Temple University
Some Photos & History
Page 3
written and researched by Gerry Wilkinson
Time to continue a walk down memory lane with some photos and history of Temple University.
Carnell Hall
Address:
1803 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA. 19122-6095
1800-1830 North Park Mall
Address: Description: The row houses on Park Mall provided space for various organizations, offices and dormitories. Across from these row of townhouses, which lines one side of Park Mall, are Curtis, Speakman and Barton Halls. Park Mall provides open space and a pleasant pedestrian way to travel around campus. The Temple News offices were located in two of these buildings. Currently, most of the red row houses still exist. 16 properties are still there. Once there were 17 and soon, there will be ten. In February of 1925, the University purchased both 1802 and 1808 North Park Avenue. They were the first of the block to be bought. At one time, part of these homes was known as "Curtis Hall," whose entrance was at 1808 North Park Avenue. Named after Cyrus H. K. Curtis, former head of the Curtis Publishing Company, it housed one hundred and twenty women. When the modern, air-conditioned building (which we now know as Curtis Hall) at Montgomery and and 13th Streets was built, it became Curtis Hall. The old one at 1808 North Park was quickly renamed "Williams Hall," which incorporated both the old Curtis and Williams Halls. The old Curtis Hall took up the houses of the first half of the block with their separating walls removed. At one time, it was the largest of the women's dormitories. In was redecorated in 1947 with a trim blend of pale pastel shades, framed in white moulding. The 1948 Templar said of the residents of Curtis Hall... Rules in the girls' dormitory (in 1938) included that all shades must be drawn when the lights are on. Typewriters and radios could not be used after 11 pm. Bathtubs must not be used after 11 or before 7am "lest others be disturbed." Pressing may be done for 10 cents an hour in an ironing room. Just north was the old "Williams Hall," a women's dorm located at 1820 North Park Avenue. This dormitory was named for Joseph and Sarah Williams who contributed the money for its purchase. The old Williams Hall housed about 32 women. The 1948 Templar said... Once the two dorms were incorporated into one, it became a men's dorm with women still living in Wiatt Hall and the newly completed Peabody Hall. With Johnson Hall being completed in 1961, Williams Hall once again became a women's dorm with some of its space going to the Temple News. Wiatt Hall, at 1830 North Park Avenue was also a dorm was named for Hattie May Wiatt, a legendary figure in Temple's history. According to a Temple document, At one time, Wiatt Hall included 1832 North Park. However, it was demolished and replaced with a small garden and walk way between Watts and Park Mall. Once Wiatt Hall housed about 52 women. In 1958, it became the Student Activities Center. In the sixties, Wiatt Hall was the home of three student publications, The Templar, The Temple University News and The Stylus. There were meeting rooms for all of the campus' many organizations. The fourth floor was used as a studio by the resident students who attended the Tyler School of Fine Arts in Ambler, Pa. Wiatt Hall was often referred to as your "home away from home." The houses along Park Mall, many of them vacant and in need of repair. They are considered good examples of late 19th century residential architecture, built in 1873 and are protected as "historic buildings." However, in June of 1998 the University received permission from the Philadelphia Historical Commission to tear down six of these houses (1820 to 1830) including Wiatt Hall. The remaining properties are to be turned into stores to serve the residents of Liacouras' Temple Town.
Located on Park Mall between Norris and MontgomeryTo enjoy idle time the girls have set up several "smoker" rooms. Cooperating with Mrs. Ethel Trimble, house mother, and Esther Mays, assistant house mother, the girls have opened a large two room "silent study" - an original provision for planned study in dormitories.
Although bordering on the outer fringe of the Temple University campus, Williams Memorial Hall is in the thick of campus activities.
Hattie was a little girl who lived near here in Dr. Conwell's early days in Philadelphia. One Sunday morning he met her outside the church crying because she could not get into Sunday School. The big crowd, come to hear Dr. Conwell, took up all the space. So the pastor lifted her up on his shoulders and carried her down to the front of the church. He told her that one of these days the adults would build a bigger church so all the children could get in. Hattie started to save her pennies to help build that church, but she became ill and within a few months, died. After the funeral service, which Dr. Conwell delivered, her parents gave him the purse in which Hattie had been saving her pennies for the church. It contained 57 cents. The next Sunday Dr. Conwell held up that purse in church, and told Hattie's story, using it to start a huge building fund. He sold each of the 57 pennies to raise more money, and with such campaigns, the Baptist Temple was built.
