Description: 2-story plus basement, Italian Renaissance
style, 76x44 feet, of Ohio buff sandstone backed with brick, copper roof
The inscription below the main cornice is from The Holy Bible. Exodus 18:20.
"And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them
the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do."
This property continued in use after 1949. Post-1949 research is not yet completed.
Other Names
Law School Building
Franklin Thomas Backus School of Law
School of Law
Constructed
ca. 1895-1896
Architect
Charles F. Schweinfurth
Cost
1895: construction ca. $25,000
1895 land: $15,000
Financing
1895: Gifts of $5,000 from various
donors; loan of $15,000
Occupants
1896-1917: School of Law
1918-1919: School of Law and School of Library Science
1920-1942: School of Law
1943-1944: School of Law and United States Army Air Corps trainees (28th
College Training Detachment (Air Crew)) (1st and 2nd floors)
1945-1949+: School of Law
Uses
1896-1944: Academic or administrative
1943-1944: Residence
1945-1949+?: Academic or administrative
Ceremonies
Cornerstone laying: 6/15/1896
Trivia
First building constructed for School
of Law
Alterations and Modifications
Description
1914: 2-story, 40x75 feet
Cost
$25,000 estimated
Financing
Gifts of at least $12,000
from unknown donors
Alterations and Modifications
Description
1943: Converted 1st and 2nd floors to barracks
Cost
$4,847.78
Alterations and Modifications
Description
1948: 3-story steel and masonry
building, brick masonry backed tile partition and reinforced concrete
floors, 48x82 feet, 40 feet high
Architect
Garfield, Harris, Robinson
& Schafer
General Contractor
The Hunkin-Conkey Construction
Company
Cost
ca. $350,000
Financing
$121,390 from operating
funds; Gifts of $29,626 from unknown donors
This summary was compiled by staff of the University Archives from sources in the custody of the Archives.
