University of Guelph Library
What's in a name ...
The University of Guelph thanks all our generous donors for helping us create
comfortable, inviting, well organized and efficient spaces for learning and
research. Contact us for information on current naming opportunities.
The McLaughlin Building is named for Robert Samuel McLaughlin (1871-1972), a pioneer car manufacturer and philanthropist who supported the construction of the building through a $1 million donation. It opened on Oct. 25, 1968.
Other named spaces in the McLaughlin Building include:
- The Armstrong Memorial Gallery is presented by the Armstrong family and named for Cameron and Anne Armstrong, parents of Margaret Beckman, the McLaughlin Library's former chief librarian. It was originally located in the Macdonald Stewart Room, opening in 1982. It was officially re-opened on February 7th, 1991 in the Wellington County Room.
- The Beckman Seminar Room was named for former chief librarian Margaret Beckman, who was involved in the original design of the library and also in the renovations for archival and circulation areas. It is located in the Wellington County Room.
- The Canadian Room is dedicated to Professor O.J. Stevenson, who served as chair of the Department of English, OAC, from 1916 to 1939. In 1941, the class of OAC 1941 furnished the room, which was originally located in the Massey Library. It is now a group study room on the third floor of the McLaughlin Library.
- The Forster Memorial Room on the first floor is dedicated to former U of G president Donald F. Forster, who served from 1975 to 1983.
- The Kortright Reading Room is a memorial to Francis Kortright (1887-1972) who was a professional engineer and business executive known for his life-long conservation interests. The furnishings and decorations were made possible through a grant from the Canadian National Sportsman's Show, which was founded by Mr. Kortright to raise money for purposes of conservation. The reading room is located on the fifth floor and officially opened on July 13, 1972.
- The Learning Commons was founded by a provincial facilities renewal grant and a contribution from the U of G Heritage Fund.
- The Macdonald Stewart Room is named after David Macdonald Stewart and Sir William Macdonal Foundation. The Archives reading room was renamed Wellington County Room on November 12th, 1990.
- The OAC Centennial Room was dedicated by the class of 1974 for OAC's centennial anniversary. This group study room is located on the second floor. It officially opened July 11th, 1974.
- The OAC '39 Room in the Learning Commons was completely refurbished and features a new computer system and other learning resources. This $25,000 fundraising project celebrated the class's 65th anniversary.
- The Florence Partridge Room is named for former chief librarian Florence Partridge (MAC '26) following a donation in her memory. She retired in 1971 and died on February 21st, 2004 in her 98th year. The room officially opened October 1st, 2005 and is ocated in room 384 on the third Floor.
- The Unwin Room is named for Professor G.H. Unwin, chair of the Department of English at OAC from 1909 to 1913. This room was originally located in Massey Library and later transferred to the first floor of the McLaughlin Library. It was dedicated by the class of OAC 1925 in 1941.
- The Wellington County Room is a reading room for Archival and Special Collections, which was formerly named the Macdonald Stewart Room. Wellington County was the largest donor to the U of G Building Campaign and the room officially opened November 12th, 1990.