From Philomathean Society

The very heart of the Philomathean Society, the library, has been the home of impromptu impassioned debates, and lonely scholars working late into the night. Lining the shelves are nearly two centuries worth of books donated by members upon their induction into the society, and again upon their graduation.

Before the University moved west to its current campus, before the 1888 construction of its Furness Library, it was the Philomathean Society's collection which served as the de facto University library. It found a new home on the fourth floor of College Hall when the University built quarters for both the Philomathean and Zelosophic Societies.

In 1916, with $1,500 dollars worth of profits from their production of 'A Comedy of Errors' the Philomatheans changed their "library chambers into an experimental theater complete with portable stage. The library book cases were removed, and new meeting room seats with overhanging book shelves were installed." (Philomathean Society History)

Eleven years later the society was booted out of its roost atop College Hall, and forced to share a room in Houston Hall with twelve other student groups.

By 1954 the society had only 157 volumes. It did not take long for the collection to grow with dedication of incoming Philomatheans, and their families. When Betty Rosencrantz passed her way, her parents endowed the library with a goodly sum of money to purchase books in her name once a year. In 2002, Dr. Robert Sebastian passed away. His son donated a sizeable portion of his library to the Society.

Today the library, restored to its former home in College Hall, has amassed a sizable collection ranging over a wide array of materials. In the main library, generous fiction and biography sections compliment a wide range of books from history, to genetics. Our poetry section is regularly raided for use in the Keats & Beats poetry readings. In the office, in the Library Annex, primary source documents, and bound collections of journals such as Foreign Affairs, can be used for research. The annex is the home of books by Philomatheans, and a selection of books from the Zelosophic Library as well.