Goodrich Hall is a Gothic revival, rustic limestone structure built in 1859 to serve as the College Chapel, Alumni Hall, and classroom building. It has undergone at least two major renovations; however, a great part of the historic fabric remains. Most recently the building housed the studio arts program which was moved to the WLS Spencer Studio Arts Building in 1996. Please use the links below to trace back the building's long history.
Goodrich Hall Timeline |
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Click on the Dates for an expanded history. |
By Mac Harman ' 98 |
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Society of Alumni resolve to raise $10,000 for new building |
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August 6, 1856 |
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Daniel Dewey urges Calvin Durfee to keep his proposed alterations to himself; expected expenditures exceed available funds |
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April 19, 1857 |
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Rumor printed that Chapel is to be built; Gothic architecture proposed for variety |
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June 1857 |
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Gervase Wheeler is selected as architect of new Chapel |
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c. 1857 |
Biographical sketch of Gervase Wheeler |
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Wheeler in Philadelphia |
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Wheeler flees Philadelphia for New York with his reputation in question |
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Wheeler returns to England |
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Gervase Wheeler writes Calvin Durfee in reference to enlarging rear building of proposed Chapel |
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July 14, 1857 |
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Gervase Wheeler writes Calvin Durfee and President Hopkins in reference to proposed addition of building to south of Alumni Hall |
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July 22, 1857 |
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Committee formed to build new Chapel |
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August 3, 1857 |
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Society of Alumni hold annual meeting |
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August 4-5 1857 |
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$6,150 raised by Society of Alumni for new Chapel |
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August 5, 1857 |
Donation of rope for Chapel bell immediately matched by gift of bell |
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Cte. formed to canvass town for funds to purchase clock for new Chapel |
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Student account of Society of Alumni meeting |
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Local report of contributions to funds for new Chapel |
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August 26, 1857 |
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Alumni Hall expected to be finished by next commencement |
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September 23, 1857 |
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Correspondence from Daniel Dewey in regard to contractors bidding to build new Chapel |
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October 5, 1857 |
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Revised plan of new Chapel received |
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October 7, 1857 |
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William Linn writes Calvin Durfee to ask if it is too late to make offer to build new Chapel |
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January 15, 1858 |
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Work on Chapel planned to start in spring; funds are contributed and plans adopted |
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January 27, 1858 |
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Foundation laid for new Chapel |
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May 5, 1858 |
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New Chapel subject of conversational hobby: architecture praised, question posed as to why there is no cellar (to facilitate heating) in design, possible square tower ridiculed |
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June 1858 |
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Philosophical Lecture Room added to plan for new Chapel |
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August 2, 1858 |
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Alumni pleased with progress of new Chapel |
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August 4, 1858 |
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New bell, cast in West Troy, NY, is hoisted into Chapel tower; it peals jubilantly
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October 23, 1858 |
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Students report construction progressing slowly; clear, musical tone of new bell appreciated |
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November 1858 |
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Outside walls and roofing of Chapel are nearly finished |
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November 13, 1858 |
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Students wonder if "new" Chapel will ever be finished |
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February 1859 |
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Work resumes on Chapel |
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April 21, 1859 |
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Portion of Chapel roof settles as main timbers shrink; roof is repaired by constructors |
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May 5, 1859 |
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Financial records |
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May 31, 1859 |
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Local commentary on Commencement exercises and opening of new Chapel and Alumni Hall; $25,000 grant received by college |
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July 14, 1859 |
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Students comment on opening of Chapel; portraits of zealous friends of Williams to hang in Alumni Hall |
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August 1859 |
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Stone Chapel almost completed and replaces function of Old Chapel [Griffin Hall]; Rev. Calvin Durfee thanked for procuring portraits for Alumni Hall |
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August 1859 |
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First meeting in new Alumni Hall held |
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August 2, 1859 |
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Alumni investigate if further contributions are necessary to pay for Alumni Hall |
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August 3, 1859 |
Alumni thank donors of portraits in Alumni Hall |
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Complete description including rooms of varying purpose, architectural style, materials, and original configuration of new Chapel |
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c. 1859 |
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Stone Chapel dedicated; Mark Hopkins delivers sermon
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September 22, 1859 |
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Mark Hopkins' sermon to be published |
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September 22, 1859 |
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Exerpt of Hopkins' sermon |
