WOU Repository

This exhibit describes the history of WOU's library, from a small 200-volume collection in 1877 to the opening of the Wayne and Lynn Hamersly Library in 2000.

Campbell Hall

In 1869, Thomas Franklin Campbell became the president of the university, which was then known as Christian College. Once assuming presidency, he started a fundraising campaign to start the building that is now known as Campbell Hall. The university’s library was on the first floor of the North Wing of Campbell Hall from 1899-1951. J.B.V. Butler was the first known librarian of this library, serving from 1898 to 1909.  Graduating from OSNS himself in 1884, Butler had no training or education as a librarian. However, his position on campus was prominent. During Butler’s time as librarian, a new wing of Campbell Hall was built and the library took up an entire floor.  The Board of Regents also funded a tremendous increase in the library budget. Butler was able, from his legendary roll-top desk, to oversee a rapidly-growing, carefully selected collection.

Prior to 1898, there was a small library supplied to the college by Bro. E. Bristow of Lane County in 1872. Only about 200 volumes were collected by 1877. The library collection continued to grow with help from the literary societies on campus, The Board of Regents, and donations from the community, faculty, and students. It was decided in 1885 that control of all library business was to be conducted by the Literary Societies. Two people from each of the three student-led Literary Society groups would form to create the Library Association. It is from the Library Association that many of the new books came to the library. Many of these available books were fiction and included magazines, the Portland Newspaper, and weekly papers from the State were donated and received (1908/09). There was also a rental library (established in 1932) that had over one thousand textbooks available for students. The cost was 40 cents a term per book. This allowed students to rent out textbooks for classes at a low price.

Academic Programs and Support Center

Beginning in 1951, the library lived in what is now the Academic Programs and Support Center (APSC). This building cost about $280,000 to complete. On June 5^th, 1951, the books from Campbell Hall were moved to the new library building across the street with the help of approximately 250 faculty, staff, and students. It took about 3 hours to move the 30,000 volumes. Mrs. Dessa Hofstetter was the head librarian at the opening of the new library. This library was then renovated in 1968 to address problems of control, reading–stack relationship, and reader services. During this time, the library was given governmental depository status, which is still in effect today. By 1997, there were over 170,000 books and 450,000 microforms. The new building was also able to provide more room than Campbell Hall with five new areas: reading, browsing, circulation and index, stacks, and quiet study. By the 1990’s, the student population - doubling since the renovation in 1968 – had access to a large collection of books, periodical titles, microfiche, and government documents. The library’s collection continued to grow which desperately called for (another) larger building to be built.

In 1966, grants from the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare and from the Higher Education Act, were able to start the renovation of the library building. This renovation, completed in 1968, allowed for the building to accommodate around 2,000 students.

Wayne and Lynn Hamersly Library

The library currently occupies the building known as the Wayne and Lynn Hamerlsy Library. The Hamersly Library’s construction began in August 1998 and the building was officially opened on September 20, 2000. The funds for this building came from donations by private sources, the State General Fund, and State XI-G Bonds to total $14,768,000. It was primarily built to address new technology and the growing student population and collections. This building was significantly larger than the APSC building with 46,697 more square feet and twice the amount of space allotted for shelving, classrooms, conference rooms, study rooms, seating, and computer workstations.

The library also houses the university's Archives. Originally started as a “Treasure Room” in 1943 by the Alumni Association, the Archives contained mementos, records, and pictures housed in Campbell Hall until the Columbus Day Storm in 1962. The collection was moved to the library building (now the APSC building) where Ellis Stebbins added to the collection while doing research for a history of the university titled “The OCE Story”, (later added to by Dr. Gary Huxford to create “Since 1865…”.) 

When the Hamersly Library was built in 2000, the Friends of Governor Robert W. Straub raised funds to complete the archives area which is now the home of the University Archives artifacts and documents which pertain to the history and development of the University. The suite of rooms was named in his honour, and the Archives contained a special collection of the personal political papers of Governor Straub until it was moved to the University of Oregon in 2025.

Library Construction and Book Brigade 

Wayne and Lynn Hamersly donated $1,000,000 for the construction of the library which significantly helped move the project toward its goal. The Hamersly’s later added another generous gift for library collections and to establish a library endowment. Both Wayne and Lynn were former graduates of Western. 

A book brigade was used to move the books from the former library building to the Hamersly Library. It occurred during the Opening Ceremony of the Hamersly Library in September 2000. Over 200 people participated which included current students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

Credits

Research and Text by Kalea Borling, 2018