June 7, 2011 | Peter Morenus - UConn Communications

Honoring Wilbur Cross

The Wilbur Cross Building, originally built to serve as the first dedicated library on campus, was dedicated in 1942 in honor of four-term governor Wilbur Cross. Photo by Peter Morenus

Construction of the 110,000-square-foot structure that was built to serve as UConn’s first dedicated library was begun in 1938 and completed in May 1939 at a cost of $424,472 on the grounds of what was then called Connecticut State College. The name was changed to the University of Connecticut the same month the library was completed. In May of 1942 the building was formally dedicated in honor of Wilbur Cross, a four-term governor and a native of the Gurleyville section of Mansfield.
The Wilbur Cross Building was originally built to serve as the first dedicated library on campus. Construction of the 110,000-square-foot structure was begun in 1938 and completed in May 1939, at a cost of $424,472 on the grounds of what was then called Connecticut State College. The name of the school was changed to the University of Connecticut the same month the library was completed. In May of 1942, the building was formally dedicated in honor of Wilbur Cross, a four-term governor and a native of the Gurleyville section of Mansfield. Photo by Peter Morenus