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The History of the Library at Duquesne University: Post WWII

Explore the library's history at Duquesne University. Here you'll learn about its beginnings in Old Main, the various buildings it has occupied over the years, and how the library came to be in its current building.

Duquesne University

After World War II, higher education was available to more Americans than ever before with the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, popularly known as the G.I. Bill. The bill provided stipends that covered "tuition and expenses for veterans attending college or trade school." As a result, Duquesne University experienced massive student population growth.  In 1946, Duquesne University had 4,107 students enrolled, and 3,000 of them were veterans. 

During this period of growth, University President, Father Gallagher, formed a Master Plan to guide the University's growth and development. At the time, Duquesne University consisted of Old Main, the chapel, Canevin Hall, the library, and a few other buildings.  Father Gallagher envisioned Duquesne owning all the property from Bluff Street to Locust Street.  In 1950, he started a fundraising campaign and began purchasing properties around the Bluff. This plan continued to guide Duquesne University when Father McAnulty took over in 1959.

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The Library

During Duquesne's period of growth, the library experienced growing pains.  There were about 60,000 titles in the library collection.  Book borrowing had increased nearly 800% with the influx of students.  In response, the library had to place more books on reserve, meaning students had to come to the library to use the books, but they could not take them out of the building.  This was a source of frustration for students.

To better serve the University, a three-story addition was added to the library building in 1961 (Image 6). The addition was added to the back of the library.  At the time, the glass facade facing Locust Street was the largest of its kind in Pittsburgh.  With this new addition, the library could hold 250,000 books.  Some exciting additions included a Popular Reading Room and a private viewing room for slides and film strips, The Blanchard Room. 

Image 6: The 1961 addition to the library added much needed space to the library.  This building is part of the law school and law library building today.