A Legacy Etched in Stone and Spirit: Exploring Historical Landmarks at Michigan State University
Michigan State University (MSU), a beacon of education and progress, boasts a rich history interwoven with remarkable architecture and significant landmarks. From its humble beginnings as Michigan Agricultural College (MAC) to its current status as a leading research university, MSU's campus reflects its evolution and enduring commitment to its students and the world. This article delves into the stories behind some of MSU's most iconic structures, celebrating the individuals and events that have shaped the university's identity.
West Circle Drive Residence Halls: Honoring Women of Influence
The residence halls of West Circle Drive are easily distinguishable by their collegiate style architecture and traditional structure. These buildings are some of the oldest and most historic dorms on Michigan State’s campus. The West Circle residence halls are named after six women who were influential during the early days of the university: Louise H. Campbell, Maude Gilchrist, Linda Landon, Mary Mayo, Sarah Langdon Williams and Elida Yakeley. These halls serve as a daily reminder of the pioneering women who paved the way for future generations.
- Louise H. Campbell: An advocate for the education of rural women, Campbell coordinated the first Farm Women’s Week in 1928 and headed the home economics extension in the 1920s.
- Maude Gilchrist: In 1901, Gilchrist became the dean of the women’s department and later the first dean of home economics, a position she held until 1913.
- Linda Landon: The university’s first female instructor, Landon taught English composition and served as head librarian from 1891 to 1932. She was known for her kindness and helpfulness.
- Mary Mayo: Known as “Mother Mayo,” she championed the establishment of domestic science classes for women and served as chairperson of the women’s work committee for a chapter of The Grange. Shortly before her death in 1903, Mayo wrote, “I love everybody so much. I have wanted to help people to be kinder, truer, sweeter."
- Sarah Langdon Williams: A passionate advocate for women's suffrage, Williams founded and edited “Ballot Box,” the official publication of the women’s suffrage movement.
- Elida Yakeley: Yakeley, the university’s first registrar, modernized the student enrollment process by conceiving the idea of registering students and grades by machine.
Director of MSU arts and cultural partnerships C. Kurt Dewhurst agrees. “It's something I think we can all take pride in at a period of time when today we’re giving serious thought to gender equity, gender inequalities,” Dewhurst said.
“Women who are able to attend schools like this are going to be able to form obviously lifelong friendships, but also get involved in social movements and professional organizations,” Conroy-Krutz said.
Criminal justice and psychology sophomore Lauren Keith has lived in the West Circle dorms the past two years. “There weren't a lot of expectations because it was all girls. We weren't really trying to impress anyone,” Keith said. “I think it's cool to learn that there was a purpose for all of these different names that you really don't think twice about in your daily life, but they are really meaningful,” Keith said. “I also think that we as a community don't value our history as much as we should,” Dewhurst said. “It would only increase our appreciation of what it means to spend the time that we're spending in East Lansing on this campus. “You can’t really know history without understanding the place of women,” Conroy-Krutz said.
Read also: Explore the history of Alumni Hall in Boone
The MSU Union: A Hub of Campus Life
The history of the MSU Union dates back to 1905, when Michigan State University was known as Michigan Agricultural College (MAC) and its student body numbered just 351 students. Since the 1880’s, college unions had multiplied across the country, and there was great interest at MAC in building a center where students could gather. A committee formed to plan the union, but without the funding, the project was just talk. Ten years later, the MAC Class of 1915 pledged a $5 contribution from each student. The paltry sum of $5 in 1915 was worth about $117 in today’s dollars.
World War I intervened, and efforts for a union ground to a halt. After the war, plans recommenced, and planners changed the name to the Memorial Union, in honor of American soldiers who had perished in service to the country. By June of 1923, the Alumni Association moved forward with the ground-breaking ceremony, but could not continue without the necessary funds. However, in 1923, people believed in rolling up their sleeves, pitching in, and doing things themselves.
