Campus Scout: Lilly Library’s Thomas Room0

by Libby

One of the quietest, warmest, and most beautiful study spaces on campus is the reading room of Lilly Library’s second floor, known as both the Thomas Room and the Chinese Reading Room.

History

The room was opened in 1942 in honor of James Augustus Thomas, a friend of Benjamin and James Duke.  Thomas was largely responsible for the establishment of cigarettes in Chinese culture after spending three decades in China with the British American Tobacco Company.

Art

Chinese and Japanese pieces of art and furniture displayed in the room have been donated by the family and friends of Thomas.  The Coromandel screen standing against the room’s west wall is one of the oldest pieces of art on display at Duke, having been created during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).  Other tapestries, paintings, prints, vases, and sculptures create a cozy and decorative environment.

Study

Why are Duke’s libraries always so cold?!  If you’re looking for a warmer place to study, the Thomas Room always seems to provide a temperature that doesn’t require a sweater, jacket and scarf to be comfortable.  A line of solid wood tables and chairs runs down the room’s center for alert studying, while cozy couches and chairs are placed throughout the room for more relaxed studying.  Being a “reading room,” it is also a good destination for those who prefer working in a quiet space.

Despite the state-of-the-art renovations of Perkins and Bostock Libraries, sometimes we all need to surround ourselves with a space full of character and history.

(Photo Credit: Libby Busdicker)