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September 22, 1859 |
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Adams Transcript account of Chapel dedication |
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September 24, 1859 |
Abstract of Hopkins' sermon is not attempted, its text is to be published |
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Brief history of Williams College chapels |
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Hoosac Valley News account of Chapel dedication |
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September 29, 1859 |
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Severe storm does not halt Chapel dedication; student account of dedication |
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November 1859 |
Class of 1860 silently donates Bible to new Chapel |
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Students comment on change in College prayer services |
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Organ to be placed in Chapel; College members and professors are to attend College's Sabbath services |
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Annual public debate held in new Chapel |
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Students lament that organ is still not installed in Chapel |
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March 1860 |
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Financial records; stoves added to Chapel |
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June 1, 1860 |
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Old Chapel renamed "Griffin Hall" in honor of Edward Dorr Griffin |
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August 1, 1860 |
Bell to be raised in Chapel belfry |
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Students indicate that proper warming of Chapel is desirable yet overlooked |
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November 1860 |
Chapel used for lectures |
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Cost of Chapel was ~$11,600; $3,194 in subscriptions was uncollected; $2,200 remained to be raised |
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Students complain upon poor accuracy of Hopkins' portrait in Alumni Hall
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March 1861 |
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Emerson Davis, Class of 1821, writes President Mark Hopkins in regard to Hopkins' vacation and Chapel issues |
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October 31, 1861 |
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Trustees vote to purchase organ and warm Chapel
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August 1862 |
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Alumni Hall walls are frescoed |
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August 1862 |
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Organ, donated by D. D. Field, near completion |
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November 1862 |
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Opus 137 organ built for Chapel |
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March 1863 |
Student editorial on need for organ |
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Description of organ
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Organ lauded after its dedicatory concert |
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Students appreciate clearing of brush to west of Chapel |
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July 1863 |
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Student editorial on difficulties of worshipping while freezing in Chapel |
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March 1864 |
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Walls spreading due to defect in foundation of Chapel |
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November 1864 |
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New gymnasium building to be named "Goodrich Hall"
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July 31, 1865 |
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J. Z. Goodrich receives honorary degree
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August 1, 1866 |
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Hopkins retired from leading Chapel exercises |
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April 1867 |
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Students submit petition to abolish Chapel exercises on Wednesday and Saturday evenings
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August 1867 |
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Trustees finally vote to abolish Wednesday and Saturday evening prayers as requested by student petitions |
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November 1867 |
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Peer commentary on inappropriate student behavior during Chapel services |
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March 1868 |
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Peer commentary on poor student singing in Chapel services |
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June 1868 |
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Commentary on state of Chapel Bible |
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January 1869 |
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Students welcome new stove in Chapel's Senior Recitation Room and wonder if heat could be improved in sanctuary |
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December 1869 |
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New clock installed in Chapel tower |
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November 1871 |
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Class of 1825 donates portrait of Calvin Durfee that is hung in Alumni Hall |
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July 3, 1877 |
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Stained glass window installed in memory of Prof. Sandborn Tenney
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1879 |
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Trustees vote to hire Curtis & Maynard to make alterations to Chapel |
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June 30, 1879 |
Trustees accept proposal to place memorial window to Albert Hopkins in Chapel when enlarged |
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Trustees vote to improve heating and lighting in Chapel |
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Organ removed during Chapel construction |
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c. 1879 |
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Four portraits donated to hang in Alumni Hall |
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July 1, 1879 |
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Description of Albert Hopkins Memorial window |
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c. 1879 |
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Treasurer's report cites payment of $3,660 for "Chapel Extension"; Western Transept and frescoing of sanctuary added
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June 1, 1880 |
$2,462 paid to President Chadbourne for extra services relating to Chapel extension |
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Albert Hopkins window presented
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July 6, 1880 |
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Chadbourne Gymnasium built; Goodrich used for rhetorical purposes |
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1882 |
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LaFarge stained glass window donated in memory of James A. Garfield
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c. 1882 |
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Chadbourne Gymnasium destroyed by storm; Goodrich resumes original use as gymnasium
