Starkweather Hall records
015.SH

 Mary Ann Starkweather Hall records

Summary Information

Repository
Eastern Michigan University Archives
Title
Starkweather Hall records
ID
015.SH
Date [inclusive]
1895-2010
Extent
2.0 Linear feet 1 halfsize archive box, 1 oversized box, 2 clam shell boxes
Language
English
Abstract
Starkweather Hall is the oldest building on Eastern Michigan University's campus, having been built between 1895-1896 and dedicated in 1897. Mary Ann Starkweather, a local philanthropist, donated the funds to erect the building on behalf of the Student Christian Association (SCA). Operation of the building was later transferred to the Office of Religious Life, which dissolved in 1976. The Starkweather Hall records contain materials relating to the construction and dedication of Mary Ann Starkweather Hall at Michigan State Normal College from 1895-1897, as well as subsequent materials such as correspondence, brochures, clippings, published articles, and drawings and photographs that document the history of the building.

Preferred Citation note

Please cite materials from the University Archives in the following manner: Item. Collection Title. Eastern Michigan University Archives.

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Administrative History

The Student Christian Association (SCA) was first organized in 1853, the same year Michigan State Normal School opened. Over the next forty years, the SCA continued to grow and by 1892 its members were looking for new housing and asked Mary Anne Starkweather, a local philanthropist, for funds to help erect a building of their own. Ms. Starkweather had planned to donate $10,000 to Normal for a new science facility in her will. Following the appeal of the Student Christian Association, however, she offered to fund their building instead. The Student Christian Association building was named for its benefactress.

Michigan State Normal College was the first teachers college in the United States to have a building designated for religious activities. Starkweather Hall, as it came to be known, was fully outfitted for the students. The first floor contained rooms for receptions or dining, a dressing room, a library, and a few classrooms. These rooms were separated by rolling partitions that could by opened to enlarge the space. A kitchen was also installed so that students could cook meals for the dining area. Upstairs, plans called for a large assembly room and a “keeper’s room” rented to a student who looked after the building. All of the hardware was made especially for the building. Today original doorknobs remain in certain parts of the building, bearing the in initials of the Student Christian Association (SCA). In 1961, the building was renovated to improve access. Meeting rooms, another assembly room, and a library-lounge were also added. The north entrance, an archway like the western doorway, was converted into a window and one of the chimneys was removed. In 1977, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The SCA disbanded in the 1920s and the building remained a gathering place for religious organizations until 1976 when the Office of Religious Affairs was dissolved. The building is now operated but the University and home to the Office of Research and Development, and the Honors College.

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Scope and Contents

The Starkweather Hall records contain materials relating to the construction and dedication of Mary Ann Starkweather Hall on the campus of the Michigan State Normal College from 1895-1897, as well as subsequent materials such as correspondence, brochures, clippings, published articles, and drawings and photographs that document the history of the building.

The Starkweather Hall records are divided into two series:  Building history and  Published history. The Building history series includes the initial legal documents that allowed the Student Christian Association to accept the Mary Ann Starkweather donation and construct the building, as well as the construction, budget, and dedication materials. There are also correspondence materials relating to the later history of the building, a survey of Starkweather Hall and its uses from 1948-1949 and the National Register of Historic Places materials from the 1977 dedication.

The Published history series includes newspaper clippings and web print-outs from 1907 to 2010, as well as articles and handouts, programs, documents from a student paper on Starkweather Hall, and drawings and photographs (both black and white photographs and prints of digital images).

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Eastern Michigan University Archives 2012 January 12

Halle Library, Room 310
Ypsilanti, Michigan, 48197
734-487-0020

Revision Description

  2012 February 10

Conditions Governing Access note

Researchers are asked to request materials 24 hours prior to use through the University Archives.

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Controlled Access Headings

Subject(s)

  • Architecture, Romanesque
  • Building dedications.
  • Buildings
  • Buildings--Remodeling for other use.
  • College campuses
  • Eastern Michigan University
  • National Register of Historic Places

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Collection Inventory

Building history 1895-1978 

Scope and Contents

This box contains material about Starkweather Hall. These materials include news paper clippings, legal documents, photographs, and National Register information.

Legal documents 1895-1913 


    Box Folder
Mixed Materials (32307023994099)   1 1

Construction and renovations 1895-1960 


    Box Folder
Mixed Materials (32307023994099)   1 2

Dedication 1897 


    Box Folder
Mixed Materials (32307023994099)   1 3

Correspondence 1938-1978 


    Box Folder
Mixed Materials (32307023994099)   1 4

Survey of Starkweather Hall 1948-1949 


    Box Folder
Mixed Materials (32307023994099)   1 5

National Register of Historic Places 1977 


    Box Folder
Mixed Materials (32307023994099)   1 6

Building Foundation Brick 


    Box Object
Realia (32307024753692)   3 1

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Published history 

Clippings 1907-2010 


    Box Folder
Mixed materials (32307023994099)   1 7

Articles and handouts 


    Box Folder
Mixed materials (32307023994099)   1 8

Drawings and photographs 


    Box Folder
Graphic materials (32307023994099)   1 9
    Box Object
Realia (32307024753569)   2 1
    Box Object
Realia (32307024753684)   4 1

Programs 1897-1961 


    Box Folder
Mixed materials (32307023994099)   1 10

Student paper 


    Box Folder
Mixed materials (32307023994099)   1 11

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