Warner Memorial Library & Harold C. Howard Center

Harold C. Howard Center is located at the heart of the campus as an addition to Warner Memorial Library. It is located right in the center of campus, and it helps to keep our students going by providing them with academic resources, research help, printing and scanning access, and a peaceful place to study. The library was built in 1964 while the HHC expansion was built in 2005. Together they act as a central hub for Eastern students as both classroom locations, Human Resources, and now Academic Resource Center. HHC was named for the previous vice president and academic dean of Eastern College, while the library was named for Frank Warner, father to trustee member H. Warner.

Warner Memorial Library is the heart of Eastern University. It is located right in the center of campus, and it helps to keep our students going by providing them with academic resources, research help, printing and scanning access, and a peaceful place to study.

The idea of a proper college library began in 1957, when it was stated that a library was the college’s “greatest need.” Before the library building was completed, library books were housed in different areas across campus, and there was a reading room in Walton Hall. In 1959, after two years of no plans yet of building a library, Ethel Klingerman, the college’s head librarian, wrote up a report that showed that the capacity for books and study spaces in their current setting would reach capacity in three years.

In 1962, Eastern launched a new capital campaign in celebration of its 10th anniversary on St Davids Campus, and its 30th anniversary as an organized school within the Seminary. The goal of this campaign was to raise $750,000. A library for the college was the principal building that would be constructed from the proceeds of the campaign.

In 1963, Mr. and Mrs. H. Warner donated $60,000 towards the campaign in honor of his father, Frank Warner, whom the library would eventually be named after. Former U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower also made contributions to the building of the library.

In 1964, the two-story building was completed in September. The building was then dedicated on October 3rd during convocation. At this event, the key to the new library was given to Ethel Klingerman. The ground was broken on October 5th of that year.

Since its grand opening, there have been quite a few small but special editions to the library. Some of these editions include the collection near the reference area dedicated in memory of Ho Oh, the George H. Rothacker Gallery, the Mazie B. Hall collection, the Thomas Jefferson collection, the Thomas Edison collection, and a beautiful wooden eagle that was carved in 1850.

The library eventually expanded into the Harold C. Howard center several decades later.

The Harold C. Howard Center is a building visited by many of Eastern’s students. It is a physical addition to Warner Memorial Library and it houses the Human Resources department, the school store, several classrooms, and more.

The idea of the then-unnamed building was first introduced in early 2000, when overcrowding was becoming a concern for the growing student body. The idea of an expansion for Warner Library to include an academic wing was in the works. The building took 4 years of planning.

Construction began in August 2004. Although some heavy snowfall in the winter months halted the project for a little while, the building was completed on July 29, 2005. The building was named after previous vice president and academic dean of Eastern College, Harold C. Howard. Howard served at Eastern College for 15 years in several roles, such as academic dean, provost, and interim president prior to President Black’s election. He was known for “putting students first”, and for being “a man who truly cared.”

The building added 21,000 square feet to the library. Seating was increased by 146 chairs and seven new classrooms, which were able to hold 176 students. There were five new study rooms and four new library offices. The new college bookstore also opened in this building in Spring 2006.

"Warner Memorial Library." Folder in Eastern University Archives. Located at Warner Memorial Library, Eastern University, St. Davids, PA, 19087.

"Harold H. Howard Center." Folder in Eastern University Archives. Located at Warner Memorial Library, Eastern University, St. Davids, PA, 19087.