Lost in thought, I’m standing here before the John & Patricia Ward Library. Who were John and Patricia Ward and why does this library bear their names?
The John & Patricia Ward Library is part of the University of New South Wales Library system. This system is one of Australia’s major research libraries. It serves many academic staff and students. The UNSW Library has locations on two campuses: Kensington and Paddington. There are also affiliated research institutes.
To understand the library’s name we must delve into the lives of John Manning Ward and Patricia Bruce Webb. John Manning Ward was born in Sydney in 1919. He was a professor of history and later vice-chancellor at the University of Sydney. Patricia Bruce Webb was a librarian. She pioneered the local studies library movement in Australia. They married in 1951.
John Manning Ward had a distinguished career. He served as Challis Professor of History from 1949 to 1979. Ward also held visiting professorships at Yale, Oxford, and Cambridge. He was a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. In 1983 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia. This recognized his service to education.
Tragically, John and Patricia Ward died together in 1990. They were on a steam train excursion when a commuter train collided with it. Their daughter Jennifer also perished in the accident.
The John & Patricia Ward Library stands as a testament to their contributions. It’s a place of learning and discovery. The library supports the UNSW community through extensive scholarly information resources. The library also offers digital collections. These collections reflect the university’s history and activities.
The UNSW Library offers various resources. There is an exhibitions program. It showcases creative research outputs and student work. The library also provides access to unique digital content. This content is curated by the Library, Records & Archives. The UNSW Library newsletter keeps academic staff updated on library services.
So, as you enter the John & Patricia Ward Library remember their legacy. They dedicated their lives to education and libraries.