Louis Round Wilson Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wilson Library |
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Wilson Library opened in 1929 and today serves as the special collections library at the University of North Carolina.
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| Location | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| Built | 1927–1929 |
| Website | Wilson Library |
The Louis Round Wilson Library is a very important building at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It opened in 1929 and was the main library for the university until 1984. Today, it holds many special collections of rare books and historical documents. The library's tall dome reaches 85 feet into the sky!
Contents
A Look Back: Wilson Library's Story
The Wilson Library was built between 1927 and 1929. This was a time when the university was growing very fast. Many new buildings were added to the campus during these years.
How the Library Was Designed
Two architects, Arthur Cleveland Nash and William Kendall, designed the building. They used a style called Beaux-arts, which is a fancy type of neo-classical design. This style often includes grand, impressive features. The building also followed a common plan for libraries built with money from Carnegie.
Naming the Library
The library was named in 1956 after Louis Round Wilson. He was the university's very first librarian. Before it was named after him, people just called it "the library."
Challenges and Growth
Louis Round Wilson worked hard to get a new library built. He wanted a building big enough to hold many books. This would make it a nationally important library.
The library opened on October 19, 1929. Just ten days later, the stock market crashed. This event started the Great Depression. Because of this, the university received less money from the state. Mr. Wilson had to find other ways to get money for the library. He asked people and groups for donations. Many of these gifts helped create some of the library's most famous collections.
Wilson Library Today
The original building was quite large, about 219 feet long. Over the years, more parts were added to it. The first addition was in 1952, with more added in 1976 and 1984.
Wilson Library was the main library for the university until 1984. That's when a newer, larger library, called Davis Library, opened. Now, Wilson Library is mostly used for its special collections. Its North Carolina Collection is the biggest collection of items about a single state in the United States.
Amazing Collections
Wilson Library is home to several unique and important collections. These are like special archives filled with rare items.
- Rare Book Collection - This collection started in 1929. It has over 200,000 printed books and other materials. You can also find original drawings, old handwritten books from the Middle Ages, and important historical papers here.
- Southern Historical Collection - Started in 1930, this collection tells the story of the American South. It has more than 15 million items, including letters, diaries, and photographs.
- North Carolina Collection - Also created in 1930, this is the largest collection anywhere that focuses on just one state: North Carolina. It has everything from old maps to modern books about the state.
- University Archives - This part of the library keeps and protects records from the University of North Carolina. It helps people learn about the university's past.
- Southern Folklife Collection - Opened in 1989, this collection focuses on music, art, and culture from the American South. It includes recordings, films, and other items that show how people lived and expressed themselves.
