SILS 75th Anniversary

The School of Information and Library Science celebrated its 75th anniversary with a year long celebration beginning fall 2006. The school was started by Dr. Louis Round Wilson in 1931 with a class of 37 students and five faculty members. Since its beginning, it has grown in its numbers and programs and it has repeatedly been ranked number one in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. It has sent out more than 4,300 trained information specialists and librarians "to tap the vast reservoir of human knowledge." Throughout, SILS' development has been guided by the ideas of excellence that are the tradition of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Symposia and special events were offered throughout the anniversary year with a grand finale on September 17, 2007 that featured Dr. Vartan Gregorian.

Deans of the School cut the 75th anniversary cake. From left to right, Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, dean from 2004 to 2009; Dr. Joanne Gard Marshall, dean from 1999 to 2004; Dr. Barbara Moran, dean from 1990 to 1999; Dr. Evelyn Daniel, dean from 1985 to 1990; and Dr. Raymond Carpenter, Jr. acting dean from 1970 to 1972. (photo by Dan Sears)

In addition to our year-long celebration, a book commemorating the anniversary of the school was published. Illuminating the Past is a 120-page book that celebrates the first 75 years of the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The book, designed at SILS and printed with the highest quality inks and paper by PhotoBook Press, contains over 70 photos of the School’s history, a timeline of important events at SILS, information on all 12 deans and directors who have led the school and an essay by Dr. David Carr
on the School’s founding and philosophy.