The Astounding Widener Library at Harvard Yard

1398 Words3 Pages

Harvard University has endowment of 30 billion dollars, not million, BILLION. Where does Harvard get all of this money from? Harvard gets most of its money through rich alumni giving back to the University. This is exactly how they have Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library today. Mr. Widener was a Harvard alumni that died in the disaster of the Titanic. His family was very wealthy so the bequeathed his entire collection of rare books to Harvard with 2 million dollars to house the books. Ever since Widener library has played a big part in the history of Harvard University. Matthew Battles, who wrote a biography for the Library put it this way:
Since its opening in 1915, the Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library has led a spirited life as Harvard's physical and, in a sense, its spiritual heart. Originally intended as the memorial to one man, it quickly grew into a symbol of the life of the mind with few equals anywhere--and like all symbols, it has enjoyed its share of contest and contradiction (Battles).
Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library has changed Harvard University forever through its Architecture, Memorialization, and Collections.
When I first came to Harvard, I saw all these brick buildings, and heard: “This one is 300 years old, this one 200 years old,” etc. But to tell you the truth they didn’t do much for me. I wasn’t all that interested in them but then I walked behind University Hall and saw Memorial Church and Widener Library, and my jaw just dropped. They are enormous and you’d never suspect them lurking behind the front display of buildings at Harvard Yard. The massive columns seem larger than life and the detail on the carvings is astounding. Most people just take pictures of the Library and leave though. This...

... middle of paper ...

...y of a Library. Cambridge, MA: Harvard College Library, 2004. Back-Cover. Print.
Estes, Richard. "Chapter 1." Gutenberg Bible at Harvard University at Cambridge, Mass. Raleigh, North Carolina: Lulu.com, 2012. 1. Print.
"The Gutenberg Bible." Harry Elkins Widener Collection. Harvard College Library, 19 Sept. 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2013. .
Widener, Harry E. "HOLLIS Classic FULL CATALOG - Search." Letter to Luther Samuel Livingston. 10 Mar. 1912. HOLLIS Classic FULL CATALOG - Search. Harvard University Archives, Hollis Classics, 19 Sept. 2013. Web. 11 Dec. 2013. .
Andersen, Eric. In Memoriam: Remembering the Dead Memorial Hall & Memorial Church. Cambridge, Mass: Dr. Christina Hodge, 17 July 2013. PDF.

Open Document