shared //Sirsi// catalog between the three libraries and interlibrary loan system was developed. | The year 1984 brought the creation of the CTW Consortium, establishing a collaboration with Connecticut College and Wesleyan University that has lasted decades. The "CTW System" became a reality in 1986, in which a shared //Sirsi// catalog between the three libraries and interlibrary loan system was developed. |
| [[https://www.courant.com/2001/05/09/trinity-sets-library-renovation/|"Trinity Sets Library Renovation,"]] //Hartford Courant//, 9 May 2001. | [[https://www.courant.com/2001/05/09/trinity-sets-library-renovation/|"Trinity Sets Library Renovation,"]] //Hartford Courant//, 9 May 2001. |
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| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/w_books/2/|Trinity College in the Twentieth Century]] (2000) by Peter and Anne Knapp, pp. 123, 182-184, 256, 413-414, 423-424. | [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/w_books/2|Trinity College in the Twentieth Century]] (2000) by Peter and Anne Knapp, pp. 123, 182-184, 256, 413-414, 423-424. |
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| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/reporter/282|The Trinity Reporter]] (Spring 1979), pp. 10-15. | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/reporter/282|The Trinity Reporter]] (Spring 1979), pp. 10-15. |
| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/1115|The Trinity Tripod]], 10/17/1978. | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/1115|The Trinity Tripod]], 10/17/1978. |
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| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/w_books/4/|The History of Trinity College]] (1967) by Glenn Weaver. | [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/w_books/4|The History of Trinity College]] (1967) by Glenn Weaver. |
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| [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/bulletin/265|Trinity College Bulletin, 1963-1964 (Report of the Librarian)]] (1964). | [[http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/bulletin/265|Trinity College Bulletin, 1963-1964 (Report of the Librarian)]] (1964). |
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| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/2897/|The Trinity Tripod]], 12/10/1952. | [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/tripod/2897|The Trinity Tripod]], 12/10/1952. |
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| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/bulletin/534/|Trinity College Bulletin (Report of the Librarian)]] (1941). | [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/bulletin/534|Trinity College Bulletin (Report of the Librarian)]] (1941). |
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| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/bulletin/53/|Trinity College Bulletin (Report of the Librarian)]] (1916). | [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/bulletin/53|Trinity College Bulletin (Report of the Librarian)]] (1916). |
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| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/bulletin/46/|Trinity College Bulletin, April 1915, Dedication of Williams Memorial]] (1915). | [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/bulletin/46|Trinity College Bulletin, April 1915, Dedication of Williams Memorial]] (1915). |
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| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/ivy/10/|The Trinity Ivy, 1909]] (1909). | [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/ivy/10/|The Trinity Ivy, 1909]] (1909). |
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| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1023&context=ivy|The Trinity Ivy, 1902]] (1902). | [[https://www.jstor.org/stable/community.29304972|The Trinity Ivy, 1902]] (1902). |
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| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/bulletin/106/|Catalogue of Trinity College, 1862-63]] (1863). | [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/bulletin/106|Catalogue of Trinity College, 1862-63]] (1863). |
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| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/bulletin/421/|Catalogue of Washington College (Officers and Students), 1837-1838]] (1838). | [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/bulletin/421|Catalogue of Washington College (Officers and Students), 1837-1838]] (1838). |
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| [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/bulletin/414/|Washington College Terms of Admission, Course of Studies, Expenses]] (1826). | [[https://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu/bulletin/414|Washington College Terms of Admission, Course of Studies, Expenses]] (1826). |
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