As early as 1911, when the first University Library was barely twenty years old, space was running out for library collections. In 1912, the State Historical Society, which had been camped out in the library basement since its construction ten years earlier, was notified by Chancellor Avery that the University Library needed the entire building for library purposes. WWI and the Great Depression intervened. Aggressive campaigning for a new library building began in earnest in the late 1930s. In 1940, the Board of Regents announced that Don L. Love, a Lincoln banker, lawyer, and two time mayor, had made a gift of $850,000 to be used for construction of a new library. (excerpt taken from An Architectural Tour of Historic UNL website at historicbuildings.unl.edu/index.html)
Read the history of Love Library and view images
View the timeline slider of the history of University Libraries
Cupola Restoration
2022 Restoration
During the summer of 2022, Love Library’s cupola went through a major restoration. Funds for the restoration came from LB384 maintenance funding. The iconic structure received new exterior siding, windows and a fresh coat of paint. University Facilities Planning and Construction led the restoration. Paul Davis Restoration was the general contractor that restored the cupola.
The interior of the cupola was not impacted by the renovation. Pieces of the cupola’s wooden exterior were given to the Archives & Special Collections to preserve. Photos were taken of the signatures and messages written by staff, students and others who have visited the space during the nearly 80-year history of the cupola. Watch a video of Erin Colonna, Graphics Designer for the University Libraries, ascend into the cupola to photograph the writing on the walls.
1995 Restoration
The cupola’s exterior has been upgraded before as noted in this article from the Daily Nebraskan in 1995.
1995, Aug. 25, "After 20 Years..." https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1995-08-24/ed-1/seq-8
The Climb
Video of the 2022 Cupola Climb
This video documents Erin Colonna, Graphics Designer for the University Libraries, climb into the cupola to take photos of the interior.
May 2022 Cupola Climb. Video footage by Erin Colonna, Libraries Graphics Designer.
Historic Documentation of the 1953 Cupola Climb
This Daily Nebraskan article describes the climb up to the cupola in 1953. Names found on the walls during that climb include Jim Woodbury, John Brown, Connie Owen, Pat Beadle, Jim Heppner, Don Young, Bob James, Jean McCartney and Betty Crubb.
1953, Feb. 26, "Step Ladders, Cat Walks...." https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1953-02-26/ed-1/seq-4
Support the Libraries
Funds for the Cupola restoration project are part of the LB384 maintenance funding. Investment in the building maintenance and campus infrastructure is vitally important. Join the Libraries journey to meet the evolving needs of the University’s students, faculty and staff with updated spaces, services, collections, and technology. Learn about recent and upcoming projects in the Libraries. Join our email list to receive our newsletter or donate to support the Libraries.
