Low Memorial Library

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/low-memorial-library

1. When was Low Memorial Library built?
2. What is the location?
3. What is the architectural firm?
4. Why was the Low Memorial Library turned into offices instead of a library?
5. Who donated the money for the Low Memorial Library and why is it named that way?

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Low Memorial Library built?1895-1897
2. What is the location?Columbia University's Morningside Heights campus, New York City
3. What is the architectural firm?McKim, Mead & White
4. Why was the Low Memorial Library turned into offices instead of a library?The building became too crowded for the growing library needs. In 1934 it was changed to house the university's main administrative offices, while a new, larger Butler Library took over the books.
5. Who donated the money for the Low Memorial Library and why is it named that way?Seth Low, the university president, donated $1 million to build it. It was named in memory of his father, Abiel Abbot Low, to honor his legacy.

Beaux-Arts Architecture: An ornate architectural style emphasizing grandeur, symmetry, and classical elements, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Philanthropic Endeavor: An action or project undertaken for the benefit of others, often involving significant financial contributions.
Repurposed: Adapted for a new or different use, especially after its original purpose has ended or changed.
Colonnade: A long sequence of columns joined by their entablature, often supporting a roof or pediment.