Robert J. McCarthy, the Alumni Association’s Secretary, organized “Excavation Week” November 19 - 24 of 1923, and male students, faculty, and volunteers were organized into teams of 30 to dig the foundation for the Memorial Union Building. It was hard labor, but they were good sports about it and enjoyed competing with their profs for prizes each day. They were excused from class and assigned to work in 4-hour shifts, while the Varsity band played and the female students served refreshments. “Excavation Week” was a one-of-a-kind event and a huge success-it received national attention, which helped to get contributions rolling in again.
But when construction stalled due to lack of funds, Michigan’s then-governor Alex J. At last the MAC Memorial Union opened June 12, 1925. The Pond brothers employed a Scholastic Gothic style of construction, and hired many artists to create the many paintings and sculptures that adorn the building inside and out. All of the fireplaces were lined with Pewabic tiles. Over the south entrance of the Union, Samuel A. The new building had a 955-capacity second-floor, two-story auditorium for dining, dancing, and meetings. There were 16 private guest rooms on the second and third floors for alumni and friends; a barber shop; a bookstore; a beauty salon; a large centralized kitchen, and the offices of the Alumni Association.
The Union became the center of campus life, and it was constantly hopping. Since its opening in 1925, the Union has undergone many additions and renovations. In 1955, when the University officially changed its name to Michigan State University of Agriculture and Applied Science, the building became known as the MSU Union. A handicap-accessible ramp was added. Guest rooms were converted, and other functions moved into the Union. Jacqueline D. President John F.
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Alumni Memorial Chapel: A Sanctuary of Remembrance
Located on Auditorium Rd, situated next to the Kresge Art Center and across the street from Baker Hall, is the Alumni Memorial Chapel. A small chapel, most people walk by paying it no attention, but it is a stop all MSU students and alumni should make. Construction on the chapel began in 1950 and was dedicated on Alumni Day, June 7, 1952. The alumni of MSU paid for the chapel to memorialize all Spartan men and women that served in the United States military forces and died while serving their country during World War II. Inside the chapel’s narthex, above the entrance to the nave, is a sign that reads, “These names represent those who died in the armed forces” and the walls are engraved with 589 names and dates of the men and women that died.
Even though the chapel was dedicated to the fallen during World War II, all MSU affiliated men and women that died during military service have been included in the memorial. 1861 marks the earliest when the first graduating class left to fight in the Civil War. The chapel is an interdenominational spiritual center for all faiths and religions. The beauty of the chapel lies in the thirty-eight stained glass windows. When the chapel opened in 1952, the only stained glass windows installed were the ones above the chancel. At the time, the Council did not have the finances to complete all of the windows. As the years passed, individuals and graduating classes donated money for the stained glass windows to be made and installed. The window designs were selected so any person of any faith can enter the chapel and not feel offended by symbols of any religion and most are arranged into groups of three, also called a triptych. In 1950, a committee was established to consider the subject matter of the windows, which than led to a sub-committee to draw up specific suggestions for the themes selected. For over eight years, the committees worked on themes, designs, ideas, and depictions for the east windows. The Willet Stained Glass Studios of Philadelphia designed all thirty-eight windows in the chapel. The windows on the left side of the chapel represent education experiences as they relate to modern life. The windows on the right side of the chapel tell the history of Michigan State University, and the windows at the front represent, “Religion, Brotherhood, and Patriotism.” Today, the windows are registered in the Michigan Stained Glass Census.
Throughout the chapel are thirty-one stones, some over 500 years old, taken from bombed European cathedrals that have been set into the walls of the narthex, nave, chancel, and basement. Four stones are from England, two from France, twenty-four from Germany, and one from the Netherlands. Some of the stones originated from St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey in London, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and Cathedral of Regensburg in Germany. There is a stone from the White House and a stone from the grave of Henry F. Lyte, composer of “Abide with Me” for a total of thirty-three stones. Many of these stones were given as gifts, in support of the chapel representing the men and women that died for our country but also for theirs. In a letter to Joe White, Lothar Schroeder from Brunswick, Germany, offered a piece of his church and was proud of why he was sending it.
