Eaton Hall, built in 1908 as Eaton Memorial Library, used to be the main

library A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are accessible for use and not just for display purposes. A library provides physical (hard copies) or digital access (soft copies) materials, and may be a physical location or a vir ...

building at

Tufts University Tufts University is a private research university on the border of Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1852 as Tufts College by Christian universalists who sought to provide a nonsectarian institution of higher learning. ...

Medford, Massachusetts Medford is a city northwest of downtown Boston on the Mystic River in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. At the time of the 2020 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 59,659. It is home to Tufts University, which has its campus alo ...

. The historic building was designed by Whitfield & King and donated to the university by

Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie (, ; November 25, 1835August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. Carnegie led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century and became one of the richest Americans i ...

. It was one of the first college libraries built with Carnegie funds and is one of the few that never bore his name. Today the building houses departmental offices, classrooms and a computer lab.

History

In 1904,

donated $100,000 to build a library on the Tufts campus. The building was one of 43 libraries which he built in Massachusetts. Mrs. Carnegie decided that rather than having the library share the Carnegie name, the building would be a memorial to Rev. Charles H. Eaton who had presided over her wedding in New York City in 1887. Eaton was a Tufts alumnus from the Class of 1874, and was president of the Club. Eaton later graduated from the

Crane Theological School Crane or cranes may refer to: Common meanings * Crane (bird), a large, long-necked bird * Crane (machine), industrial machinery for lifting ** Crane (rail), a crane suited for use on railroads People and fictional characters * Crane (surname), ...

with a divinity degree in 1887. Eaton also served as the president of the New York Association of Tufts College. Construction began in 1905, and was completed in 1908. Originally the books were stored in College Hall, now

Ballou Hall Ballou Hall is a historic academic building on the campus of Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Built in 1852 and designed by Gridley J.F. Bryant, it was Tufts' first academic building following the university's establishment by a group ...

where students were allowed to access the collection for one hour a week. Later on, it was stored in Middle Hall, now

Packard Hall Packard Hall, originally known as Middle Hall is a historic academic building on the campus of Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Built in 1856, it was Tufts' second building constructed on Walnut Hill, Medford, Massachusetts, Walnut Hill ...

. When the collection moved to Eaton, the collection was split up into four specialized libraries in chemistry, engineering, physics-mathematics, and religion. The cost of equipping the library was over $11,000 and shelving was not completed until 1938. The library could hold about 73,000 volumes and 64,000 pamphlets. In 1950, an addition doubled the space for the library. The new wing became the reading room and contained plaques dedicated to 102 Tufts students and alumni who lost their lives during World War II. It was dedicated on December 7, 1950. In 1965, the collection outgrew the building and a new library deemed Wessell library was constructed next to Eaton. The interior has since become a lounge and later classrooms and a computer lab.

Architecture

The building is centrally located on top of Walnut Hill. The New York firm Whitfield & King designed the building in a neoclassical style with red brick walls, elaborate marble columns and trim. The main entrance displays an imposing pediment supported by four Corinthian columns and elevated on a marble slab. The original main entrance opened up to a main hall with a grand staircase, flanked on either end by a reading room and a lecture room. Beneath the stairs was the entrance to the stacks. The stack area was designed to hold 200,000 books. The grand staircase led to a second floor with six spaces for special collections and two archivist offices. The addition, later built in 1949-50, was designed by Arland A. Dirlam to match the style of the original section.

References

{{Tufts Buildings at Tufts University Carnegie libraries in Massachusetts Library buildings completed in 1908 School buildings completed in 1908 University and college academic libraries in the United States Neoclassical architecture in Massachusetts 1908 establishments in Massachusetts