Syracuse University Library Records
A description of its records at the Syracuse University Archives
Summary |
|
| Creator: | Syracuse University Libraries. |
| Title: | Syracuse University Library Records |
| Dates: | 1871-2015 |
| Size: | 180 boxes and 9 wrapped packages (approximately 143.5 linear feet) |
| Abstract: | Reports, meeting minutes, correspondence, office files and other materials of the Syracuse University Libraries |
| Language: | English |
| Repository: |
University Archives, Special Collections Research Center Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Ave., Suite 600 Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center/university-archives |
Historical Note
In 1871 the first Syracuse University library opened in Myers Block, the University’s first home located in downtown Syracuse. The library moved its collection to the third floor of the Hall of Languages in 1873. The first librarian was John P. Griffin, who worked at the University from 1871 to 1875. In 1878 Syracuse University was appointed as a government depository library. The library’s collection expanded with the addition of the collection of German historian Leopold von Ranke, donated by Dr. John M. Reid with the condition that a library be built to house it. With Dr. Reid’s donation of $10,000, Von Ranke Library (now the Tolley Humanities Building) was constructed.
In 1905 Andrew Carnegie donated $150,000 to help erect a new library building at Syracuse University. Carnegie Library opened in September 1907 after over 71,000 volumes were transferred. By the 1950s, however, it had become too small and could not provide enough space for both collections and students. In 1972 Bird Library had been built and named for Ernest Stevenson Bird, who donated $3 million for its construction. Today Bird Library provides resources for humanities, social sciences, audiovisual resources, government publications, and maps as well as houses the Special Collections Research Center. Carnegie Library now provides resources for the sciences, engineering and computer science, mathematics, military and naval science, nutrition science, photography, public health, and information science. King + King Architecture Library, located in Slocum Hall, services the School of Architecture and its faculty and students.
Scope and Content Note
The Syracuse University Library Records comprise various materials which document the history of the University's libraries. The records include administrative council meeting minutes, annual reports, budget reports, memoranda, gifts files, correspondence, files of branch libraries, audiocassettes of lectures, and documentation of automation systems development. The records span from 1871 to 2015.
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
The collection is currently unprocessed and not available for research.
School, college and department records are restricted to the office of origin for 30 years. Access to recordings requires advance notice to produce a use copy.
Use Restrictions
Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
Related Material
Clipping files of Syracuse University's libraries are available in the University Archives. Images of the libraries can be found in the Archives' Photograph Collection.
Selected Search Terms
Names
Subjects
Types of material
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Syracuse University Library Records,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
The University Archives acquired most of these records from the University's libraries between 1959 and 2018.
Processing Information
These records are not processed.
Finding Aid Information
Created by: Jaihyun Park and Meg Mason
Date: 2018
Revision history: Mar 2022 - Restriction added (HVA)