A generous gift of O. W. Mourer, an organ built by the Pels Company of Alkmaar, The Netherlands was installed in the chapel. The organ was built and tuned in the Netherlands then dismantled and shipped to the Michigan Organ Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Michigan Organ Company designed and installed the organ. In total, there are 1331 pipes. The organ was dedicated on June 6, 1953, almost exactly one year later from when the chapel was dedicated. Sadly, the organ no longer works. Over time, the pipes have suffered damage from warping. The College of Music hopes to install a new organ which would again allow music to be played during services and weddings. Along with the stones, stained glass windows, and organ, in a wooden display case in the narthex, is a collection of old Bibles. Sixty-nine bibles are in different languages, including Swahili and Burmese. The Alumni Chapel is open year round and holds over 160 weddings annually.
“The other day when I was reading over the casualty list in the last MSC RECORD, I remembered that the College does not have a chapel. Why wouldn’t it be a good idea to approach MSC Alumnae, particularly those who might be well to do, and start a fund towards the construction of a chapel in memory and honor of those who have given their lives in this present war. The natural name, of course, would be Memorial Chapel and would be a very fitting memorial. Hannah responded to Richard’s father, Lawrence Osmer, saying that it was a good idea but didn’t know if enough funds could be collected for such a building. Also, the college was planning to add a major addition to the Union Building and commented that the chapel could maybe be included. On June 8, 1946, Alumni Day and Commencement Day, President Hannah announced that a Memorial Center, consisting of a chapel and international center, would be constructed to honor the memory of MSC’s former students who gave their lives during the war. The chapel would provide a religious house on campus and the international center would have a better, permanent home. The project was proposed by the Alumni Advisory Council and would be entirely funded by alumni donations. Glen O. Stewart, ’17, Director of Alumni Relations for the college, coordinated the program for collecting donations. The estimated cost for the project was around $300,000. Alumni were sent a letter and a booklet entitled “We Accept Our Heritage…” describing the need for the center, proposed drawings for both buildings, where it would be located, proposed budget costs, the committee members information, and a list of names of MSU soldiers that died during WWII. By April 1948, the Memorial Center Fund passed the $100,000 mark. Through the summer and fall of that year, the Council kept pushing for more donations, with the goal of 100% alumni contributing, but donations were slowing down. Reported at the June 3, 1949 Alumni Advisory Council meeting, the total pledged to the Memorial Fund was $163,735.00. Finally, at the October 21, 1949 meeting, the Council understood that they were still $146,000 short of their goal. The money they currently had would not allow them to build the Memorial Center. At that meeting, by a unanimous decision, it was decided that a chapel would be built, with the international center put on hold. In the fall of 1950, construction began on the new Alumni Memorial Chapel. The location was moved to the North bank of the Red Cedar River, across from Shaw Hall. It was felt that the original location (where the library is now) would be suitable for the chapel but there wouldn’t be the allowed space for the later addition of the international center. Also, with the chapel going to be a standalone building, several Alumni Advisory Council members expressed that it should look like a chapel, with one member commenting that it, “doesn’t need a sign above the door to tell what it is.” To help, architect Ralph Calder, added a small tower to the backside of the chapel. The Alumni Advisory Council was hoping for the chapel to be completed in time for the 1951 Commencement ceremony, but unfortunately, it took another year before it was completed.
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Early Structures and Transformations
The evolution that led to the present campus has taken more than 150 years, with radical changes occuring occasionally from one year to the next. Built in 1856, College Hall was the first building in the nation erected for the instruction of scientific agriculture. It is believed to have been the first building constructed on campus, with six others following that year. These buildings were constructed on the site where Beaumont Tower now stands. College Hall was built as the school's principal building for classrooms, laboratories, and offices. Few public buildings have been so poorly constructed and plagued by defects that may have been the work of careless or dishonest contractors. College Hall's foundation rested on plank footings, and one corner of the basement wall enclosed a large stump. In 1918, students and alumni wishing to preserve College Hall as a landmark sought to rebuild the structure as a student union.
