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Chapter One: History of the University of Toledo Libraries

Mary Mewborn Gillham (left); Library Furniture (right)

At the turn of the 20th century, University Libraries essentially served as a “book supply department” for faculty, and books were stored in professors’ offices and classrooms. No index or catalog existed to keep track of the collection, and no space was available for the growing student body to use the volumes. When the University first sought accreditation by the North Central Association, they formally established the University Library with 3,500 books in a classroom on the first floor of the Eleventh and Illinois Street building and hired Mellie M. Smith as acting librarian.

University junior, Mary Mewborn, stepped in as assistant librarian in 1921, becoming head librarian in 1922. The collection numbered at 8,000 volumes and moved to the basement of the Science building that stood on the original Scott land, with branches maintained at the Illinois Street and Medical College buildings for the convenience of late afternoon and evening students.

Years later, a $2.8 million bond allowed the University of Toledo to expand, and new facilities were constructed on West Bancroft Street in 1931. The library moved to the fifth floor of the administrative building, University Hall, an ideal arrangement until the student body grew and thousands of books were added to the collection. Shelves took over multiple classrooms and attic space. The University determined that a new library building was necessary to accommodate the now 290,000 book collection and 6,000 students, the highest enrollment in the history of the University of Toledo at the time.

“There is no greater opportunity for a person to immortalize his name, that of a friend, or his family than through the building of a library – the heart of any institution of learning.”

Mary Mewborn Gillham
University Librarian
1921-1969

The new Library Building was dedicated in 1953, two days after the start of moving the collection from University Hall, which was accomplished with no interruption in library services.

In the late 1960s, the need for an even larger space for the University Library arose. Once a showcase on campus, the Library Building had become inadequate for the increasing student body. With a 625,000 volume collection and 52 full-time staff, it became necessary to plan for larger accommodations. Thus began the planning and design of the William S. Carlson Library.

Exhibits

Cooperation agreement between Toledo Public Library and Toledo University (1915)

Before the establishment of the University Library in 1917, the boards of the university and the public library agreed to have the public library serve the university, considering an independent university library as “inadvisable”. When the university sought accreditation from the North Central Association in 1917 they moved the library under the control of the university and hired a full time librarian.

Extract from Special Meeting, April 20, 1915

Memo regarding library collection (1918)

First librarian, Mellie Smith, reported directly to President Stowe on the growth of the library collection, which started at 3,500 volumes. The memo was a special library report informing President Stowe about the current holdings of the Library.

Memo regarding library collection (1918)

University Library (1921)

University junior Mary Mewborn is hired as assistant librarian and in 1922 becomes head librarian after Mellie Smith’s departure. The library, now with more than 8,000 volumes, moves to the basement of the World War I building on Scott Farm, where the University has relocated.

World War I building on Scott Farm, the basement of which served as the Library

Library rules (1928)

At the time of publication of these rules, the University Libraries operated out of the basement of the World War I building on the Scott farm property on Nebraska.

University Hall library (1944)

The library moved into the fifth floor of University Hall upon its construction in 1931. The furniture – much of which was moved into Carlson Library – was designed by McLaughlin-Stevens, Inc. in the Gothic style.

Individual Study Table (Pedestal Style - Gothic Style), drawing

Library Building (1953)

Continued growth of the student body and the library collection necessitated more space. On moving day from University Hall to the new building, the effort to transfer a collection of more than 290,000 volumes was completed in 48 hours with no interruption of service. Among the features of the new library was a Lamson “Bookveyor”, a conveyor system the transported books throughout the building. After the move to Carlson Library in 1973, the Library Building was renamed in honor of Mary Gillham.

Students introduced to index cards at the library

Library furniture: drawings and photographs above the display case

The drawings and corresponding photographs (not included in the physical exhibit) show three key pieces of library furniture: library shelving, charging desk, and tables. Some shelving sections and tables have been moved and preserved at the Ward M. Canaday Center and throughout the fifth floor of Carlson Library.