The Pogue Library was completed in 1931 and served as the central library until 1978. G. Tandy Smith from Paducah, Kentucky was the architect that designed the building in the Renaissance Revivial style. At the time, it was considered one of the most handsome buildings in the state and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The building consists of a ground floor, along with three other floors and contains a beautiful, ornate reading room. Another outstanding feature is the bronze doors on both east and west entrances. They were the focus of controversy in 1930, when the cost was rumored to be over $40,000. The actual cost was $14,000 and the "gold doors" of Pogue Library are still today in use. Pogue Library is named in honor of Dr. Forrest C. Pogue, a 1931 Murray State University alumnus. Dr. Pogue was a nationally known historian and biographer of General George C. Marshall. In 1989, he donated his books, personal papers and memorabilia to the library.
Today the Pogue Library houses Special Collections, the University Archives and the James O. Overby Law Library.
Special Collections
Special Collections, located in Pogue Library, contains materials relating to the history and culture of Western Kentucky and neighboring states and the states from which most of the early settlers of this area came: Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Among the library's collections are those relating to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the Civil War, and local history. Also of note are the Forrest C. Pogue 20th Century War and Diplomacy Collection, which includes the books and papers of Dr. Pogue as well as the Pierce Collection on World War II; the Jesse Stuart Collection which contains photographs, first editions, manuscripts, and memorabilia relating to the life and career of Jesse Stuart (1907-1984), Kentucky Poet Laureate; and the manuscript collection, which contains the papers of every congressman to serve the First District of Kentucky since 1902, with one exception. For further information contact Special Collections (809-4295).
University Archives
The University Archives is the repository of material relating to the establishment, development, and ongoing operation of Murray State University. Among the types of materials it collects are papers of the presidents, catalogs, yearbooks, photographs, publications and reports, brochures, faculty publications, biographical material, and memorabilia. Individuals having materials relating to the history of the university are asked to call the archivist at 809-4295. The archives is located in Pogue Library and is open during regular hours, weekdays only.
James O. Overby Law Library
The Overby Law Library, located on the lower level of Pogue Library , was named in honor of James O. Overby in 1997. Mr. Overby was a 1939 Murray State University alumnus and served as University General Counsel for almost 30 years. The collection consists of basic legal material governing the United States and individual states. Included are codes, statutes, digests, reports, citations, regulations, forms and standard treatises covering major areas of law. The library also has access to LexisNexis search capabilities. For further information contact James O. Overby Law Library (809-6758).