Reid Memorial Library was originally erected as a chapel by William Henry Reid in 1890, in memory of his wife Eleanor Irwin Reid. The ceiling is constructed using wooden pegs without the use of nails and resembles the hull of a ship. The large Praise Angel Window of Tiffany glass on the east side of the room was given in memory of Harriet Newell Haskell, principal of Monticello from 1867-1907. The Praise Angel Study Room attracts hundreds of visitors each year who marvel at the workmanship of the hull-shaped ceiling and the intricacy of the Praise Angel Window.

Under the guidance of Miss Haskell, Monticello reached new heights of academic excellence and her spirit became the very lifeblood of the institution. Although sustaining personal injury, her spirit was not deterred by the 1888 fire which destroyed the main building. School folklore continues that Miss Haskell's spirit still inhabits the main complex.

The Reid wing was originally built as an infirmiry and turned into a library in 1943. Reid reopened in the summer of of 1988 following the completion of a new $3.1 million dollar Learning Resource Center on the second floor.

Praise Angel Window

The Praise Angel is a focal point in Reid Memorial Library. the stained glass window is a part of the beauty of the Main Complex, which was designed by Theodore Link who also designed Union Station in St. Louis.