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MBLC Celebrates 125 Years

1969

Claire T. Carney Library, UMass Dartmouth

On November 26, Southeastern Massachusetts Technological Insititute (now University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth) broke ground for the Library Communications Center. Designed by Paul Rudolph, it exemplifies the Brutalist style of architecture. The building opened on March 13, 1972.1 The building was renovated in 2006 and rededicated as the Claire T. Carney Library.2

In 1969: At the October 1969 NELA conference, the closing luncheon featured Arthur C. Clarke, author of many science fiction novels including 2001: A Space Odyssey. Clarke spoke on the topic of "Life in the Year 2001."3

TODAY: Mr. Clarke authored more than 100 books, and 2001: A Space Odyssey was made into the classic Stanley Kubrick film. Clarke died on March 19, 2008.4

What else happened in 1969?

  • A police raid on a gay bar in Greenwich Village sparked the Stonewall riots, which is considered to be the beginning of the modern gay civil rights movement.5
  • The drowning of Mary Jo Kopechne on Chappaquiddick island cast a shadow on Ted Kennedy for the rest of his career.6
  • Apollo 11 landed on the moon, completing a goal set by President Kennedy in 1961. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin spent 21 hours and 36 minutes on the surface.7
  • The Woodstock Music & Art Fair took place on a dairy farm in Bethel, N.Y. in August 1969. Over half a million people came to a 600-acre farm to hear Joni Mitchell, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead, the Who, Janis Joplin, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and 25 more acts. Woodstock came to be known as one of the greatest happenings of all time and perhaps the most pivotal moment in music history.8

References:
1. lib.umassd.edu [link].
2. lib.umassd.edu [link].
3. Bureau of Library Extension newsletter, August 1969.
4. www.biography.com [link].
5. www.pbs.org [link].
6. abcnews.go.com [link].
7. nasa.gov [link].
8. woodstock.com [link].