ARCHITECTURE IN A P I C TO R I A L H I STO RY o f W E S L E YA N U N I V E R S I T Y
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oct. 1st through dec. 21st
WA D S W O RT H ATHENEUM H A RT F O R D , C T
W
esleyan was founded in 1831 by Methodist leaders and Middletown
citizens. There was just 48 students, three professors and one tutor. Willbur Fisk was the first president who believed education was good for the individual and good for the world.
In 1937 the university became
independent from the Methodist church and has offered liberal arts programs in innovations rather than theological training. It was soon known for being one of New England’s top colleges. Today the university offers 47 major fields in 40 departments. There are approximately 2,800 full time undergraduates and 200 graduates. Wesleyan produces intellectual entrepreneurs who see possible futures and create them.
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4. 8. 12. FA Y E R W E A T H E R
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MEMORIAL CHAPEL
O L I N M E M O R I A L L I B R A RY
PA T R I C E L L I T H E A T E R
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FAYERWEATHER WESLEYAN UNIVERSIT Y
B
uilt in 1894, Fayerweather was originally the university’s gymnasium.
It is known for its two Romanesque towers that were designed by architect J.C. Cady. Cady has also designed the south wing in New York’s American Museum of Natural History and buildings at Williams College and Yale University. Since then, the newly renovated Fayerweather holds space for theatrical and dance rehearsals and on the second floor, Beckham Hall can hold large dinners, dances, and lectures. The hall is named for the late Edgar Beckham who was dean of the university from 1973-1990.
designer: j.c. cady
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year: 1894
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FA Y E R W E A T H E R
MEMORIAL CHAPEL WESLEYAN UNIVERSIT Y
T
he Memorial Chapel was built in 1871 in honor of Wesleyan alumni who
died during the Civil War. In 1916, Henry Bacon remodeled the building to what it is know as today. It can host religious services, large lectures, concerts, and even weddings. Having the largest teaching and assembly place on campus, classrooms are found on the first floor while the chapel is on the second floor. Wesleyan has a diverse spiritual life and therefore has four chaplains: Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, and Muslin, which each hold a weekly service. This makes Memorial Chapel not controlled by one specific religion.
designer: unknown
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year: 1871
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MEMORIAL CHAPEL
OLIN LIBRARY
WESLEYAN UNIVERSIT Y
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lin Library was designed by Henry Bacon, the same architect who
designed the Lincoln Memorial. McKim, Mead & White were the architects. This library was built in 1928 in honor of the University’s second president, Stephan Olin. In 1939 and again in 1986 the building doubled in size from new additions. The library is the largest of Wesleyans four libraries as it holds 1.3 million volumes and more than 6,800 periodicals. The building is quiet with reading rooms and cubicles between book stacks.
designer: henry bacon
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year: 1928
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O L I N M E M O R I A L L I B R A RY
PATRICELLI THEATER WESLEYAN UNIVERSIT Y
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his building was completed in 1868, and originally was the university
library called Rich Hall. It was designed by Henry Austin and David Russel Brown. In 1928, after the Olin Library was built, this building became the theater with help from donations from the Class of 1892. In 2003, the building was renovated and dedicated to Leonard J. Patricelli who was from the class of 1929. The theater is home to Second Stage, a student run theater production which has shown more than 600 productions over the years. All these events are held on the Ring Family Stage.
designer: henry austin
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year: 1868
SIXTEEN
PA T R I C E L L I T H E A T E R
WE SH A PE OU R BU I LDING S; TH ER E A F T E R TH EY SHAPE US. ~ WINSTON CHURCHILL
NINETEEN
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