Deering Library

<h2 id="construction-and-the-building">Construction and the building</h2>

Deering Library succeeded Lunt Library (now Lunt Hall) as Northwestern's principal library. Built in 1894, Lunt Library was the university's first library, but it became severely overcrowded by the 1920s. Deering Library, which was planned by <a href="/facts/Theodore_Wesley_Koch/DV8ChbV0">Theodore Wesley Koch</a>, the University <a href="/facts/Librarian/Tze5ktWw">Librarian</a> from 1919 to 1941, served as Northwestern's main library until the completion of <a href="/facts/Northwestern_University_Library/tLYnxYP3">University Library</a> in 1970.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1">1</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2">2</a> After the opening of the University Library, the only way to enter Deering Library was through a basement corridor that connected the new Library to the old.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3">3</a>
The site chosen for Deering Library had previously been occupied by Heck Hall, a dormitory which burned down in 1914. The library was designed by the architect <a href="/facts/James_Gamble_Rogers/lf6m26W7">James Gamble Rogers</a> in <a href="/facts/Collegiate_Gothic/LwBWjlPe">Collegiate Gothic</a> style. Building began in 1931, the cornerstone was laid in 1932, and the building opened in 1933.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a> The structure is composed of Lannon stone and was modeled after <a href="/facts/King%2527s_College_Chapel/mu0eImu2">King's College Chapel</a> at <a href="/facts/Cambridge_University/0la7aX9o">Cambridge University</a>. It contains 68 stained glass windows by <a href="/facts/G._Owen_Bonawit/2uAYq30P">G. Owen Bonawit</a>; many of the glass windows picture shields of other universities. The wood and stone carvings were made by the sculptor <a href="/facts/Rene_Paul_Chambellan/N5NKWNYb">Rene Paul Chambellan</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a> The Bulletin of the American Library Association said of the wood carvings: "Captivating pelicans, pompous owls, and mischievous monkeys peer at one from decorous perches, refreshingly reminding one that the environment of scholarship need not necessarily be solemn."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a>
The initial funding for the building was provided by the family of Charles Deering, who donated $1 million for the building. Before his death, Deering had <a href="/facts/Endowed_professorship/RHm7Hqsy">endowed a professorship</a> in <a href="/facts/Botany/PaIRoxnb">botany</a>, and his father, William Deering, had donated Fisk Hall, another building on the Evanston campus.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a>

<h2 id="library-renovation">Library renovation</h2>
In 2013, the <a href="/facts/Library/hvdQNTtS">library</a> underwent a $2.5 million renovation that began with restoring the West Entry where the main doors were located, the lobby, and the outside place, as well as adding accessible-entry routes.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a> The library renovation received an award for "Devine Detail" from the <a href="/facts/Chicago/yPMokrXH">Chicago</a> chapter of the <a href="/facts/American_Institute_of_Architects/tEkC3mtc">American Institute of Architects</a> in 2013 and a <a href="/facts/Palladio_Award/o86yqaH5">Palladio Award</a> for "Restoration and Renovation" in 2016.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Deering Library.

<ul><li><a href="http://www.library.northwestern.edu/libraries-collections/deering-library/index.html">Deering Library Site</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">"University Archives: Libraries - Northwestern University". www.library.northwestern.edu. Retrieved March 13, 2017. <a href="http://www.library.northwestern.edu/libraries-collections/university-archives/index.html?bid=6" target="_blank">http://www.library.northwestern.edu/libraries-collections/university-archives/index.html?bid=6</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">"Building View, Northwestern Architecture, Northwestern University Library". digital.library.northwestern.edu. Retrieved March 13, 2017. <a href="http://digital.library.northwestern.edu/architecture/building.php?bid=6" target="_blank">http://digital.library.northwestern.edu/architecture/building.php?bid=6</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">Bock, Gordon (June 14, 2016). "HBRA Architects Restore the Charles Deering Library's West Entry". Traditional Building. Traditional Building Magazine. Retrieved March 13, 2017. <a href="http://www.traditionalbuilding.com/palladio-awards/2016-palladios-charles-deering-library" target="_blank">http://www.traditionalbuilding.com/palladio-awards/2016-palladios-charles-deering-library</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">"Three generations of Deerings to aid Evanstone ceremony". The Decatur Herald. Decatur, Illinois. January 11, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved March 12, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9501553//" target="_blank">https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9501553//</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">"The New Deering Library". Bulletin of the American Library Association. 27 (2): 91. 1933. JSTOR 25687851. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">"Art Library: Libraries - Northwestern University". www.library.northwestern.edu. Retrieved March 13, 2017. <a href="http://www.library.northwestern.edu/libraries-collections/art/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.library.northwestern.edu/libraries-collections/art/index.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">"The New Deering Library". Bulletin of the American Library Association. 27 (2): 91. 1933. JSTOR 25687851. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">"Deering family donates million for N. U. library". The Decatur Herald. Decatur, Illinois. December 18, 1929. p. 1. Retrieved March 12, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9501040//" target="_blank">https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9501040//</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">Fox, Bette-Lee (November 15, 2013). "Opening Doors to Collaboration". Library Journal. <a href="http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/11/buildings/year-in-architecture-2013-opening-doors-to-collaboration/" target="_blank">http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/11/buildings/year-in-architecture-2013-opening-doors-to-collaboration/</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">Fox, Bette-Lee (November 15, 2013). "Year in Architecture 2013: Academic Library Data". Library Journal. <a href="http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/11/buildings/year-in-architecture-2013-academic-library-data/" target="_blank">http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/11/buildings/year-in-architecture-2013-academic-library-data/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">"AIA Chicago reveals 2014 design awards". chicagotribune.com. October 24, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2017. <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-architecture-awards-sidebar-1024-20141023-story.html" target="_blank">http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-architecture-awards-sidebar-1024-20141023-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">Bock, Gordon (June 14, 2016). "HBRA Architects Restore the Charles Deering Library's West Entry". Traditional Building. Traditional Building Magazine. Retrieved March 13, 2017. <a href="http://www.traditionalbuilding.com/palladio-awards/2016-palladios-charles-deering-library" target="_blank">http://www.traditionalbuilding.com/palladio-awards/2016-palladios-charles-deering-library</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Deering Library open-in-new

Deering Library