Maxwell Reading Room

The Maxwell Collection & Reading Room

During the 2008 Homecoming Weekend, PUC celebrated the opening of a room in the library that is rich with history, heritage, and childhood memories. The Maxwell Reading Room is the result of a gift from the Maxwell family, including material given by the late Malcolm Maxwell, a beloved former president of PUC. The collection of material celebrates the legacy of Malcolm’s father, Arthur S. Maxwell, and especially his contribution to Seventh-day Adventist children’s literature.

Arthur Maxwell — or “Uncle Arthur” — served as editor of the Signs of the Times for 34 years and wrote over 100 volumes. His work is well known in the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist community, especially his books for children. Generations of Seventh-day Adventists have childhood memories of Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories and The Bible Story. These books, and others from Arthur Maxwell’s collection, became popular across countries and denominations and continue to sell today.

The collection in the Maxwell Reading Room gives people an opportunity for nostalgia with first editions of Uncle Arthur’s volumes, as well as the original hand-written and typed manuscripts. The collection is not yet complete, and more material will still be added to the room over time.

The Maxwell Reading room is the most recent addition of library space dedicated to learning, studying, and teaching activities. This is a very comfortable and cozy room with a fireplace and it provides students with an inviting place for quiet study, reflection, discovery, and discussion.