Students are learning about the history of architecture through studying McCabe Library and curating an exhibition about their findings in this semester’s class Building Architecture from Dirt to Dust, taught by Associate Professor Brian Goldstein. The goal is “to help students think of all the people and things that shape buildings long before and long after the architect gets involved. While we could tell a history of any building ‘from dirt to dust,’ McCabe works especially well because it is both familiar to students–thus making it exciting to think about it in new ways–and contains many unseen stories that are revealed as one looks closely,” Goldstein explains. “It sits deep in the earth and for sixty years has had to prevent the wear of nature: water, humidity, and dust. It is a remarkably detailed and well-made building, built by skilled hands that honed it from wood, concrete, and stone with their own histories, and many more hands make sure every day that it retains its form and function.”

Built in 1967, McCabe Library has had some improvements over the years since it opened, but it has never undergone a complete renovation. A master planning process for a complete renovation is currently underway, making the focus of the class very timely. Goldstein notes, “[McCabe] was created as an act of permanence, to preserve the books and archives inside it, yet has had to constantly adapt to the changing way that people use libraries. In many ways it seems like it is unmovable, but someday it will change significantly to remain Swarthmore's main library.”

The students were introduced to the library with a behind-the-scenes tour led by Annette Newman, assistant program manager, who oversees the library facilities, and Anne Houston, director of the library. The tour started on the roof, wending its way down, before ending in the sub-basement. Highlights included rooftop views, hidden stairways, HVAC equipment, and the “secret” door leading outside from the sub-basement.

Once familiar with the building, the students spent time with Celia Caust-Ellenbogen, associate curator of the Friends Historical Library, and David Obermayer, college archivist and records manager, learning about the wide variety of materials related to the creation and maintenance of the library that are part of the College Archives, which is also housed in McCabe. Materials included blueprints, photographs, reference files, presidential papers, library records, objects, and deeds. Of particular interest were correspondence between Swarthmore President Courtney Smith and McCabe architect Vincent Kling, a sample of McCabe's original bright orange carpet, and photographs of students running the McCabe Mile. Students also worked with Roderick Wolfson, senior planner, who provided resources related to campus buildings, including a piece of Wissahickon schist.

The class culminates with the students curating an exhibition, “McCabe Library from Dirt to Dust,” a collaborative history of the building. Each student is working with a  theme such as “design,” “material,” and “furnishing and decor,” then selecting 3-4 objects from the archival collection for display, writing descriptive text exploring the items and their connection to the chosen theme. Working with Susan Dreher, exhibitions librarian, and Abbie Weil, outreach librarian, the students are designing the exhibition layout and will be installing it in McCabe’s Cratsley Lounge (2nd floor).

The exhibition opens on Thursday, December 11, with a public reception from [TIME] in the Cratsley Lounge. The exhibition will remain on display through Sunday, March 1.