The Denkmann Memorial Library stands as a noble monument. to the public spirit and generosity of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. A. Denkmann and their children, whose memory will ever be cherished as true friends and upbuilders of our community. In 1860, the same year that saw the beginning of Augustana College, Mr. Denkmann laid the foundations of the great business enterprise in Rock Island, with which his name is associated. With great interest did these neighbors of Augustana follow the struggle and the advance of our educational work. The energy and farsightedness which brought Mr. Denkmann success was ever coupled with a keen interest in the public weal. How to do something for the general good of the community was an oft-recurring subject of discussion in the Denkmann home, a trait of character which the parents have left as the best heritage to their children and to their posterity. After the death of Mr. Denkmann in 1905, the mother frequently discussed with her children both the best way of doing something substantial for a general cause worthy of support, and also what institution should be made the beneficiary of such assistance. Her eyes turned kindly toward Augustana College and Theological Seminary, in whose struggles and successes even then she was more deeply interested than the authorities of the institution were aware of. In the expressed wishes and hopes of the mother-all honor to her memory!-the home institution won the day. Persistent and devoted effort in the upbuilding of God's kingdom on earth to the benefit of one's fellow-men

will ever attract the attention and the interest of noble hearts, and bring results beyond the fondest hopes of the laborers.

When, therefore, the representatives of Augustana, Mr. A. T. Ekblad and the president of the institution, approached the sons and daughters of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. A. Denkmann in order to lay the work of Augustana before them, the hearts of these were, -as the writer desires to put it, by the guidance of God already prepared for our request, as they were already deeply interested in the advancement of our institution. In an interview with us Mr. Fred. C. Denkmann as the representative of the family expressed their intention of giving Augustana something which it was exceedingly in need of, namely a library building, where the educational work of our institution would find both a home and a center. But these friends, as was their right and their duty, asked to be assured that the interest of the supporters of Augustana throughout our country was general and strong, that the roots of our institution were deep and widespread in a soil that would support and insure future growth and sturdy development. They were willing to base their judgment in this respect both on present achievements and on the promise of success in the movement for strengthening the hands of the central institution of our Synod at its approaching fiftieth anniversary. And it filled the hearts of the Denkmann family with joy and with confidence, as they saw how the friends of Augustana, east and west, north and south, rallied to its support in the successful gathering of the jubilee fund as a preparation for the semi-centennial celebration.

On January 28, 1909, the children of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. A. Denkmann were gathered at a family reunion in "the old homestead," built by the parents at the foot of Fourth avenue in Rock Island. At this gathering the final plans were laid for a donation to Augustana College in the form of a memorial library building to be dedicated to the memory of the parents. A representative of Augustana was called in to receive the formal announcement, and as the happy news was communicated to him his own emotion made it impossible for him to give expression to the gratitude which welled forth from his heart. The announcement also stated that the proposed building would be erected at a cost of not less

than one hundred thousand dollars. In the evening of the day when this announcement was made public the student body, "delirious with joy," as the press stated it, with an ardor which the heavy downpour of rain could not quench, formed a torchlight procession and visited the homes of the donors to express their overflowing gratitude.

The donors selected Messrs. Patton & Miller of Chicago as the architects of this building, and the preliminary work was soon under way. At the request of Mr. F. C. Denkmann a committee was also appointed by the institution to make a study of the inner arrangement of the library and to co-operate with the architects in the effort to secure the best possible results. Numerous libraries were visited, the advice of librarians and others was received, who pointed out the excellences and the shortcomings of existing library buildings, plans were discussed and suggestions made. The manner in which the architects solved the problem of erecting a perfect library building, and the manner in which the builders, Messrs. Jobst & Son of Peoria, Ill., accomplished the work, will redound to their lasting honor.

The location selected for the new library was on the College grounds at the corner of 35th street and Seventh avenue, now made into a beautiful boulevard connecting the cities of Rock Island and Moline. From this point the spectator has a splendid view of the Mississippi valley and the Rock Island Arsenal directly in front of him, and he looks down upon a scene of rare beauty and one instinct with the life of industry.

On September 16, 1909, ground was broken and the work of clearing away the soil for the foundation of the new library was begun. No small difficulty was experienced, as the earth at this spot had been filled in of late years, and one had to go deep to find a basis for the solid concrete foundation; in one place more than thirty feet of earth had to be removed before "old Illinois soil" was reached. But the problem was speedily solved, cave-ins were successfully avoided, and soon the massive concrete foundation was ready to support the base of granite rock. Above this the successive tiers of grey stone from Carthage, Missouri, began to rise. The cornerstone was laid on January 21, 1910. At the

Jubilee celebration in June, 1910, the thousands of visitors who had come here from the ends of our country, looked with the keenest interest and joy upon the outlines of the splendid building with its still greater promise.

The dedication of the monumental building, the program of which dedication is detailed in this volume, took place on May 31, 1911.

Immediately upon the completion of the building, the librarian, the president and the treasurer of the institution took up their permanent quarters in the commodious office-rooms provided for their use, and when the students returned in the following September they joyfully took possession of the reading-room, the most beautiful home for study at any college in America.

It has been a rare privilege for the authorities at Augustana to have a hand in the planning of a building, when they did not need to worry about the cost or the bills. It is the first experience of its kind in our history. When there was some hesitancy about suggesting the grand and decorative pillars for the reading-room, Mr. Denkmann on behalf of the family said, "Put them in!" When he heard that the stack-room space possibly should be increased, he ordered the rear of the building to be made larger. And when the building was formally turned over to the College, the donors had had the grounds graded and sodded, had built the stone-wall around the grounds and even laid the sidewalks on the adjoining streets. The final cost of the noble edifice, as reported to the Board of Directors, is over two hundred and seven thousand dollars. Who can hear of this generosity without a quickening of the heart-beats, and a strengthening of deep and lasting gratitude!

The building gives an impression of symmetry and beauty as well as of dignity and strength. The memorial elements appear in its massiveness of construction; the solid masonry of the corners of the building, the large arched windows of the library floor, in front bordered by the four solid pillars of the same material as the building, the decorative projecting entablature with the tile roof above, combine to produce a monumental effect of rare attractiveness. The main part, or front, is 120 feet in length with a depth of 96 feet. As one views it from a side angle, where comparison