Harvard's+Temple+_+The+Function+and+Meaning+of+Memorial+Hall

Harvard's Temple: The Function and Meaning of Memorial Hall By Solveig Davis

The southern end of Oxford street, in Cambridge, Massachusetts is home to the stately and historic Memorial Hall. Brick sidewalks, iron fences and ivy covered walls are the dominant features, with contemporary science buildings adding texture and interest. The pathways surrounding the Hall are bustling. Students rush to classes, tourists wander about slack jawed, and savvy Cantabrigians use them as a way to circumvent the smelly, congested Harvard Square. Some are setting foot on the Harvard campus for the first time, and others pass through this stretch several times a day, but it seems that everybody’s attention is at least momentarily arrested by the majesty of Memorial Hall. This American historical landmark was born out of the grief of the Civil War, the industriousness of a small group of Harvard alumni. In 1865, a small group of graduates dedicated to preserving the memory of the one-hundred-and-thirty-six Harvard associates that lost their lives to the War, raised the money necessary to commission the construction of a Memorial building (“The Memorial Transept” 2006). It was to be a competition, with several alumni architects submitting designs. Robert Ware, and Henry Van Brunt’s gothic, Oxford University-inspired design won out, and ground was broken in October of 1870 with a great deal of pomp and ceremony (“Conception and Construction” 2006). From the outset, the building was intended to celebrate more than just the memories of the fallen Union soldiers. It was also intended to be a reverent gift to their alma mater and a way of advertising its values.

Although the United States was historically, and continues to be a deeply religious nation, and Harvard, with its famed Divinity school, was founded on the generosity of a Puritan minister, it has always been an institution that valued the academic over the religious (//The Harvard Guide,// 2007). The committee responsible for Memorial hall, sought to reinforce that value by making their building secular in function and design. Today, Harvard tour guides are quick to point out that the building is entirely secular, with the world’s largest collection of secular-themed stained glass (“Inside Memorial Hall“, 2008,) yet the style of the building pays obvious tribute to religious architecture, and it is often mistaken for a cathedral. The buildings exterior is embellished with small crosses above the lofty stained glass windows. In addition, when viewed from above, the building vaguely resembles a Christian cross, which may have been a coincidental result of a functional design, but given the religious climate during the era of its construction, it is unlikely that it would go unnoticed by the architect. Still, it is true that the building was intended, and used for secular functions and that the subjects depicted in the stained glass are uniformly secular. The committee commissioning the Hall left explicit instructions for most aspects of the design including the glass: // “Each window shall contain one or more upright figures, about the size of life, with an ornamental panel or inscription occupying the ventilator panel below, all with a boarder or canopy; and that these figures shall be typical or historical. The choice of design is also restricted to characters prior to the time of Shakespeare, it being the intention that the windows, when all complete, shall unite harmoniously into one great theme (“Stained Glass” 2006). //

If the building was, in fact, designed to be completely secular, then why mimic commonly religious architectural features? Might Harvard’s associates have aimed to create an “academic faith“ of sorts, with the loyalties and ceremony of a traditional religion? Might that intent have been manifested in this memorial building? Many hymns have been written for Harvard, both appealing to a greater God, and treating the University itself as a subject of worship. The Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, wrote a hymn specially for the groundbreaking of Memorial Hall. He wrote, “Give their proud story to memory's keeping/Shrined in the temple we hallow today” (Holmes, 1892). Long before tourists stopped at its doors to ask, “is this a church, or something?” Even before its completion, Memorial Hall was being recognized as Harvard’s “temple.”

The majority of the stained glass collection featuring important historical and academic figures--the secular saints--is located in the exquisite Annenberg dining hall. Here, freshmen dine on hardwood tables, surrounded by busts of great academics, and an impressive collection of paintings hanging from the rich walnut paneling. The whole scene is lit by antique chandeliers and the opalescent light from the stained glass. It is likely the most luxurious mess hall in the country. Although the hall is usually restricted to the general public, exceptions are occasionally made, and upperclassmen, or people not affiliated with Harvard are welcomed beyond the Transept, although very rarely to dine. The Transept, with its cathedral-like ceilings, subdued lighting, relatively modest stained glass is regularly open to the public, as is the semi-circular Sanders Theater before and after public performances. Originally intended for hosting graduations, the Theater is now too small to accommodate bachelor degree graduans and is used mostly for alumni presentations, and musical and theatrical performances. Even when closely guarded, curious and enterprising members of the public often find their way in to all areas of the building, especially when the school year is not under way. The entire building is sometimes reserved for private functions, such as weddings, and in those situations the public is turned away at the doors. Class reunions, alumni talent shows and lavish weddings take place within the building’s halls, with dinner served in Annenberg, and Liquor served in the Transept underneath the names of the memorialized soldiers.

