Happy Anniversary, Davis Library!

Walter R. Davis, a native of Pasquotank County, began life in humble circumstances but rose to extraordinary heights. After driving the winding roads of his native state for years as a truck driver, Davis left his home to start a successful oil transport business in Texas. His endeavor was immensely successful. Despite finding his tremendous success elsewhere, he never forgot the state of his birth; Walter Davis became a great benefactor to the state's environment and its institutions. An unlettered man himself, but always aware of the power of education, he rose to the prestigious rank of trustee of the university. He held this post for an impressive 16 years, two of them as Chairman of the Board. During this time he shared his hard-earned wealth in a number of ways, including establishing scholarships and helping the less advantaged earn degrees. It was also during this time that he successfully fought to claim $32 million in funds from the state legislature from the sale of the university's utilities. It is from these funds that Davis Library became a reality. Davis said that the reason why he worked so hard to provide higher education opportunities to others was that he never had that opportunity. Davis Library is an extraordinary legacy for this man who worked and fought tirelessly to give the gift of education to others.

Before the opening of Walter R. Davis Library on the frosty morning February 6, 1984, the Louis Round Wilson Library had served the campus as the central library since 1929. After 15 years of planning and construction, Davis Library opened its doors to its first patrons. Interestingly and appropriately, the first book checked out from Davis was George Orwell's 1984. The new library was the manifestation of years of efforts on the part of university administrators, especially Chancellor Ferebee Taylor, to enhance library services on the campus. Under the leadership of Walter Davis, then under the auspices of the office of Chairman of the Board of Trustees of UNC, the necessary funds were obtained from the legislature to move from planning to construction. This construction began in 1978, and would culminate in a building that would cost $22.3 million, contain 422,659 square feet, could accommodate 1.8 million volumes, and provided seating and study space for thousands of patrons.

Things have changed greatly in 20 years. The card catalog is gone from the gallery on the first floor, replaced by computers that search the catalog and the Web in milliseconds. On the second floor, two lounge areas comfortably seat scores of students, many with their own portable computers invisibly connected to the Internet. Two computer labs for instruction flank the lounge on one side of the gallery. Despite these changes, this building, on its 20th anniversary, still serves as a space where minds open to capture the wonders of the world's knowledge. It is a fitting monument to Walter Davis, the man who made it the focus of his life to benefit his community and in turn, mankind, by so generously providing of himself.

We hope all of you who use the services found here will join us in wishing Davis Library a Happy 20th Anniversary!

Photographs provided courtesy of North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives

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