The new library — 1865 edition
In 1864, the second official building on campus, Alumni Hall, was completed to accommodate the needs of alumni to meet as well as to provide a space for the college’s growing collection of library materials. The photograph shown here was taken the very next year, 1865. 
Depicted are eight men, books and busts, including those of Socrates and Diana. The men were five members of the eight faculty and administrators of the time and three students: In the very front, Thomas Chase, professor of philosophy, 1856-86; and to his right, Paul Swift, M.D., professor of English, 1860-65; then, William Wetherald, superintendent, 1863-65; two seniors, James Chase, son of Pliny Earle Chase (who would later teach philosophy at Haverford) and Allen Clapp Thomas (who would later teach history and serve as long-term librarian at Haverford); Clement Smith, librarian and assistant professor of mathematics and classics, 1863-65; sophomore Samuel C. Collins; and Samuel Gummere, president, 1862-74 and professor of mathematics and director of the observatory, 1862-74. The three other professors at Haverford in 1865 who are not shown in this photograph are Edward Drinker Cope, professor of natural science, 1864-67; John H. Dillingham, librarian, 1865-75 and professor of moral and political science, 1865-78 (who likely arrived after the photograph was taken and would have replaced Clement Smith as librarian); and John Wilson, teacher of drawing, 1860-65. Fortunately, two of the busts above the book cases have been recovered and restored and they now grace the Special Collections department of Magill Library. The photograph is part of the college’s historic photograph collection.
Tags: Alumni Hall, Library