Because the hall has been used for so many different purposes, there are occasions when people take offence at one use, or another. Questions arose about whether the University was maintaining the integrity of the Hall as a memorial when the Transept was being used as the temporary “Fly-by lunch” cafeteria while the original in Loker Commons, located in the basement, was under construction. Were the building, and those it commemorated being disrespected because of its use for casual dining? Students, who now had to eat in the dark marble Transept were unhappy with the set-up because of the “lackluster ambiance and limited seating capacity” (Wells, 2006). The marble hall seems cold, and unfriendly in comparison with Loker’s homey-feeling lounge, upholstered seating, low ceilings and walls decorated with posters. Indeed, entering the transept feels like entering a tomb, of sorts. It is obviously not suited to casual dining, or even casual conversation. Upperclassmen, the students must have found that the austere Memorial Transept put a damper on their lunchtime socializing, which means the design is effective. After all, shouldn’t a memorial cause people to pause for a moment of silence?

The almost intimidating grandiosity of the building, and the religiously ambiguous design provokes many questions and conversations about the Hall’s origin and meaning, and allows for frequent oral reminders of those who gave their lives. The writing on the walls, the engravings, and the placards also serve to remind visitors of the building’s significance. However, its success as a memorial does not limit it to that purpose; As much as it serves to honor the dead, it also serves to advertise the prestige and glory of Harvard. Harvard‘s President Charles William Eliot called it "...the most valuable gift the University has ever received, with respect alike to cost, daily usefulness, and significance.” Architecture is the ideal medium for a University, such as Harvard, that is remembered primarily for its campus, wealth, and history, and the versatile Memorial Hall sends the right message.

__Works Cited:__

Sloan, Julie L.. “The Restoration of Stained-Glass Windows at Memorial Hall, Harvard University: A Case Study.” //APT Bulletin//, Vol. 26, No. 2/3 (1995), pp. 62-67. Association for Preservation Technology International (APT). http://www.jstor.org/stable/1504486. 22/06/2009 20:53

Lewis, Harry R.. //The Harvard Crimson: Opinion.// “Memorial Hall Transept Should Honor the Dead.” October 13th, 2006. http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=514951. 6-19-09.

Wells, Charles J.. //The Harvard Crimson.// “Is the New Fly-By Taking Off?” October 4th, 2006. http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=514683. 6-19-09.

Holmes, Oliver Wendell. //The Writings of Oliver Wendell Holmes//. “//Hymn// For The Celebration At The Laying Of The Cornerstone Of //Harvard Memorial// Hall.” Houghton Mifflin, The Riverside Press. Cambridge. 1892. Pg 125. Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=cjWUb-5nGJsC&pg=PA125&lpg=PA125&dq=oliver+wendell+holmes+harvard+hymn&source=bl&ots=lXPBAPnDxC&sig=1_n-qpaZ3ZJAk6M5WLu79c3ZFgA&hl=en&ei=9aI_SrWrIYq4NPfUtaUO&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4. 6-19-09.

Office for the Arts at Harvard: Lowell Hall/Memorial Hall Complex. “Memorial Hall Paintings and Sculptures.“ October, 2006. http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~memhall/sculptures.html; “Stained Glass Windows.“ October, 2006. http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~memhall/webpages-current/staingls.html. Copyright © The President and Fellows of Harvard College. 6-19-09.

Harvard Alumni Newsstand. “Inside Memorial Hall”. Copyright, The President and Fellows of Harvard University. April 16th, 2008. 6-20-09.

Office for the Arts at Harvard. “Conception and Construction.“ June 9th, 2006. http://www.fas.harvard.edu/%7Ememhall/concept.html. 6-19-09

Harvard University Office of The President. “Charles William Elliot.” 2009. Copyright, The President and Fellows of Harvard College. http://www.president.harvard.edu/history/21_eliot.php. 6-19-09.

The Harvard Guide. “Early History of Harvard University.“ Copyright, The President and Fellows of Harvard College. 2007. http://www.news.harvard.edu/guide/intro/index.html. 6-22-09.