The University’s Carnegie library and Hill Music Hall, 1906–1930

In the chronology

Events in this storyline, in date order. See these 12 dated events in the chronology →

1. October 12, 1906 The university reports the Carnegie library endowment raised and the gift paid On University Day 1906 President Venable reported that the $50,000 endowment for the new library had been raised and Andrew Carnegie's $50,000 subscription paid. Construction began that month. People: Francis Preston VenableSearch the index · Documenting the American South: Kemp P. Battle, History of the University of North Carolina, vol. II (1912), p. 660
2. by November 15, 1906 M. D. Foister wins the electrical contract for the university's Carnegie library M. D. Foister of Greensboro, who grew up in Chapel Hill, was awarded the contract for the electrical work on the new Carnegie library at the university, over competitors from other parts of the state.Search the index · The News (Chapel Hill), November 15, 1906, p. 1
3. June 1, 1907 Masons lay the cornerstone of the Carnegie library On the Saturday of the 1907 commencement the Grand Lodge of Masons, led by Grand Master Francis D. Winston, laid the cornerstone of the new library built with Andrew Carnegie's gift. Construction had begun in October 1906. People: M. C. S. Noble, Eric A. Abernethy, Francis D. Winston, Andrew CarnegieSearch the index · Documenting the American South: Kemp P. Battle, History of the University of North Carolina, vol. II (1912), p. 664
4. Late September or early October 1907 UNC's Carnegie Library opens UNC's new library, built with a gift from Andrew Carnegie first offered in 1905 as $50,000 and later raised to $55,000, was finished in the summer of 1907 and opened to students that fall once its furniture arrived. It served as the main library until Wilson Library opened in 1929 and was renamed for John Sprunt Hill in 1931. People: Andrew CarnegieSearch the index · UNC, Names in Brick and Stone: Hill Hall
5. by June 21, 1929 The new University Library opens for use By the summer school of 1929 the university's new library was in use, with Librarian L. R. Wilson and his staff in their offices and hundreds of students at its tables. The Weekly noted its electric book conveyor, which carried books down from the stacks to the delivery desk. People: Louis Round WilsonSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, June 21, 1929, p. 1
6. by August 16, 1929 Builders begin remaking the old Carnegie library into the music building By August 1929 T. C. Thompson and Brothers were reconstructing the interior of the university's former Carnegie library to house the music department, to plans by university architect Arthur C. Nash. Practice rooms were walled with staggered studs and eel-grass quilting to stop sound, and echoing rooms got acoustical plaster. People: Arthur Cleveland NashSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, August 23, 1929, p. 1
7. late September 1929 An anonymous alumnus gives $40,000 for a music auditorium and organ at the old library President Harry W. Chase told the trustees' executive committee in Raleigh that an alumnus who asked not to be named had given $40,000 for an auditorium and pipe organ, to be built as an annex to the former library, which was to become the music building. The donor had earlier offered $30,000 for an organ, and architect A. C. Nash drew tentative plans for a hall of about 800 seats. People: Harry Woodburn Chase, Arthur Cleveland NashSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, September 27, 1929, p. 1
8. October 19, 1929 The new University Library, later Wilson Library, is dedicated UNC dedicated its new University Library, planned by Arthur Cleveland Nash and William Kendall of McKim, Mead and White, on October 19, 1929, weeks after students began using the building that fall. It served as the main campus library for decades, was named for librarian Louis Round Wilson in 1956, and after a 1984 to 1987 renovation became the home of UNC's special collections. People: Arthur Cleveland NashSearch the index · UNC, Names in Brick and Stone: Louis Round Wilson Library; with North Carolina Architects and Builders (NCSU Libraries): McKim, Mead and White · Also: Chapel Hill Weekly, October 25, 1929, p. 1
9. March 5, 1930 UNC trustees' building committee approves the recital hall for the new music building Meeting in President Chase's office, the trustees' building committee approved final plans for the recital hall to be built onto the music building made from the old library. By April 11 the main building was in use, excavation for the roughly 900-seat auditorium had begun with completion promised by September, and its organ was under construction. People: Harry Woodburn Chase, John Sprunt HillThe Chapel Hill Weekly, March 7, 1930, p. 5
10. by August 29, 1930 The pipe organ for the University's new recital hall arrives and is installed By August 29, 1930, the four-manual pipe organ from the Casavant works at Lawrence, Kansas, had arrived in two railroad cars for the University's new music auditorium in the old Carnegie library building, and factory experts were installing it, echo organ included. It was the gift of an anonymous alumnus, and Harold S. Dyer hoped to have it ready by about October 20. People: Harold S. DyerThe Chapel Hill Weekly, August 29, 1930, p. 1
11. November 14, 1930 The old Carnegie Library is dedicated as the music building After the library moved to its new building, the Carnegie Library was remodeled for the music department with an auditorium and a Reuter organ, most of the cost given by the Hill family. It was dedicated on November 14, 1930, and named Hill Music Hall by trustee resolution in the summer of 1931. People: Harold S. DyerSearch the index · Names in Brick and Stone: Hill Hall · Also: Chapel Hill Weekly, November 14, 1930, p. 1; Chapel Hill Weekly, November 21, 1930, p. 1
12. June 9, 1931 UNC trustees name the music building Hill Music Hall The University trustees voted to name the new music building Hill Music Hall, making public what the Weekly called an open secret: John Sprunt Hill and his wife had given the pipe organ and the funds for the recital hall. The resolution also thanked Hill for ten years on the trustees' building committee. People: John Sprunt HillThe Chapel Hill Weekly, June 12, 1931, p. 1