Ellis Library

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HISTORY Ellis Library, constructed in 1915, stands as the main library of the University of Missouri. It was named in 1972 after the university’s former president Elmer Ellis (1954-1963). Today, the collection is comprised of over three million volumes and six million microforms. In the end, Ellis began as a solution for the rising number of students and continues to serve that very purpose. It holds a myriad of study stations, volumes of text for students, and an expanding online database.

Click on any of the photos, and the Savitar will show you the intricacy of Ellis Library.

References:"Ellis Library." MU in Brick and Mortar. 2006. Accessed February 20, 2017. http://muarchives.missouri.edu/historic/buildings/Union.
"History of the University of Missouri". University of Missouri Office of Web Communications. Accessed February 22, 2017. http://missouri.edu/about/history/history-mu.php.

1915 - "The New Library"
Taken from the 1915 edition of The Savitar, this page details the need for a new, separate library due to Academic Hall's inability to house the rising number of books. Construction of Ellis began in 1913., Source: Savitar, 1915, page 20.
1918 - A first look at the Ellis Library
Presented in the 1918 Savitar, this is one of the first pictures of the library. Originally, books were kept in the Academic Hall; however, as time went on, the University needed a new building to house the rising number of documents. Thus, the University began construction in 1913., Savitar, 1918. page 18.
1935 - The northwest addition to Ellis Library
The 1936 Savitar displays a drawing of the prospective addition to the library. Construction began in 1935.This addition added fire-proof, stack space for books, reading rooms, seminar rooms and other library necessities., Savitar, 1936. page 244.
1937 - Inside the northwest addition of Ellis Library
Inside the Northwest wing of the "General Library," additional areas created space and increased facilities available to the students at the University of Missouri. Importantly, it eliminated the use of the poorly ventilated reading room used by first year students beforehand., Savitar, 1937. page 17.
1958 - The northeast addition to Ellis Library
A sketch of the 1958 addition to the library. With the addition the University planned to have around a million volumes and facilities for two million. At this time, the library included a first floor undergraduate library for freshmen and sophomores, 100 private study rooms, 1000 lockers for graduates, 40 seminar rooms, and an open reading space. Fall of 1961 marked the completion of this large addition., Savitar, 1958. page 33.
1960 - The main reading room in Ellis Library
The library added the Main Reading Room to offer peace and quiet to students. The 1958 northeast addition (completed in 1961) made the library almost twice as large as before., Savitar, 1960. page 73.
1961 - Inside the northeast addition of Ellis Library
In the top photo, students sort through reference cards. These cards contain bibliographic data of the library's resources to assist in finding certain texts. This room was considerably important in 1961 since most books were rearranged upon construction of the new wing. The photo on the bottom left lends a perspective of a librarians point of view in the northeastern addition. Students could come here for navigation in the new addition., Source: Savitar, 1961. page 48
1998 - The study cells in Ellis Library
Resembling a dungeon, this photograph unveils a part of the library tucked away from the general study rooms--the study cells in the West stacks of the library. Though intimidating, these carrels were very popular among students to focus on work while having access to many of the materials they might need. Ph.D. students could rent out these carrels to have a "temporary residence" in the library., Savitar, 1998. page 55.