It became known as Wiatt Hall on November 21, 1944.
Paley Library
Address: Description: Paley Library, occupied since June 20, 1966, is the main university library. Designed by the Philadelphia architects Nolen and Swinburne, it also has a computer laboratory, the Scholars Information Center and the University's archives. It has four levels and sits on 200,00 square feet of land. It was named for Sam Paley, Philadelphia cigar manufacturer and philanthropist. Samuel was born in Russia and immigranted to this country with other Russian Jews. When Sam died, his money was left to various institutions through the Samuel Paley Foundation. In addition to the library funishings and landscaping, funds were provided for a lecture series open to the public. "The lecture hall on the ground floor also provides space for art exhibits as a regular feature. Throughout the library, individual study carrels and open stacks make access to books and studying easy and pleasant," according to an university handout. His son was William Samuel Paley who was the Chairman of the Board of CBS during the sixties. The younger Paley became interested in broadcasting after his dad's company bought some advertising time on a Philadelphia radio station, one of 16 in the United Independent Broadcasters Network, later known as CBS. Although the chain was losing money, Paley bought it for about $400,000 in 1929. Dedicated on October 21, 1966, the building is owned by Pennsylvania's General State Authority, the GPA. The structure cost $6,500,000.00 to build. Funds to equip and furnish the building, and to landscape the surrounding area, have been provided by a gift in excess of $1,000,000.000 by Paley. The first floor of the library provides seating for 550 people. The University's 12,000 rare books and special collections are kept in the mezzanine floor. There are separate rooms for maps, microprint reading machines and the Conwellana-Templana collections, which contains Russell Conwell's roll-top desk and chairs. The second and third floors of the structure can seat over 1600 people. The library was designed to hold one million volumes, a mark which it has long passed. According to a Temple University document of about 15 years ago, "Land has been earmarked for a second library building on the adjoining plot of land to the south, but specific building plans are still awaited." The second building is now underway as "The Tuttleman Learning Center." The Campanile, or bell tower, in front of the Library is the highest point on campus, rising to 100 feet until the construction of Gladfelter and Anderson Halls. It was also built with funds donated expressly for this purpose by the Samuel Paley Foundation. The five bells, graduated in size, were forged by an old Dutch firm, the Van Bergen Bell Foundries which has been doing similar jobs for eight generations. The bells are electrically controlled to ring the Westminister chimes notes on every quarter hour, followed by the big bell ringing on the hour. A special feature of the Campanile is the gypsum rocks, encased in the base of the tower. These rocks were especially sent from West Pakistan, from the site of what is supposed to have been the farm of Al Hafed, the Persian traveler who was the inspirational character of Dr. Conwell's "Acres of Diamonds" speech.
1210 W. Berks St.
Philadelphia PA 19122-6088
(Located on 13th Street between Montgomery and Norris, where 13th and Berks used to be.)
This picture is from the Temple University server.
Photo of Paley Library & the Bell Tower
This picture, from February of 1998, was taken by Gerry Wilkinson.
Above is a photo of the Temple University campus as it existed early in 1966.
In the foreground is the construction site of Annenberg Hall and Tomlinson Theater. Also pictured are Barton Hall, Buery Hall and the Paley Library.
Sullivan Hall
Address: Description: Sullivan Hall was once the library. In fact, above the main doors which face Berks Mall, it says in stone, "Sullivan Memorial Library." It now has the President's Offices, Blockson African-American Collection and other administration offices. The building was named for Thomas D. and Blanche S. Sullivan. Thomas Sullivan was founder and president of the Terminal Warehouse Company. The library was made possible by a bequest from Sullivan and with funds from the Depression-inspired WPA, the Works Progress Administration. It provided steady work for 180 people for nine months. This construction was known officially as "PWA Project #1326." The trowel used for the cornerstones at Conwell Hall, Carnell Hall and Mitten Hall was also used in the erection of Sullivan Library. It was dedicated by President Charles Beury of Temple University on February 22, 1936. U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt attended the ceremonies which were held in Mitten Hall since that was of easier access to the President. He did not actually enter the Library building. On that very same date, FDR was threatened from Broad and Columbia. Sullivan Library, according to University records, had ground breaking activities on September 10, 1934. The cornerstone was laid November 23, 1935 with the dedication taking place in the next year. At that time, the campus' library was moved from College Hall to Sullivan.
