: For Students, Faculty, and Staff 
Past Walter Library at 100 events
June 25, 2024 — Behind the scenes: Walter Library at 100 alumni event
Calling all U of M alumni! Join us for a behind the scenes tour of Walter Library as it celebrates its 100 birthday. Learn about the history, construction and ongoing legacy of Walter Library. Get a tour of the architectural features, view historical photos, artifacts and blueprints of the first library built on campus. Then, tour one of the newest spaces in Walter — the Toaster Innovation Hub and Makerspace — and give it a try with 3D printing, VR, and hands-on making.
Register for the June 25 event
Universities and Power, Part 2 — Dec. 5, 2023
How can we better understand universities and their power? How do we negotiate the impacts they have had on surrounding communities, on students, and on an array of pressing and challenging issues shaping society? How do these questions play out when it comes to University of Minnesota history?
Come hear Yalile Suriel, Assistant Professor of Universities and Power, and Ellen Holt-Werle, Institutional Archivist, talk about how they are tackling these questions here at the University of Minnesota.
Fall 2023 Walter Library 100 events
Staff hosted Walter Library 100 table events that featured stickers, postcards, and bookmarks to celebrate Walter Library.
- Gopher Gear Up: Tuesday, 8/29 at 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Coffman front plaza
- Campus Exploration Fair: Friday, 9/1 at 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., outside Walter Library
- Bonus: explore the mini-exhibit in the Upson room (Walter first floor room 102) and go on a mini-Walter Library tour
- UMN Farmers Market: Wednesday, 9/6 at 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Gateway Plaza (Outside McNamara Alumni Center)
- WAM-O-RAMA: Friday, 9/8 at 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Weisman Art Museum
- WAM’s Study Night x Art Rental (with Pop-up library): Wednesday, 9/27 at 5 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Weisman Art Museum
- Academic Success and Peer Tutoring Fair: Thursday 9/28 – 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Walter Library 100 Pop-up Exhibit
Friday, Sept. 8 from 12 – 1:30 p.m.
Walter Library is turning 100 years old! Explore a mini-exhibit about the history and construction of the first “new” library on campus. Meet in the unique and historic Upson Room (room 102) to explore campus history and view blueprints, then and now images and more. Go on a mini-tour and pick up stickers, postcards, and bookmarks to celebrate Walter Library. Free. All are welcome.
UMN InstaMeet – Walter Library 100 edition
Sept. 24 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Join us for a UMN InstaMeet to celebrate the 100 birthday of Walter Library. An InstaMeet is a way for Gophers (current, past and future) to meet one another and take photos around their favorite old library together. Learn more and register.Party Like it’s your birthday: Walter Library 100
Walter Library at 100 Kickoff at Homecoming
Sept. 26 Open House from 3 to 5 p.m.
Did you know Walter Library is turning 100 years old? Let’s celebrate! Join us at Walter Library on Tuesday, Sept. 26 anytime from 3 – 5 p.m.
Learn about the history and construction of “the library,” see then/now photos, spin the prize wheel for a chance to win a Walter 100 t-shirt. Play lawn games and write a birthday message to one of our favorite buildings on campus.
Walter Library 100 Pop-up Exhibit
Thursday, Oct. 19 from 3:30 – 5 p.m.
Walter Library is turning 100 years old! Explore a mini-exhibit about the history and construction of the first “new” library on campus. Meet in the unique and historic Upson Room (room 102) to explore campus history and view blueprints, then and now images and more. Go on a mini-tour and pick up stickers, postcards, and bookmarks to celebrate Walter Library. Free. All are welcome.
Walter Library 100 Pop-up Exhibit – Parent & Family weekend
Friday, Oct. 27 from 2 – 4 p.m.
Walter Library is turning 100 years old! We are welcoming Parents & Family for this special Explore, a mini-exhibit about the history and construction of the first “new” library on campus. Meet in the unique and historic Upson Room (room 102) to explore campus history and view blueprints, then and now images and more. Go on a mini-tour and pick up stickers, postcards, and bookmarks to celebrate Walter Library. Free. All are welcome.
Walter Library 100 Pop-up Exhibit
Thursday, Nov. 9 from 3:30 – 5 p.m.
Walter Library is turning 100 years old! Explore a mini-exhibit about the history and construction of the first “new” library on campus. Meet in the unique and historic Upson Room (room 102) to explore campus history and view blueprints, then and now images and more. Go on a mini-tour and pick up stickers, postcards, and bookmarks to celebrate Walter Library. Free. All are welcome.
An Afternoon Tea: Celebrating 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone
On May 17, 1923, the University of Minnesota celebrated a significant milestone: the cornerstone was laid for its new library building, then called simply “The Library.” Exactly 100 years later, current and former staff members — along with members of the University community — gathered to commemorate the anniversary.
Photo: Carl Stover.
The celebration took place on May 17, 2023 in the Great Hall of this very same building, which was renamed after University Librarian Frank K. Walter in 1959. Attendees had the opportunity to gather and learn about the past, present, and future of both Walter Library and the University Libraries writ large.