George Thomas Building

Holder of two Harvard University degrees, and the Ph.D. from the University of Halle, Germany, Utah-born George Thomas first came to the University of Utah as professor of economics and acting dean of the school of commerce. From those positions he was elected state superintendent of public instruction, serving in that office only briefly before being chosen president of the University in 1922. His 22-year administration was a time of sustained emphasis on scholastic standards for students and scholarly achievement for the faculty. His goals for the University were stated clearly and often: “We cannot be as large as some American universities, but we can be among the best.”

One of the urgent needs presented to the Legislature by President Thomas was for a modern library building “to meet not only the requirements of the present, but take care of the growth of the institution for a considerable number of years.” Following a long period of careful negotiation, the Federal Public Works Ad- ministration approved funding of $500,000 for a new library building. The name of the building was decided by a Regents’ resolution stating: “In recognition of the splendid services rendered the University of Utah by Dr. George Thomas during his presidency the library about to be erected on the University campus is to be named in his honor.” Ground was broken for the building by President Thomas in 1933 and the building was dedicated and named in 1935. When a new library was completed in 1968, the George Thomas Building was renovated to house the Utah Museum of Natural History.