Dunbar Library is still Fabulous at 40

40 years ago today was a noteworthy day in the early history of the university. The dedication of the university’s new academic library- later to be re-named the Paul Laurence Dunbar Library- and the inauguration of Wright State’s 2nd university president, Dr. Robert Kegerreis, took place on November 27, 1973. The combined ceremony took place in the newly opened Physical Education Building’s main gymnasium, and was the culmination of the 2nd major phase of campus growth. The university’s small library collection was originally housed in a wing of Allyn Hall, and was later expanded with the opening of the Library Resource Center in Millett Hall, but this was still inadequate to serve the needs of a growing state university. With the opening of a modern, four story library, as well as the state of the art Creative Arts Center, Wright State finally had the modern facilities to begin taking shape as a major university. As part of the dual ceremony, there were two additional announcements that would have a profound impact on the university, the first being the announcement of the library’s acquisition of the Wright Brother’s family papers, and the second being the Fordham Foundation’s $500,000 donation to help establish the WSU School of Medicine, which was in its final planning stages.

The above photographs can be found in the University Archives.

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