Harding Library of Law & History Officially Named

The new name of the library in Shenandoah University’s Davis Hall honors a family of alumni with a deep connection to the university. 

The Harding Library of Law & History honors Jeffrey Harding ’81, J.D., as well as his wife, Yvonne ’79, ’80, whom Jeffrey met at Shenandoah, and Jeffrey’s father, Jordan Harding ’50, who graduated from Shenandoah with a junior college diploma. 

A recent naming ceremony featured comments from Shenandoah President Tracy Fitzsimmons, Ph.D.; McCormick Civil War Institute Director Jonathan Noyalas ’01, M.A.; and Professor of History Warren Hofstra, Ph.D., who taught Jeffrey, who was a history major at Shenandoah. Davis Hall is home to the university’s history and political science departments, and many history and political science majors attended the naming ceremony. Jeffrey is also a member of Shenandoah’s faculty. He teaches two sections of a mock trial class and oversees the university’s first nationally competitive mock trial team. 

Jeffrey Harding, who is a Maryland-based litigation attorney, said his father (who has also given books to the library) instilled a love of Shenandoah within him. This filial affection for Shenandoah inspired Jeffrey to also give back to the university. 

He has worked with Dr. Hofstra to make sure students have the resources they need in the library, contributed to the creation of the library’s shelves, and donated a long conference table fashioned from one solid piece of walnut and chairs handcrafted by a Pennsylvania Amish woodworker. 

He also intends to continue to help improve Davis Hall, which is located next to the Winchester-Frederick County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and plans to contribute to the renovation of the academic building’s patio. 

Shenandoah is deeply thankful to Jeff Harding for his generosity!