The science library was officially named the Sarah Shannon Stevenson Science Library in September, 1976. “Engineering” came later. Little is known about Mrs. Stevenson. She served two terms as president of the Nashville Junior League in 1929-31. Partial to crisp suits and white gloves it is said that she enjoyed a game of poker along with a glass of whiskey. Her portrait, painted by Hungarian-American artist Sandor Bodo, hangs inside the library to the right of the service desk next to her husband, Eldon B. Stevenson Jr. ’14, (1893-1972). Mr. Stevenson was a member of the Vanderbilt Board of Trust and president of National Life and Accident Insurance Co. in Nashville. He led the fundraising in the 1960’s that made possible the original construction of the science complex later named the Stevenson Center for the Natural Sciences.
Please join library staff in celebrating Sarah Shannon Stevenson and the library named in her honor.