Our Landmark Library: Battle Hall at 100
Main or First Floor
West Corridor
The west corridor of the building served as the main entrance to the University of Texas Library. On November 12, 1920, the body of regent and benefactor, George W. Littlefield, lay in state in the University’s most prominent vestibule.
A selection of occupants of the west corridor:
- 1938-1947: Theater, Art and Art History faculty offices
- 1950-1973: Texas State Historical Association – birthplace of the Handbook of Texas
- 1979-1997: Architectural Drawings Collection
- 1997-present: Alexander Architectural Archives
South Corridor
Upon opening, university administrators became the first occupants of the new office spaces located in the Library building. University administration enjoyed this space until 1918 when they moved into Gilbert's next design, the Education Building (Sutton Hall). When the University President moved out, this prominent space was quickly renovated for the University's first rare book collection, The Wrenn Library.
Wrenn Library
1918 - Regent George Washington Littlefield purchased the John Henry Wrenn Library of 6,000 volumes from Chicago, and recreated the library in the space once occupied by the President, Registrar and administrators on the southeastern corner of the first floor of Battle Hall. The installation cost $27,000. So began the University’s first rare book collection. The library suite included an elegant reading room with walnut paneling and stained glass.
Auditor / Vault
What now serves as offices for the Center for American Architecture and Design (CAAD) was initially the auditor’s office and vault. When the Archives and Rare Book Room moved into this space, the vaults continued to be put to good use as secure storage for the university’s most valuable archival artifacts.
South corridor timeline:
Southeast rooms (including BTL101-BTL102):
- 1911-1914: President Sidney E. Mezes (1908-14)
- 1914-1916: President William J. Battle (ad interim, 1914-16)
- 1916-1918: President Robert E. Vinson (1916-23)
- 1918-1934: Wrenn Library (BTL101 & BTL102)
- 1938-1947: Offices of Fine Arts
- 1949-1950: Offices of Texas State Historical Association researchers, including Llerena B. Friend, Research Associate in Texas history for the Texas State Historical Association. Friend worked on the preparation of the Handbook of Texas until 1950, when she was promoted to founding director of the Barker Texas History Center
- 1950-1973: Offices of Barker Texas History Center and Texas State Historical Association, including Eugene Barker; archive work room
- 1982?-curr: Center for American Architecture and Design, and School of Architecture faculty offices
Southwest rooms (BTL104-BTL105-BTL106)
- 1911-18: Auditor’s office
- 1918-19[37]: School of History’s archives and rare book room (Bexar Archives, Austin Papers), Masters Thesis
- 1938-1947: Offices of the Dean of Fine Arts (E. William Doty 1938-42), stenographers and faculty for Art and Music
- 1950-1951: Office of researchers in Texas history
- 1982?-curr: Center for American Architecture and Design, and School of Architecture faculty offices
Administration included: Office of the President, Dean of Faculty, Auditor’s Office, Visitor of Schools, Registrar and Board of Regents, and Office of the Dean, College of Arts. Later, it also included the office of Editor, University Publications.
North Corridor
Regents and Dean's Offices / meeting rooms / Library School / War Arms Committee
It was in the Library Building that the Regents stood up to Governor Jim Ferguson’s allegations of misappropriated funds. During World War I, the War Arms Committee occupied this area too.
Later, when the Regents followed the administration to what is now Sutton Hall, the Library School moved into the space.
North corridor timeline:
Northwest rooms (BTL112 - BTL114)
- 1911-1918: University Registrar
- 1919-19[24]: Library School
"On the right as you enter the north door, is the Library Science lecture room. The University of Texas is the only institution in the Southwest that trains librarians." -- from The Library University of Texas Thanksgiving 1924
- 1938-1939: Fine Arts faculty, Drama, Curtain Club
- 1995?-1997: Architectural Drawings Collection processing and collections space
- 1997: Harry Ransom Center photographic equipment collection in BTL112
Northeast rooms (BTL115 – BTL117 – BTL118)
- 1911-19[19]: Regents and Dean’s meeting room
- 1914-1918: War Arms committee meeting room
- 1919-19[24]: Librarian’s office (across the hall from the Library School). The original Librarian’s Office (BTL201) quickly had to serve as the Reading Room overflow for magazines and reading spaces.
- 1938-1954: Office of University Lands (BTL115-117), Attorney (BTL115) and Secretary (BTL117)
- 1950-1973: Barker Texas History Center & Texas State History Association offices
