Front Radford Room

In 1995, the Radford Rooms were established in a suite of adjoining rooms in the John Preston McConnell Library.  These rooms serve as an ongoing celebration of Radford's heritage by displaying photographs and artifacts relating to the history of Radford University.  On display are a number of items associated with John Preston McConnell, the first president of the University (1911-1937), as well as rare panoramic photographs of students and faculty taken from the 1910s to the 1930s, a Highlander band uniform, and unique photographs of student life. 

The Arthur and Dorothy Goldberg Collection

In the summer of 2000, the family of former Supreme Court Justice Arthur J. Goldberg donated his personal working library, three volumes of his public papers, and other items to Radford University's McConnell Library and University Archives. Justice Goldberg served as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at RU from 1987 to 1989.
More than 1600 books from his personal library have been designated as the Goldberg Collection. Encompassing works on foreign policy, international relations, the labor movement, social issues and the arts, the Goldberg Collection enhances the holdings of McConnell Library and Archives and gives current and future students of Radford University a personal connection to his life and work.
The books comprising the Goldberg Collection area reflection of the justice's rich and varied career. In 1961, he was appointed Secretary of Labor by John F. Kennedy and served in that post until his appointment in 1962 as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. His tenure on the court lasted until 1965 when Lyndon Johnson asked him to serve as United States Ambassador to the United Nations. His frustration at the continuing escalation of the Vietnam War prompted him to resign his UN post in 1968. Goldberg returned to the practice of law and in the late 1970s he served as President Jimmy Carter's Ambassador-at-Large on human rights issues.
This extraordinary gift was made possible by the generosity if the Goldbergs' son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Barbara Goldberg, their daughter, Barbara Cramer, and three grandchildren, Duncan and Angus Goldberg and Esther Goldberg Harrison, the latter a 1991 graduate of Radford University. Political Science professor Al Pearson was also instrumental in the university's acquisition of the collection and worked closely with Goldberg during his days at Radford.

Around the Room

The display in the far bookcase is devoted to M'Ledge Moffett, professor at the school when it opened in 1913 and Dean of Women from 1920 until 1969.  Female students entertained their male guests in sitting areas much like this.  In response to declining enrollment, the school first opened its doors to male students for the regular academic year in 1972.

Moving to the right, within the cabinets on the south wall of the room are examples of china with different images of Radford scenery, pictures from the Dedmon presidency, and trophies won over the years in academic and athletic contests. 

Continuing to the right, the view looks back towards the main entrance to the Radford Rooms.   The wall to the left of the entrance features the picture and diploma of Sallie Lorena Caldwell, the first Radford student to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree.  Publications of Radford faculty and staff are located on the bookshelf just inside the doorway; campus and student pictures chronicling the school's early years can also be seen on display.

Groups are welcome to reserve the Front Radford Room; contact the Administrative Offices at 831-5471.