Trinity College to 'dename' library called after world-renowned Kilkenny philosopher

Trinity College Dublin is to 'dename' its famous Berkeley Library while adopting a 'retain-and-explain' approach to a stained-glass window commemorating the world-renowned Kilkenny philosopher George Berkeley.

Portraits depicting Berkeley will be assessed in the future by a new overall college policy on artwork, while the academic Gold Medals memorialising Berkeley will be reviewed by the relevant academic department. Opened in 1967, Trinity’s largest library was named in 1978 after Berkeley, who was a former librarian there.

He was born at Dysart, Kilkenny in March 1685, and educated at Kilkenny College. He went to Trinity College Dublin in March 1700, receiving his BA degree in February 1704. Berkeley held several college offices including Librarian (1709), Junior Dean (1710), junior Greek Lecturer (1712), senior Greek lecturer (1721), Divinity lecturer and preacher (1721) senior Proctor (1722) and Hebrew lecturer (1723). As librarian in 1709 he was instrumental in overseeing the building of a new library (now the old library). 

The University of Berkelely in California, and the City of Berkeley, US, are both named for him. He is regarded as a 'founding father' of the American education system, and made substantial donations to Yale University. It has been observed elsewhere that while his ideas are studied today throughout the world, there is no plaque or a street name bearing his name in his homeplace of Kilkenny.

However, his reputation has come under scrutiny in recent years, as Berkeley was also a slaveowner when he established a plantation in the USA. He bought slaves – named Philip, Anthony, Edward, and Agnes Berkeley – to work on his Rhode Island estate in 1730-31 and sought to advance ideology in support of slavery. 

Trinity's decision was taken by the University’s Board following several months of research, analysis and public consultation overseen by the Trinity Legacies Review Working Group, which is considering legacy issues on a case-by-case basis. 

Trinity decided that the continued use of the Berkeley name on its library is inconsistent with the University’s core values of human dignity, freedom, inclusivity, and equality. The denaming does not deny Berkeley’s importance as a writer, philosopher, and towering intellectual figure. His philosophical work will still be taught at Trinity and remains of significant contemporary relevance. A separate process will determine what the new name for the library should be. 

Trinity’s Provost Dr Linda Doyle said: “The landscape of a university, especially one as old as Trinity, is not static. Each generation of students and staff deserves a chance to influence decisions. In this case, it was our students who called on us to address the issue. We welcome their engagement, and we thank the Trinity Legacies Review Working Group for its assistance in providing evidence-based information to underpin this decision. 

“George Berkeley’s enormous contribution to philosophical thought is not in question. However, it is also clear that he was both an owner of enslaved people and a theorist of slavery and racial discrimination, which is in clear conflict with Trinity’s core values.” 

Prof Eoin O Sullivan, Senior Dean and Chair of the Trinity Legacies Review Working Group, said: “I am grateful to all those who contributed their time and expertise to the consideration of this critical issue. We received close to 100 submissions from members of the public, alumni and our own students and staff on this matter. 

“Especially influential on our thinking has been the pioneering work at the universities of Glasgow, Dalhousie, Brown, and Harvard, all of which have faced similar issues to those we face at Trinity as we reckon with our past. We are committed to addressing issues around Trinity’s complex legacy, from an evidence-based perspective and on a case-by-case basis.” 
 
Helen Shenton, librarian and College Archivist at Trinity College Dublin, said: “Technological advances, societal changes and cultural evolutions shape the Library for each generation. Libraries are both fundamental constants in the university and simultaneously constantly in flux. 

“The library building known today as the ‘Berkeley’ started out as the ‘New’ Library in 1967. As a 21st century lbrary, another name change prioritises the current generation of students’ experience of a welcoming and supportive Library space. There is the opportunity to be creative and imaginative in response to this change.  

“Trinity will continue to hold George Berkeley’s philosophical works in the library collections and continue to teach and to research his works.”