Guide to the

Lawrence University Buildings,

Main Hall Collection

Collection number: LU-ARC20-01

University Archives

Seeley G. Mudd Library

Lawrence University

Appleton, Wisconsin

Contact information:

University Archives

Seeley G. Mudd Library

113 S. Lawe Street

Lawrence University

Appleton, WI 54911

Phone: (920) 832-6753

Fax: (920) 832-6967

Email: archives@lawrence.edu

URL: http://www.lawrence.edu/library/archives/

© 2005 Lawrence University. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary of the Collection

Title

Lawrence University buildings, Main Hall collection

Inclusive dates

1853-2003

Collection number

LU-ARC20-01

Extent

1 linear foot (1 box)

Language of collection material

Collection is in English.

Repository

Lawrence University. Seeley G. Mudd Library. University Archives.

Appleton, Wisconsin 54911

Abstract

This collection is comprised of materials documenting the history of Main Hall, Lawrence University's main college building that was built in 1853. Correspondence, newspaper clippings, programs, and photographs are included in the collection. The collection is part of the Lawrence University Buildings Collection. Materials are arranged alphabetically by subject and type of material, then in chronological order at the file level.

Important Information for Researchers

 Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication rights

Property rights reside with Lawrence University. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the University Archivist.

Preferred citation

Lawrence University Buildings, Main Hall Collection. LU-ARC20-01. University Archives, Seeley G. Mudd Library, Appleton, Wisconsin.

Acquisition information

Materials on Main Hall were collected and placed in the Archives vertical file prior to 2005. The donor and source of the materials, as well as who collected them and arranged them in the vertical file is unknown. Materials on Main Hall will continue to be collected and placed in this collection by the University Archivist .

Processing history

Preliminary processing done prior to 2005, date and processor unknown. Further processing and finding aid was done by Katherine Elchert, 2008. Final processing and completion of finding aid was done by Julia Stringfellow, 2008.

Main Hall, the oldest building on the Lawrence University campus, was built in 1853. The main college building was built to accommodate the growing college that was created in 1847. Excavation for the site of Main Hall began in the spring of 1853. Stones from the local Fox River were used in building the hall. The laying of the cornerstone occurred on June 29, 1853. The capstone was laid May 27, 1854. The building began being used in the fall of 1854 and housed all the college's classrooms, the laboratory, the library, administrative and faculty offices, a dining room, a chapel, and even living quarters.

Electricity was installed in the building in 1888. President William Howard Taft was the first president to visit the college and spoke on the Main Hall front steps in 1911. The historical importance of the building was recognized in 1974, when Main Hall was entered in the National Register of Historical Places of the United States Park Service.

Main Hall currently holds classrooms and faculty offices for the humanities, along with the John G. Strange Student Commons.

See also: Breunig, Charles, A great and good work :a history of Lawrence University, 1847-1964.

Raney, William Francis, The history of Lawrence University, 1847-1925.

Schumann, Marguerite E., Creation of a campus; a chronicle of Lawrence College buildings and the men who made them.

Chronology

Collection Scope and Content Summary

This collection is comprised of materials documenting the history of Main Hall, Lawrence University's main college building that was built in 1853. Correspondence, newspaper clippings, programs, and photographs are included in the collection. The collection is part of the Lawrence University Buildings Collection.

Collection Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject and type of material, then chronologically at the file level.

Related Collections

The following collection in University Archives contains related materials:

• Lawrence University Vertical File Collection.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

Lawrence University.

Lawrence University Buildings.

Lawrence University History.

Genres and Forms of Materials

Clippings.

Letters.

Photographic prints.

Collection Contents