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Pearsons Hall of Science / Jeffris-Wood Campus Center

 Series

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

This artificial collection is arranged into series based on building name. Where name changes took place but the building itself was not changed (e.g. Carnegie Library becoming the World Affairs Center), or where named additions or changes were made to existing buildings (e.g. Field House and Sports Center) those names are collocated into one series. Replacement buildings (e.g. Chamberlin Hall of Science and Center for the Sciences) are listed separately.

Series 19 (Miscellaneous Buildings) contains materials related to buildings with too few records to merit their own series, along with materials relating to non-building structures or areas on campus such as the Senior Bench and Hales Plaza. Many of these folders contain only reference notes from Robert K. Richardson and Helen D. Richardson from their research for his unpublished Beloit College history book.

Series 20 (General Information) is comprised of records about campus buildings in general, such as reports and correspondence regarding facilities installation and maintenance.

Included in most series are dedication and cornerstone event materials, construction correspondence and planning documents (proposals, specifications, budget and financial reports, blueprints, etc.), remodeling and renovations planning documents where applicable, news articles, College promotional material, and information about the architects. For the most part, these materials are presented in alphabetical order.

Certain series have materials unique to them, such as Eaton Chapel's collection of Order of Daily Chapel Service cards, Middle College's historical landmark documents, and materials relating to a fundraising solicitation ad featuring D.K. Pearsons. Eaton Chapel and Scoville Hall both sustained damage from fires, and the collection holds many news articles written about the incidents and their aftermaths.

Dates

  • Other: Date Not Yet Determined

Biographical / Historical

Cornerstone: May 12, 1892
Dedication: January 13, 1893
Architect: Daniel H. Burnham
Pearsons Named: for D.K. Pearsons, the largest individual benefactor in Beloit's history
Jeffris-Wood Named: for Pierpont J.E. Wood, Wisc. attorney, former chairman of Warner Electric Brake and Clutch Co., and his wife Helen Jeffris Wood by their son, Stephen P.J. Wood, a former trustee.
Renovated:
1931: flooring, plumbing, ventilation, wiring, and equipment redone; skylight added
1935: Biology and Botany departments redone, including greenhouse construction
1984-85: whole building renovated by architect Edward Ware and rededicated on February 2, 1985.
Uses: Science hall from 1893-1967. Now used for meeting rooms, dining facilities, study lounges, student service offices, the mailroom, the radio station, student government, and publication offices.

A more detailed history on Pearsons Hall is available here.

Extent

From the Collection: 27 Linear Feet ((38 boxes; 5 file cabinet drawers; oversized materials); further additions are expected)

Language of Materials

English

Related Materials

The Beloit College Digital Collections contains many scanned photos and documents from the archives' collection on Pearsons Hall, including typed and handwritten letters from Daniel H. Burnham and D.K. Pearsons regarding the construction of and funding for the building.

Repository Details

Part of the Beloit College Archives and Special Collections, Beloit, WI Repository

Contact:
700 College St.
Beloit WI 53511 USA
608-363-2485