On September
27, 1965 Asheville-Biltmore College (the predecessor of UNC Asheville)
dedicated the D. Ramsey Library. The library was the first building on the
campus to be named, and it honored someone who, as the Asheville Citizen reported, was described by Governor
Dan K. Moore as one of the state’s foremost exponents of education. In
addition to providing long-time support for Asheville-Biltmore, Ramsey served
as the first chairman of the State Board of Education and as chairman of the
board of trustees of Western Carolina College.
In rather
purple prose, the Citizen described
how the “handsome building stands like a space-age Mt. Vernon with tall white
pillars and ceiling high windows” and “broad steps lead to striking red doors.”
Construction
of the library started in early 1964 and was completed, and the library occupied,
in the summer of 1965. The photograph below shows D. Hiden Ramsey at the
microphone, watched by Asheville-Biltmore President William Highsmith, and may have
been taken at the formal dedication but was more likely was taken at a ribbon
cutting for the summer opening.
In 1965, the
library was approximately half the size that it is now, but it must have seemed
very spacious in comparison to its previous location on the second floor of one
wing of the administration building (now Phillips Hall). The inside of the
library looked much different back then. The final photo is undated, but dates
from around 1965. To provide orientation for those who know Ramsey Library, the
photo shows the second (main) floor level, and the stairs are in the same
location as they are now. The main entrance is about halfway down the wall on
the right.