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137:. With the opening of Ganser Hall in 1967, the "old" library was used as the temporary union building (the RAT) before being renovated and rededicated as Biemesderfer Executive Center. It was named for President D. Luke Biemesderfer (1943-1965) and his wife, Elva, both 1917 graduates of the normal school. It houses the offices of the top administration on campus as well as the H. Edgar Sherts Board Room, named for an 1896 graduate and prominent member of the Board of Trustees (1910-1936).
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Completed in 1894, the
Biemesderfer Executive Center, also known as the Old Library, is the centerpiece of Millersville University's campus. With an interior finished in hard oak with quarter-sawed Georgia pine flooring, the building's dedication was part of a celebration marking the Normal School's
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The site where the building was constructed was the Smith property, then an abandoned brick yard, which was purchased by the Normal School for $ 2,500 in 1891. The
Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees designated $ 27,500 for the construction of the library in 1891 with the contract awarded
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This building served the campus community without electricity until 1922. Miss Ganser, librarian between 1911 and 1952, noted that there were no screens on the windows so, in the summer, one "just batted the bees away." In the mid 1940s, the first faculty bathroom was added to the basement of the
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In the March 19th meeting minutes from the
Council of Trustees, 1894, the Council, "examined designs for stained glass windows and agreed to leave the decision in the hands of Dr. Lyte," on which windows to choose. On May 5, 1894, Dr. Lyte reported that Mr. Goodwin, of Philadelphia, "has the most
181:, where it was said by the Principal that "the libraries of the literary societies will occupy the wings; the octagonal room in the center will be used for a reference library and reading room, while the rear of the building will contain the general library of the school."
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suitable glass for library buildings," and so was chosen to create the windows for the library. The top-half of the central window is perfectly symmetrical and consists of an octet of tear-shaped windows set into a large circle of dark wood with a carved center.
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In 1911, the class of 1909 presented the first major change to the library - stained glass windows titled "Climb Though the Rocks be Rugged". The $ 600 windows were dedicated to the beloved Dr. Andrew R. Byerly.
174:, the Board of Trustees Subcommittee, including Principal E.O. Lyte and Senator Amos H. Mylin, decided a layout like Dickinson's was ideal for Millersville because it could also house the two Literary Societies.
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By the early 1950s, the building became so crowded that parts of the college's collections were moved to Old Main for annex storage and by 1961 the old Chapel of Old Main was also used.
133:. Built to replace the over-crowded library in Old Main, Bemesderfer Executive served many roles over the years and now serves as the Office of the President and
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In 1889, the administration of the Normal School recognized the need for a larger library. After touring several college libraries in the area, such as
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In 1899, the class of 1879 celebrated its twentieth anniversary by installing the sundial which is attached to the main tower of the library.
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The
Bookwalk was an event that took place on two separate days in 1967. According to the September 20th edition of the
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from that year, "Approximately 90,000 books expected to be moved from the Old
Library to Ganser."
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This sundial, built and installed in 1899, was a 20th anniversary gift from the class of 1879.
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Biemesderfer
Executive Center at Millersville University, behind autumn trees of gold
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The
Centerpiece of the Campus: the Biemesderfer Executive Center at Millersville
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to
Lancastrian D.H. Rapp, who submitted the lowest bid in a blind auction.
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Biemesderfer
Executive main entrance at Millersville University
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Main Tower of
Biemesderfer Executive at Millersville University
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Plans for the new building were published in the November 1891
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The central window of Biemesderfer Executive from the interior
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Bookwalk Slated Tomorrow, No Classes; Students' Aid Sought,
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Buildings and structures in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
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building and in 1952 the first book elevator was added.
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440:Millersville, PA, September 20, 1967, pages 1-3
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154:Millersville Normal Journal 1891 Vol V, No 1
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366:. Ephrata, PA: Science Press.
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362:Slotter, Carole L (1982).
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412:Annual Catalog 1897-1898
131:Millersville University
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189:40th anniversary.
166:Taylor College at
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127:Romanesque Revival
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33:verification
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438:The Snapper
394:"CONTENTdm"
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168:Bryn Mawr
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