1330 W. Berks St.
Philadelphia PA 19122-6087
(Located on Berks Mall near Park)
This picture, from February of 1998, was taken by Gerry Wilkinson.
Photo of Berks Mall from Broad Street lookintg towards Sullivan Hall
This picture, from February of 1998, was taken by Gerry Wilkinson.
Curtis Hall
Address: Description: Curtis Hall is named for Cyrus H. K. Curtis, former head of the Curtis Publishing Company and an early donor to the University. It is one of Temple's large classroom buildings. It is a 50 classroom, four-story structure and was the first new Temple building in 20 years. Curtis Hall was also the very first University structure to be totally equipped with air-conditioning. One of the first completely air-conditioned classroom buildings in this part of the country. Ground was broken on December 29, 1954. The cornerstone was laid by Cyrus Curtis' grandson, Common Pleas Court Judge Curtis Bok on February 16, 1956, the date of the official dedication. Currently in Curtis Hall is the Math & Science Resources Center which offers free student tutoring. It also houses a Mathematics library, computer center, continuing education center, and academic resource center.
13th and Montgomery Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Vacant Lot where eventually Curtis Hall would stand
Photo dates from 1954 and was taken from Park and Montgomery.
Annenberg Hall & Tomlinson Theater
Address: Tomlinson Theater Description: Located in Annenberg Hall is the School of Communications and Theater, Randall Theater and the Tomlinson Theater. The four-floor structure cost about $7,000,000.00 to erect. Annenberg Hall was dedicated on September 19, 1968 with the Tomlinson Theater following the next month. The building had been in use since January of 1968. Annenberg Hall was named for Walter Annenberg and his wife who donated $750,000 for construction of the building. During the dedication ceremonies, Annenberg announced that he was giving the University an additional $250,000 to bring his gift to a total of onemillion dollars. The Tomlinson Theater was named for Temple Vice President Emeritus William Tomlinson, whose generous gifts have been largely responsible for the construction of the theater. The first performance open there on April 30, 1968.. Randall Theater was named for Paul E. "Pop" Randall who staged more than 100 productions during his 38 years as professor of theater. Annenberg Hall is currently the home of WRTI-FM, which occupies the west side of the first floor. Annenberg Hall is connected to the Tomlinson Theater by glass enclosed walkways encircing a central court. In a May 13, 1965 Temple News article written by Kenn Venit, he says, "Dr. Gladfelter mentioned a proposed '5,000 watt radio station' which would broadcast 'for a radius of 60 miles.'"
Annenberg Hall
2020 N. 13th St.
Philadelphia PA 19122-6080
1301 W. Norris St.
Philadelphia PA 19122-6075
The Beginning of Tomlinson Theater
Above is the distinguished demotion crew. Sharing the sledge-hammer at the ceremonies on May 12, 1965 were (left to right) President Gladfelter, "Pops" Randall, Dr. & Mrs. William Tomlinson
Some 250 persons watched as the brown stone buildings at 2005-09 North Park Avenue served as symbols during the ceremonies for the future sites of Annenberg Hall and the Tomlinson Theater. These old brick buildings housed the language labs and health center in the sixties.
Above is a photo of the Temple University campus as it existed early in 1966.
In the foreground is the construction site of Annenberg Hall and Tomlinson Theater. The two row houses in the picture (2001 and 2003 North Park) were demolished to complete the construction. Those two houses were right across the street from Dr. Conwell's first home at 2004 North Park. Conwell's house was destroyed in the fifties to erect Peabody Hall. In the extreme left side of the photo, just above Beury Hall is the Grace Baptist Church, Dr. Conwell's first church, destroyed by Temple in 1969.
The above link was written by the late Professor of Communications from Temple University, Joseph C. Carter, who authored the book, "The "Acres of Diamonds" Man." Included is a photo of Temple founder, Russell Conwell.
Russell H. Conwell's Acres of Diamonds Speech
The above link contains the entire, uncut speech that Russell Conwell was so famous for.
This is the WRTI Old Gang Web Site!
