William C. Jason Library

William C. Jason Library. Delaware State University. , The William C. Jason Library is named in honor of Delaware State University's longest serving president. President Jason's tenure, from 1895 to 1923, was punctuated by expansive growth of both the student body and campus infrastructure. His achievement is fully appreciated with the recognition that, despite being a public school, financial support from Delaware State was initially insufficient., In 1902 the Board of Trustees approved President Jason's request to publically raise $1,000 for campus improvements. The president's fundraising efforts took the form of a speaking tour that resulted in 700 pledges largely received from the African American community. While the pledges totaled $1,112, regrettably, only $533 was received., The money was frugally applied to the construction of a chapel. In lieu of hiring laborers, the professors of the industrial arts program developed courses around the chapel's construction. Additionally, bricks from the slave quarters of the Loockerman plantation were recycled to lessen the cost of materials., By the 1920's the perpetual pattern of college-wide growth required the chapel to be converted into a library. Further growth resulted in the construction of the modern library in 1975 and an addition in 1991. The early chapel structure, now known as the Thomasson Building, remains today and can be found at the end of the campus mall., [Caption:] , In 1977 a mural by Bernard Felch was added. The artist was inspired by the iconography and symbolism of West-African culture. Confidence, wisdom, and learning are embodied here.