Reference:BRYDEGAARD ROOM

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BRYDEGAARD ROOM

Room 439 on the 4th floor of Love Library. The key is in Library Administration and in Josie Acevedo's office.

Library records in the University Archives contain a folder with the heading "Brydegaard Room" (Box 25: Series VIII: Library Planning and Construction, Subseries E: Facilities and Equipment), which consists primarily of correspondence and memoranda written by then-library director Louis A. Kenney. The origin of the room predates the opening of Love Library in 1971. In the old library building, it was called the Brydegaard Memorial Room (as per a memo written by Kenney, dated 6 April 1962) and was named in honor of Marguerite Brydegaard, San Diego State professor of education (with specialty in mathematics) from 1936 to 1976. Dr. Brydegaard had donated books and periodicals relating to art and architecture (the occupational field of her late husband, Herluf Brydegaard) since at least December 1960, according to the correspondence in the file. The room designation was in recognition of her generosity and was also supported by the Herluf Brydegaard Memorial Fund. It was intended not only to house the gift materials but also to provide a relaxing study space. There is also a description of the room as originally conceived.

When Love Library was constructed, the Brydegaard Room remained a part of the building plans and would be assigned to room 439. The file contains no official gift agreement. The only hint with regard to furnishing stipulations can be found in an interoffice memo to Louis Kenney from humanities librarian Lester K. Smith. In the memo dated 31 December 1965, Smith writes in response to a potential donor's desire to provide art work for the room. Smith mentions that the room was designed by Dr. Brydegaard and others as a conceptual whole, and he recommended to Kenney that nothing be added to it without initially consulting Dr. Brydegaard. Marguerite Brydegaard died in 1991 at age 81. The biographical file we house in University Archives includes an obituary notice that lists siblings and nieces and nephews as her survivors.

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