Mission & History
Mission
The primary mission of the Edsel Ford Memorial Library is to support actively the educational goals of The Hotchkiss School and to be an intellectual and cultural force in the community.
The Library seeks to stimulate a lifelong love of learning by providing diverse resources that encourage new ideas and new ways of thinking. By providing access to and training in the use of resources, the Library encourages a critical examination of individual viewpoints, a confidence to take responsibility for them, and a respect for the views of others. The Library also acts independently to foster the use of its resources to fulfill the social and recreational needs of the community.
History
The original building was a gift in memory of Edsel Bryant Ford given by his wife, Eleanor Clay Ford, and their three sons: Henry Ford II '36, Benson Ford '38, and William Clay Ford '43. Designed by Henry S. Waterbury of Delano and Aldrich, the Edsel Ford Memorial Library opened in 1952. A major expansion and renovation, increasing the size of the library six times, was completed in 1981 under the direction of architect Evans Woollen '45. The first floor of the library was renovated in 1999 to provide a teaching and reference center combining print, microform, and digital resources.
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- Left: The Edsel Ford Memorial Library in the 1950s; Right: the library today
Edsel Ford Memorial Library Timeline: 1952-present
| 1951 | Mrs. Edsel Ford and sons, Henry Ford II '36, Benson Ford '38, and William Clay Ford '43, present the School with a gift for the construction of a library in the memory of her husband and their father, Edsel Ford. |
| 1952 | The Edsel Ford Memorial Library opens. |
| 1952-1957 | Mary Zelia Philippedes, Library Director |
| 1957-1970 | Erma S. Berry, Librarian |
| 1968 | Henry Ford II '36 gives a major gift for renovating the library. |
| 1970 | Walter DeMelle appointed to the faculty as Library Director. |
| 1971 | Audio cassettes added to the collection. Faculty Library Committee and the Director present to the Board of Trustees a plan for expanded library services and a building program. |
| 1972 | Evans Woollen '45 contracted to serve as architect for library renovation and expansion. |
| 1973 | Trustees approve capital grant to purchase first indexes and
microfilm. The family of Peter Thorne '73 funds the purchase of first microfilm reader-printer. |
| 1981 | Completion of library renovation and expansion, funded by gifts from Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sprole, Ann Haebler Frantz, her sons Ted '76 and Scott '78, the Pew Memorial Trust, and other alumni. |
| 1983 | VHS recordings added to the collection. |
| 1984 | Library joins the international On-Line Computer Library Center (OCLC) library consortium. |
| 1992 | Innovative Interfaces Library Automation system installed (BearCAT). |
| 1995 | Library linked to the campus network. |
| 1996 | BearCAT Web version launched. |
| 1999 | Renovation of lower level integrates print and digital reference collection and provides teaching and reference center; project also includes renovation of library entrance. |
| 2000 | DVDs and electronic books (e-books) added to collection |
| 2000 | Hotchkiss appoints its first professional archivist (part-time) and develops a secure archives facility near the campus dining room. |
| 2002 | BearCAT upgraded to Innovative's "Millenium" system. |
| 2006 | First full-time Hotchkiss School Archivist appointed. |