Built in 1856, Saints' Rest was the school's first dormitory and is believed to have been the second building erected on campus. At its height, Faculty Row comprised seven houses. These homes were built to house early faculty members and their families. Some of the university's first female students were residents of Faculty Row. Construction on the first four brick homes began in 1857. In 1907, East Lansing became a corporate entity as an extension of Faculty Row. By the 1940s, the growth of the university and its greater community made Faculty Row unnecessary. Demolition of these homes began in 1945 and continued through 1947. Only one structure, Cowles House, was spared.
Designed by Detroit architect E. E. Myers, the President's House was part of Faculty Row. It stood on the present site of Gilchrist Hall. During the years 1874-1915, the house was occupied by five university presidents and their families. Cowles House, known in the early years as the "farm cottage," served as the original president's residence from 1857 until the President's House was built in 1874. In 1915, the President's House was converted into a dormitory for senior women. It also housed the College Hospital from 1925-1939.
Named for President Joseph R. Williams and built in 1869 as a residence hall, Williams Hall promised room for students previously denied admission due to lack of residence facilities. On January 1, 1919, fire consumed the 50-year-old structure. Fortunately, the hall was empty as Army trainees had just departed and regular students had not yet returned to campus.
Designed by Lord and Burnham in 1873 and built in 1874, the greenhouse was part of William J. Beal's work complex. In the ravine beside the greenhouse, Beal planted his famous "wild garden" and on its west bank was a botanical laboratory and museum.
In 1885, under Public Act No. 42 of Michigan, $5,000 was appropriated to build the Armory. Built by Fuller and Wheeler of Lansing, the Armory served the campus as a gymnasium, lecture hall and ballroom, with its primary function as a site for military drill activity. When the Armory opened in 1886, it had a tar and gravel floor. Aside from giving off a foul odor, the floor, when used for lectures, orations, and dances, badly soiled dresses. After a few years, a maple floor was laid.
All three versions of Wells Hall were named for Hezekiah G. Wells, board president. The first Wells Hall was built in 1877 as a dormitory that housed 130 students. It burned in 1905 and was replaced in 1907 by a larger dormitory structure that was sectioned off into six wards in order to reduce both the hazards of fire and the noise from so many students. During the 1966-67 academic year, the second Wells Hall structure was razed to make room for an addition to the Main Library. Professor Merton M. Ransom E. Olds preserved the university's engineering program when he donated $100,000 toward the reconstruction efforts after President Frank Kedzie made a personal appeal. The current R. E. A gift of the class of 1937, the Band Shell was constructed in 1938.
Built in 1938 as one of the nine Public Works Administration (PWA) building projects on campus, the Livestock Judging Pavilion was designed by Bowd-Munson Architects and built by the Christman Company. The PWA was responsible for large construction projects, including supplementing the cost of many public buildings. The Pavilion was used for numerous activities, including livestock judging. Its original purpose was made obsolete in 1996 with the development of the Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education Center on Farm Lane. In May of 1997 the Livestock Judging Pavilion was razed and on its site now lies the parking lot on Shaw Road across from the International Center.
In 1945, approximately 30 acres of a poultry plant next to the Michigan State Police Headquarters were cleared to make room for a village of 450 trailers. Brought in from various Michigan towns' emergency war housing projects, they were used to shelter the growing student enrollment. On the East side of Harrison Road, 104 steel quonsets were erected. Fourteen men slept in bunk beds at one end with a common room at the other end used for study and recreation. The students were joined by 50 faculty families in 31 quonset homes and 19 prefabricated houses. In March 1950, as dormitories such as Shaw Hall were built for men wanting campus housing, the quonsets were abandoned.
The Paolucci Building was constructed in 1947 to be used as the home management house for the School of Home Economics. The building, designed by Calder, contained kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms. Students lived in the building in six-week increments to learn the basics of housekeeping and how to manage a house on a budget. The compartmentalized structure of the building made is extremely difficult to be made accessible for persons with disabilities.
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