HARVARD GAZETTE ARCHIVES

Widener Reading Room Dedicated

The Widener Library Reading Room was named last week for Katherine B. Loker, whose gift is helping make possible significant renovations to the Library. Photo by Brooks Kraft.

Katherine B. Loker was honored last Friday as the Widener Library Reading Room was named for her.

At the dedication ceremony, President Neil L. Rudenstine, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Jeremy R. Knowles, Director of the University Library and Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor Sidney Verba, and Roy E. Larsen Librarian of Harvard College Nancy M. Cline spoke about the importance of Widener to Harvard and to scholarship around the world. They thanked Mrs. Loker, whose latest gift to Harvard is helping make possible significant renovations to Widener Library. A marble plaque identifying the Loker Reading Room was unveiled.

More than 800 Harvard alumni and friends were in Cambridge over the weekend for the annual Harvard College Fund campaign conference. Mrs. Loker was feted at a dinner hosted by Dean Knowles and recognized in an address by President Rudenstine.

Mrs. Loker's extensive service to Harvard includes membership on the Committee on University Resources (COUR) Campaign Executive Committee, national chairmanship of The University Campaign, and, from 1986 to 1993, membership on the Visiting Committee to Harvard College. Her late husband, Donald P. Loker, was in the Class of 1925.

She said: "Don and I always felt that if we got involved with an institution, it was our responsibility to offer our support. While we have been active with a number of causes that we care about -- hospitals, museums, and various local charities -- education has been our main interest and priority, so we've given to my alma mater, the University of Southern California, and to Don's."

Mrs. Loker added: "When it became clear to me that the library's needs were not being met and that renovating Widener was a major priority for the University, I thought I'd like to help. It's been a pleasure for me to be a part of this institution and to see it flourish."