The above quote is from Daphne Moore—Class of 1985. Read her full memory below:

In the early weeks of my freshman year at Brown, I went to the second floor reading room at the Rock because I’d heard that it might be a good place to find cute guys. Shortly after settling in, I looked up and saw a great-looking guy with a gorgeous head of dark curls. I left the room to gather some intel on him and had my hopes quickly deflated by a smirking upperclassman who informed me that the man in question was none other than John Kennedy, Jr. I never got to know John, but I saw him on the Green many times over the years. I’ll forever think of him and those beautiful curls, though, when I think of the Rock.

The following Rock memory was submitted anonymously by a graduate of the class of 1981 and also a Rock Employee from 1982-1989:

During the years that I worked at Brown, I always loved being greeted by the door guard’s origami display.

Danny Sugar (Class of 2011) shares the following memory of the Rock:

The Rock was my favorite place at Brown.

The above quote is from Andrew Halvorsen—Class of 1968. Read his full memory below:

A wonderful place to study—although I really preferred the John Hay because it was quieter and less social—but the Rock was the place I started reading the Wall Street Journal in the spring of my senior year. I immediately realized that I was in love with finance and had found my career!

The above quote is from Bernard Langs—Class of 1979. Read his full memory below:

In the mid-1970s, the Rockefeller Library had a table with old original copies of the New York Times bound together in volumes. On study breaks, I’d sometimes comb through these relics and it was incredible to see not only the news items (such as from World War II), but the vintage ads as well. The memory of looking through those old newspapers has stayed with me.

The above quote is from Lex Rofes—Class of 2013. Read the full memory below:

For many, the Rockefeller is a place of study. It was for me, too. But more than that, it was a place I grew substantially through my participation in the Naked Donut Run on many occasions. This tradition at Brown is such a fantastic one, that helps reduce societal stigmas about nudity, and is also just a really fun way to de-stress during the craziness of finals. I will always remember certain areas of the Rock in which I studied regularly, but I will also remember that it was a place for dozens of students each semester to be a part of an event that just wouldn’t be able to happen in many other places on the planet other than at Brown University.

The above quote is from Aaron Bartnick—Class of 2011. Read his full memory below:

I spent most of 2010 writing my thesis in the basement stacks of the Rock. At first I was frustrated to be assigned a carrel in the windowless basement, but it was a surreal experience that I wouldn’t change for anything.

The following Rock memory was submitted anonymously from by a graduate of the class of 2008:

I often felt like I lived at the Rock while I was a student at Brown. When I finally was assigned a carrel on the third floor during my senior year when I was working on an honors thesis in History, I felt as though I had been awarded a special prize for the most hardcore library geeks. I’ll admit that on more than a few afternoons, I found myself catching up on sleep in one of the big chairs in a reading room, or even at a carrel. My preferred spot faced up towards campus, but for a change of pace I would venture back, towards the city, and watch the sun set over Providence while completing my reading or paper writing.

The above quote is from Lynn Hickey (Mooney)—Class of 1967. Read her full memory below:

I have very fond memories of “The Rock” because that is where I met my future husband, in the Social Sciences Reserve Reading Room. I loved studying in the carrells too, taking breaks to socialize in the lounges, and just exploring various sections of the stacks.

Elaine Prior (Class of 1967) shares the following memory of the Rock:

The first time a boy gave me a rose was in the Rock. That boy has been my husband for 47 years.