1890s
The same cases were regularly assigned to large classes at the Law School; heavy use did damage to library collections. Duplicate copies alleviated the problem somewhat.58
January 1891
The President and Fellows of Harvard College voted to grant students of the Harvard Annex—renamed Radcliffe College in 1894—continued access to the books in Gore Hall. This access was primarily provided via messenger service between Gore Hall and Fay House.59
February 1891
The Library Council limited access to the shelves of Gore Hall due to frequent misplacement and losses of books, some at the hands of a professional thief. Justin Winsor acknowledged that making the collection entirely secure from theft would restrict access in a way that would be inconvenient to patrons.60
1891-1892
Winsor expressed concerns about reports of both patrons and staff lighting matches in order to see better in dark areas of Gore Hall.61
Spring 1894
15,000 books—selected due to low circulation—were boxed and stored in the cellar of Appleton Chapel. Demand for their return to Gore Hall was nearly immediate. In December, the books were made accessible when they were transferred to the Theological Library.62
1895
Interior renovations of Gore Hall began. Features included a new roof with skylights, a three-story iron book stack, and a new reading room (which would be open until 10:00 pm). The building was wired for electrical lighting. During construction, many books were stored in Perkins Hall and Massachusetts Hall.63 Frank Carney (who worked in the Shelf Department) described the transport of books in 5-foot-long boxes with iron handles, in which the books are arranged in shelf order.64
1895-1896
The old boiler room of Gore Hall was converted into a newspaper room with “steel roller shelves.”65
Summer 1896
Construction added two new stories and electric lights to the Law School Library.66
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58 Charles W. Eliot, “The President’s Report,” Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1890-1891 (1892): 20; C. C. Langdell, “The Law School,” Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1890-1891 (1892): 115-116.
59 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 (1891): 7.
60 Justin Winsor, “The Library,” Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1890-1891 (1892): 143-146.
61 Justin Winsor, “The Library,” Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1891-1892 (1893): 160.
62 Charles W. Eliot, “The President’s Report,” Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1893-1894 (1895): 25-26; Charles W. Eliot, “The President’s Report,” Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1894-1895 (1896): 31.
63 Justin Winsor, “The Library,” Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1894-1895 (1896): 180; Charles W. Eliot, “The President’s Report,” Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1895-1896 (1897): 28.
64 Harvard University. Records of the Harvard University Library. Records relating to the activities of the Library. Frank Carney, “History of the Shelf Department,” 1900. Archives UA.III.50.29.00.6. Harvard University Archives. Courtesy of the Harvard University Archives.
65 Justin Winsor, “The Library,” Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1895-1896 (1897): 196.
66 Charles W. Eliot, “The President’s Report,” Annual Reports of the President and Treasurer of Harvard College 1895-1896 (1897): 23.