History of the Haddon Library
Has the Haddon Library always been where it is today?
No, the Haddon Library started in a single room in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
The building that we are in today was built and designed by Sir T.G. Jackson to house the Squire Law Library. Architectural evidence of this first inhabitant can be seen in the Latin that runs along the front of our building as well as features such as a representation of Lady Justice above our main entrance.
After Law moved out, the Marshall Library of Economics moved in and put their name in stone above our main entrance. This still causes confusion to this day as some people expect to find books on finance and are often surprised to find something quite different!
Finally the Haddon Library moved in in the 1960s after Economics moved out to their current home on the Sidgwick site. The building is now Grade II listed which makes it a very beautiful place to study but also quite complicated to manage.
How old is the Haddon Library?
The Haddon Library is over 100 years old and was founded with a generous bequest from the Cambridge Antiquarian Society. You can learn more about the library's history by accessing:
- an article by Dr John Pickles, Haddon Librarian from 1973-1976, which chronicles the founding of the library in 1883 and its early decades
- a video about the library's namesake, Alfred Haddon, which commemorates the library's 100th anniversary
What other libraries are there in Cambridge?
The Haddon Library is part of the wider Cambridge University Libraries network which comprises of many different college and Faculty/Departmental libraries plus central libraries like the University Library.
We all work together to support our students, researchers, staff, and other members of the Cambridge University community.
To find out more, check out this YouTube video all about Cambridge University Libraries.