Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Biography / Administrative History
Scope and Content of Collection
Indexing Terms
Related Material
Descriptive Summary
Title: Graduate Theological Union Library construction photograph collection
Dates: 1979-2004
Collection number: GTU 94-9-2
Creator:
Graduate Theological Union. Library
Collection Size:
1.4 linear feet
(3 boxes)
Repository: The Graduate Theological Union. Library.
Abstract: The GTU library building was constructed in two phases: Phase I (1979-1981), during which the basement and level one were
built, and Phase II (1985-1987), during which levels two and three were completed. The library was renovated in 2000-2001
and 2004. The collection comprises photographs, negatives, and slides documenting the construction and renovation of the GTU
library building. It also includes photographs of GTU library administrators and employees taken during the construction and
renovation processes. The bulk of the photographs in the collection were taken by GTU cataloging librarian James P. Else.
Physical location: 1/H/5
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to The Graduate Theological Union. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Graduate Theological Union
as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must
also be obtained by the reader.
Preferred Citation
Graduate Theological Union Library construction photograph collection, GTU 94-9-2. Graduate Theological Union Archives, Berkeley,
CA.
Biography / Administrative History
In 1969, the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) Common Library in Berkeley, California, was established and moved into temporary
quarters in the basement of the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. The site for a new library building at the corner of
Ridge and Scenic, known as the "Wilson Property," was purchased from the American Baptist Seminary of the West and the San
Francisco Theological Seminary. In 1972, architect Louis I. Kahn was chosen to design a library and administration building.
Kahn completed preliminary designs, but died suddenly in 1974. The GTU then selected the architectural firm of Peters, Clayberg
and Caulfield to complete the project Kahn inspired.
The process for building permits was difficult. By 1979, after many delays, permits were granted, but the building fund was
not enough to cover the cost. The GTU Board of Trustees decided to build the library in two phases. Phase I construction,
consisting of the basement and level one, began in 1979, and was completed in 1981. John Baker-Batsel, librarian, directed
volunteer crews of students, faculty, trustees, and staff to move approximately 300,000 volumes from the Church Divinity School
of the Pacific basement and the Pacific School of Religion Library into the new half-completed building.
Phase II construction of level two, to complete the library, and level three, to house GTU administration offices, began in
1985 and was completed 1987. Acknowledging a substantial contribution from the Hewlett Foundation, the GTU Library was named
the Flora Lamson Hewlett Library in May 1987.
An ever-growing collection and ever-advancing technological innovations necessitated renovations in the library, 2000-2001,
during the tenure of director Bonnie Hardwick. Compact shelving was installed on level one to increase available shelving.
A teaching lab was built on level two, providing library staff and GTU faculty electronic classroom capabilities using advanced
technological teaching tools. Lighting in the library atrium was replaced in 2004.
Scope and Content of Collection
Spanning the years 1979 to 2004, this collection comprises photographs, negatives, and slides documenting the construction
and renovation of the GTU Library. It also includes photographs of GTU Library administrators and employees during the construction
and renovation processes. Images were created and collected by various photographers and GTU offices, and have been gathered
into a single, artificial, and ongoing collection to facilitate organization and access. Photographs, negatives, and slides
were variously stored in developers' envelopes, manila envelopes, albums, plastic sleeves, small file drawers, and loosely
in a single box. While photographs and negatives in file drawers appear to have been arranged chronologically by their creator(s),
their original organization has been disrupted by use. Original, chronological order has been retained for photographs stored
in albums. Otherwise, images have been arranged in chronological order based on notes on developers' envelopes, captions on
photographs and sleeves, and other identifying features. While efforts have been made to correctly identify undated images,
chronological errors are possible.
The collection has been divided into six series: Phase I, 1979-1981; Phase II, 1985-1987; Renovation, 2000-2001; Photograph
Albums, 1979-1981, 1985-1986; Negatives, 1979-1981, 1985-1987; and Slides, 1985 and 2004. Images in the Phase I series were
most likely created and collected by the GTU Development Office. Dates and other identifying information can be found on the
reverse of most photographs in the Phase I series. The bulk of the images in the collection were taken by GTU cataloging librarian
James P. Else to document Phase II library construction (1985-1987). These include most of the photographs in the Phase II
series, and all of the photographs in Album 3 (see series description). Most of these images include dates and other identifying
information, recorded on the reverse of photographs or on developers' envelopes, providing a detailed narrative of Phase II
library construction. Images in the Renovation series were probably taken by GTU Library employee Kevin Koczela. These were
stored in developers' envelopes with identifying notes written by archivist Lucinda Glenn. Other creators and collectors for
the collection are unknown.
Some photograph prints in the collection have negatives, which are indicated in parenthesis as NB. Photographs in the Renovation
series include the most complete set of negatives. Negatives and slides for which corresponding photographs have not been
found have been arranged into the Negatives and Slides series. All negatives are stored in GTU negatives box 7, located at
1/A/3. Slides are stored in GTU slides box 4/B, located at 1/A/3.
Images documenting past or future library construction or renovation projects may be added to the collection and inter-filed
as received.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Graduate Theological Union. Library - Photographs
Graduate Theological Union. Library - Employees - Photographs
Theological libraries - Design and construction - Photographs
Theological libraries - California - Berkeley - Photographs
Index Terms Related to this Collection
Else, James P., 1921-2009.
Related Material
See related collections:
GTU 89-10-1: Office of the President and Dean. Claude Welch, 1971-1982.
GTU 92-6-1: Office of the President. Library Construction, Phase II, 1985-88.
GTU 94-9-3: GTU Library. Library Images. Photographs, Library Staff and GTU Administrative Staff, ca. 1968-
GTU 96-5-1: Office of the President. Graduate Theological Union Common Library Architectural Plans: Phase I, 1975-81, and
Phase II, 1981-87.
GTU 97-9-1: Office of Institutional Advancement. GTU Photograph Collection, 1965-