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1883 |
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Trustees refer organ situation and enlarging of Chapel to committee
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October 20, 1886 |
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Lasell Gymnasium built |
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1886 |
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Matter of Chapel enlargement referred to Treasurer; Henry Hopkins declines College Pastorate |
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October 23, 1889 |
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Allen & Kenway prepare plans for enlarging sanctuary of Chapel |
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c. 1890 |
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Trustees request Mr. Allen to judge if his plans for altering Chapel are feasible [this probably refers to giant archway plan to connect rear of building to sanctuary]; foundations to be made more permanent |
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May 16, 1890 |
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Trustees meet in Chapel to discuss its enlarging; nothing is recorded about their discussion
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June 30, 1890 |
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F.F. Thompson urges President Carter to retain compulsory Chapel attendance |
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June 17, 1895 |
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Rev. Dr. Adams reports to Trustees on matter of importance of worship and of need to improve current Chapel for such purposes |
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October 24, 1895 |
Need for new Chapel to make better impression on worshippers |
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Specifications for new Chapel |
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Music in Chapel |
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Chapel observance of special days |
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Alumni connections to Chapel |
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Request for money to maintain Chapel and Chapel services |
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Student participation and Scripture reading in Chapel services |
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Faculty should set example in Chapel attendance |
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Sunday worship |
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Chapel services at Bowdoin College |
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Chapel services at Columbia |
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Power given to Dean to enforce attendance at College religious exercises |
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June 21, 1897 |
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Chapel used for YMCA services; student bell ringer lives in tower |
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c. 1897 |
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Controversy over compulsory Chapel |
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March 4, 1901 |
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Another account from controversy over compulsory Chapel |
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March 5, 1901 |
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Goodrich Hall in dangerous condition; occupancy prohibited
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November 8, 1901 |
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Mrs. F. F. Thompson donates money to build new Memorial Chapel |
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May 8, 1902 |
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Goodrich Hall to be torn down; Thompson Memorial Chapel to be built on same site
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June 17, 1902 |
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Changes considered in service and music of Chapel services |
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October 6, 1904 |
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Opus 137 organ divided; three ranks incorporated into new Thompson Memorial Chapel organ, remainder installed in Smith residence |
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1904 |
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Abandoned bell rung to celebrate athletic victories over Amherst College |
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c. 1905 |
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Trustees vote to convert old Chapel sanctuary into laboratory work room |
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May 11, 1905 |
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Old Chapel sanctuary to be adapted for recitation purposes by Harding & Seaver for $5,000; Alumni Hall to be adapted to reading-room for Greek, Latin, German, Romance Languages, English, and Philosophy for $1,500 |
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June 19, 1905 |
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Student account of renovation of Chapel to recitation building
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September 25, 1905 |
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Conversion of old Chapel to recitation rooms proceeding |
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October 5, 1905 |
Chapel renamed "Goodrich Hall" in honor of the former generosity of Hon. John Z. Goodrich |
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Language and Philosophy Department libraries to be moved to new reading room in Alumni Hall |
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Student account of renaming of Chapel as Goodrich Hall; includes history of J. Z. Goodrich |
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October 9, 1905 |
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James A. Garfield and Albert Hopkins memorial windows moved to Thompson Memorial Chapel |
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1905 |
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Cost for renovations of Goodrich Hall exceed appropriations |
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June 25, 1906 |
Cheap construction and years of neglect of proper maintenance cited as causes for additional cost; entire east wall of Goodrich rebuilt |
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Cost of reading room construction left to discretion of Cte. on Grounds, Buildings and Improvements |
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Plans made for changes to rear parts of Goodrich Hall including enlarged windows and converting first floor from book storage to two recitation rooms; project bid at $5,475 |
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October 4, 1906 |
Storage needed for books to be removed from first floor |
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Acoustic alterations made to three rooms in Goodrich |
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January 7, 1907 |
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Work to begin at once to remodel both floors in rear portion of Goodrich Hall |
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February 11, 1907 |
New staircase installed; hallway and window added to first floor |
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Description of new recitation rooms on first floor |
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Description of changes in Alumni Hall to create new seminar room and departmental library |
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Attic space set to be used as reference library |
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February 28, 1907 |
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