1879
The “Harvard Annex”—renamed Radcliffe College in 1894—was founded. Its students had access to a reference library, which grew rapidly by means of gifts and purchases. A messenger retrieved books from Gore Hall so that Annex students could consult them. Some female students were given access to Gore Hall.51
1879-1880
Subject-specific books were transferred from Gore Hall to the new, fireproof Herbarium Library. Conversely, books were transferred from the Theological Library— which was not fireproof—to Gore Hall.52
1880-1881
The cellar of Gore Hall was expanded into storage space for newspapers.53
1883-1887
The bequest of the Ezra Abbot Library to the Divinity School required the construction of a safer, fireproof facility. The new library opened in 1887. Today the building forms part of the Harvard Herbaria.54
Late 1880s-early 1890
Gore Hall did not have electrical lighting, and so it often needed to close before 4:00 pm on dark winter afternoons. The plaster walls and fixtures were crumbling. On Thanksgiving Day, 1889, “a fifty-pound corner ornament” fell in the reading room. President Eliot and Justin Winsor would have liked to make the entire building fireproof, add new stacks, and create a new reading room.55
Late 1880s-1890s
Concerns grew about the danger of fire at the Observatory and the potential destruction of thousands of unique photographic plates and manuscripts.56
1889-1890
Fay House, the main building of the Harvard Annex—renamed Radcliffe College in 1894—was expanded. The building was equipped with a “noiseless fan” that introduced hot or cool air, as well as a ventilator in the roof. The library was on the third floor. It was lit by windows, a skylight, and gas jets when necessary. There was an open fireplace. The collection continued to grow, and within a few years Radcliffe began to need a larger, fireproof space. Students of the Annex continued to make regular use of Gore Hall.57
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51 Arthur Gilman, “Private Collegiate Instruction for Women: Work of the Second Year,” Private Collegiate Instruction for Women… Reports of the treasurer and secretary (1881): 9-10.
52 Justin Winsor, “The Library,” Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1879-1880 (1880): 109.
53 Justin Winsor, “The Library” Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1880-1881 (1881): 107.
54 (1885): 97; C. C. Everett, “The Divinity School,” Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1886-1887 (1888): 86.
55 Charles W. Eliot, “The President’s Report,” Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1887-1888 (1889): 19-20; Lovett, “The Undergraduate and the Harvard Library, 1877-1937,” 224-225.
56 See Charles W. Eliot’s annual reports of this period. For example, see Charles W. Eliot, “The President’s Report,” Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1888-1889 (1890): 33.
57 Arthur Gilman, “The Society for the Private Collegiate Instruction of Women: Secretary’s Annual Report,” Society for the Collegiate Instruction of Women… Reports of the treasurer and secretary (1890): 9-15.