How much did the Widener library cost?

Mrs. Widener was counting on $2 million, [but] it is probable the cost exceeded $3.5 million [equivalent to $80 million in 2022]. Though Harvard awarded Trumbauer an honorary degree on the day of the new library's dedication, it was Trumbauer associate Julian F.

Who donated Widener Library?

The Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library is Harvard University's flagship library. Built with a gift from Eleanor Elkins Widener, the library is a memorial to her son, Harry, Class of 1907. Harry was an enthusiastic young bibliophile who perished aboard the Titanic.

What is the most beautiful library in Harvard?

Widener Library is the largest library on Harvard's campus, and arguably, the most beautiful. Widener has 57 miles of shelf space and the capacity to hold over three million volumes. Widener Library has two main floors with completely silent study spaces, the most popular being the Loker Reading Room.

What is the history of the Widener Library?

Opened in 1915, Widener Library was gifted to Harvard University by Eleanor Elkins Widener in memory of her recently deceased son, Harry Elkins Widener. The construction of this library transformed Harvard's campus physically and intellectually.

What is the largest private library in the world?

Harvard Library is the network of Harvard University's libraries and services. It is the oldest library system in the United States and both the largest academic library and largest private library in the world.

Five Things You Might Not Know About Widener Library

Which is the 2 largest library in the world?

Facts About World's Largest Libraries:

It has about 195 million items with more than 70 million books and other printed materials including maps, films, manuscripts which are used by over 27-29 visitors per day. 3) The second largest library in the world is the British Library.

What is the world's largest library ever?

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world with millions of items a variety of formats. View detailed collection statistics.

How much is the widener family worth?

Founded by Peter Arrell Browne Widener (1834–1915) and his wife, Hannah Josephine Dunton (1836–1896), it was once one of the wealthiest families in the United States. Widener was ranked #29 on the American Heritage list of the forty richest Americans in history, with a net worth at death of $23 billion to $25 billion.

Can you go inside Widener Library?

While our libraries primarily serve the Harvard community, we strive to make our world-class research resources available to as many researchers as we can. There are plenty of opportunities for visitors to experience our collections. Harvard ID holders may bring up to four guests into Widener Library.

How many books are in Widener?

The Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library, housing some 3.5 million books in its "vast and cavernous" stacks, is the centerpiece of the Harvard College Libraries (the libraries of Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences) and, more broadly, of the entire Harvard Library system.

What is the #1 coolest library in the world?

Are Harvard museums free?

The museums are free to all visitors, and no tickets are required.

Why is Harvard so famous?

Research. Harvard is a founding member of the Association of American Universities and a preeminent research university with "very high" research activity (R1) and comprehensive doctoral programs across the arts, sciences, engineering, and medicine according to the Carnegie Classification.

Are Harvard tours free?

Harvard Information Center, located in the Smith Campus Center, offers free student-led walking tours through Harvard Yard. Tours are one hour and provide a general overview of the main Cambridge camps and University history.

Can I sleep in the library?

Many libraries do allow people to sleep during hours the building is open, as long as they're quiet and respectful and don't disturb other patrons with loud snoring, Policies vary, though, and some libraries don't allow it.

Can MIT students take classes at Harvard?

What you need to know. As a full-time MIT student, you may cross-register for classes at Harvard University, Wellesley College, and Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt).

How did Widener make his money?

He then diversified into railroads, helped organize U.S. Steel and the American Tobacco Company, and invested heavily in Standard Oil. By the time of his death in 1915, P.A.B. Widener was worth over $100 million dollars (equivalent to nearly 2 billion dollars today).

Who was widener on the Titanic?

First-class Titanic passenger Harry Elkins Widener, a 27-year-old Philadelphia businessman and book collector who had graduated from Harvard College in 1907, perished in the boat's sinking along with his father, George D. Widener. His mother, Eleanor Elkins Widener, survived, floating to safety aboard lifeboat No. 4.

How did the Widener family make their money?

They were loaded, flush, rolling in it, and then some. During the Civil War, Peter A.B. Widener, a brickmaker's son who became a butcher, laid the foundation for the family fortune by selling meat to Union troops.

What is Europe's largest library?

The Library of Birmingham, in the West Midlands, is Europe's largest library, housing a world-class collection of rare books, archives and photography. Treasures include one of the largest Shakespeare collections in the world and the famous Shakespeare Memorial Room, dating from the Victorian era.

What is the oldest library in the world?

Al-Qarawiyyin library in Fez, Morocco, is the world's oldest, continuously running library. It dates back to 859 AD. The library is part of the complex that includes Qarawiyyin Mosque and Qarawiyyin University. Over the last four years, the library has undergone a multimillion dollar restoration.

Which country has most libraries?

India has the most libraries total (academic, national, public, school, special), at 323,605, followed by Indonesia (120,478) Russia (113,440), and China (105,831). I reached this by summing the academic, public, and special library data columns in the spreadsheet provided by OCLC.