William Howard Doane Library

More about Library

The building was built in 1937 by William Gehron, appointed college architect in the same year. The library was built in Harvard brick laid in Flemish bond with Bedford limestone trim. Details draw from Georgian style though facade mimics that of the south front of the Petit Trianon in the Garden of Versailles. The stacks portion of the library was extended in 1957.

The Seeley G. Mudd Learning Resources Center was added to blend with the structure in 1981, and included construction of the "study tower." The Doane Library stands as a memorial to William H. Doane from his daughters Mrs. George W. Doane (Marguerite) and Miss Ida F. Doane who funded its construction.

Douthit Hall is named for Sue Douthit O'Donnell '67 and her husband Bob. The 1936 building of the William Howard Doane Library complex, which includes the President¡¯s Room, Gallery, and third-floor reading rooms were renovated and named Douthit Hall in 2019. Their donation allowed the college to renovate both the 1936 and 1958 sections of the library, including reinstating the original entrance to the library, at the top of the limestone steps, and the addition of a new lobby and reception space.