Throughout the University of Tulsa's history, the importance of a library to the academic community has been known.  In the First Annual Catalogue of Henry Kendall College, Muskogee, Indian Territory, 1894 a page is set aside headed in large letters:    NEEDS

     The first need was scholarships -- $100.00 would pay all expenses for one student for one year.  The second read:         

By 1901, the library contained 1,200 books.  By 1928, the University of Tulsa had 16,000 books and was in desperate need of a dedicated facility to serve the student population.  That same year Robert M. McFarlin and his wife, Ida, pledged support for the construction of a new library.

McFarlin Library was the first of the three new buildings at the University of Tulsa to be erected and it was selected as the central feature.  The library became the major axis of the campus and its location dictated the future growth of the campus.  Robert M. McFarlin, known in the Southwest for his contributions toward church and educational memorial buildings, and his wife, Ida Mae Barnard McFarlin, donated the structure, as well as the book stacks and the furnishings. McFarlin, with P.A. Chapman., J.A. Chapman and H.B. Gooch as partners, had drilled an oil well in the Glenn Pool District in 1906 and continued to expand his oil, gas and ranching interests until his death in 1941. 

    At the groundbreaking for the new library, held on May 3, 1929, John Rogers, a University Trustee, stated “this building will be probably the most important on the campus for it is in reading and in books that our finest wisdom is stored.” After a year of tireless and painstaking labor, the building, designed by Henry C. Hibbs and built by Bellows Construction, and standing at the head of the ‘U’ was complete.

    At the dedication, held on June 1, 1930, guest speaker J. L. Rader, University of Oklahoma Librarian, proclaimed that “the library is the only unbiased force left in the world. The library is the only place where one in quest of knowledge may go and pursue his studies without outside influences being brought to shape his opinion. The library presents every side of a question without itself taking sides, leaving the reader to form his own opinions.”

     The new McFarlin Library was dedicated by L. S. McLeod, Acting Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, with the following words:

In memory of those great teachers and scholars who
have labored through the centuries, and have
bequeathed to us in written  form the fruits of their toil
We dedicate this building
In memory of those who believed in wisdom and
righteousness and who founded this fellowship of
teachers and students
We dedicate this building
That comradeship here may be found, scholars of all
interests, masters and disciples in the way of learning,
people of the school and people of the city, sharing
together the treasures of learning
We dedicate this building. 

     The library continued to grow over the years and as TU’s educational offerings expanded so did the need for a library that could support more undergraduate and graduate programs.  The east five story addition was funded by the Chapman-McFarlin interests in 1967 and doubled the usable space in that library.  This addition provided the space for additional research material to support new Ph.D. programs in both English and engineering.  However the needs of the library and university continued to grow and in 1979, the library dedicated its second addition.  Coinciding with the acquisition of the one millionth volume added to the library, this new addition extended McFarlin Library to the west.  This innovative three floor underground addition provided new stacks areas as well as new study space for the student body.  A new underground courtyard provided an attractive outdoor space for the addition and provided natural lighting for central study areas.

     Many changes have taken place over the years and although information now comes to us in a variety of formats undreamed of by the men and women present on that auspicious day in June 1930, the sentiments expressed that day still hold true seventy-five years later.  McFarlin Library celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a variety of events that included an open house during homecoming and an event in April 2005 featuring Richard West, founding Director of the National Museum of the American Indian.  Thomas Staley, Director of the Harry Ransom Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin spoke at the official rededication ceremony on June 1, 2005. 

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