Early construction photo of the Leatherby Libraries, October 2003
1 media/Foundation Oct 2003_thumb.jpg 2021-09-10T21:58:37+00:00 Rachel Karas 18684fea626f7d5d7f977e613f3d26fd8c2cc6b4 151 2 Photograph of a building in the early stages of construction, with a foundation poured and steel beams installed. "The Leatherby Libraries Construction," Charlene Baldwin, "PROGRESS: The Story of the Leatherby Libraries," PowerPoint presentation. plain 2021-09-21T17:21:58+00:00 Rachel Karas 18684fea626f7d5d7f977e613f3d26fd8c2cc6b4This page is referenced by:
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From the Thurmond Clarke to the Leatherby Libraries - a Time of Transition: 2003-2004
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Memories and a Temporary Home
In May of 2003, the Thurmond Clarke Memorial Library closed its doors permanently. In preparation for the move, books were placed in boxes, shelves came down, and a Memory Wall was put up for Chapman University students to share their memories of the Thurmond Clarke and their hopes for the new Leatherby Libraries. One student, whose comment is visible in the picture below, commented that their mother had been at Chapman when the Thurmond Clarke Memorial Library was built in 1967, and that they were now a student while the Leatherby Libraries was being built.
From May 2003 until August 2004, the Chapman University Library was housed temporarily in the Rinker Law Library, now named the Hugh & Hazel Darling Law Library, in the Chapman University law school.
Watching the Walls Go Up
While students used the Law Library, a webcam stationed on top of Beckman Hall recorded the process of the Thurmond Clarke Memorial Library being demolished, and the construction of the Leatherby Libraries.
Haul-It Day, The Sequel
As construction finished on the Leatherby Libraries, once more students and faculty came together to move all the books and other materials from their temporary home in the Rinker Law Library over to the new Leatherby Libraries in July 2004. On August 30, 2004, the Leatherby Libraries opened its doors to Chapman University students for the first time.
A Very Grand Opening
The Grand Opening ceremony for the Leatherby Libraries took place on October 16, 2004, as part of that year's Homecoming festivities. Then-Chapman University President James L. Doti was in attendance for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, along with some of the library's founding donors Joann Leatherby and Donna Ford Attallah, and then-Dean of the Leatherby Libraries, Charlene Baldwin.
