West Chester University -- 125 Years

[Old Library - 1904]

Old Library - 1904

The Old Library when it opened in 1904 housed, not only the book collection, but also an art gallery on the second floor and the collections of the Chester County Historical Society of which George Morris Philips was the President. In May, 1947 the Old Library was dedicated as the Francis Harvey Green Library. The current library building carries on that name.

Displayed in the case from left to right are: a copy of a poem written about the library and printed in the SERPENTINE YEARBOOK, 2 photographs of the lobby and reference area on the main floor, and a photograph of the Washington Birthday Celebration. The Washington Birthday Celebration was an annual event in the Normal School and featured students in costume dancing the minuet in the Library and a tea served by honorary "tea girls."

The photographs in the lower right show the campus in 1904.

(Top photograph) The campus as seen from Church Street

Left to right: the Model School (now Ruby Jones Hall), Old Main in the background, and Recitation Hall. The Old Library is to the right of Recitation Hall just off the photograph.

(Bottom photograph) The campus as seen from High Street.

Left to right: the High Street facade of Old Main, Recitation Hall in the background, the Old Gym, and to the right of the Old Gym is Green Gables (the Principal's House) just off the photograph.

  1. Overall view of the exhibit cases
  2. Movement to establish a Normal School in West Chester - 1869
  3. West Chester Academy
  4. Normal School Committee - 1869
  5. Old Main and Dr. Philips
  6. Old Main (enlarged)
  7. Dr. George Morris Philips (enlarged)
  8. Gymnastics Demonstration and the Old Gym
  9. Dining room in Old Main and souvenir plates
  10. Dining room (enlarged)
  11. Cochran Microscope
  12. Recitation Hall - interior
  13. View of cases
  14. Men's Basketball Team - 1900
  15. Women's Basketball Team - 1904
  16. Old Library - 1904
  17. Senior Class Trip to Washington, D.C. - 1911
  18. Old Wayne Hall - 1911
  19. Old Wayne Hall (enlarged)
  20. Coed gymnastics demonstration - circa 1918
  21. View of cases
  22. Junior Class Play - Class of 1920
  23. Junior Class Play (enlarged)
  24. Senior sleigh ride - 1921
  25. Philips Memorial Building - construction - circa 1926
  26. Aryan Literary Society Orchestra - 1920's
  27. Women's Basketball Team - 1923
  28. Aerial view of campus - 1936
  29. Aerial view (enlarged)
  30. Old Main and Quad - 1936
  31. Eleanor Roosevelt's visit to the campus - 1938
  32. Women's Recreational Association - circa 1940
  33. Campus - 1950's
  34. Surveying for new library - 1962
  35. Surveying (enlarged)
  36. Student life - 1962/1964
  37. Christmas - 1965
  38. Old Main - demolition - 1971
  39. Education Center, Japan - 1989
  40. Activities on campus - 1990's
  41. Dr. Perrin - 1991
  42. Dr. Madeleine Wing Adler - 1992

Return to Exhibits, FHG Library

Send comments and suggestions to R. Gerald Schoelkopf, mailto:rschoelk@wcupa.edu

These pages last updated on 6 March 1998