Collections

The collection includes blueprints and drawings of Central Michigan University buildings, 1946, 1995.

This collection includes blueprints and drawings of Barnard Dining Commons, Barnard Hall, Preston Apartment Building, and Tate Hall at Central Michigan University (CMU). They are all in very good shape and vary greatly in size and composition. This is the only extant blueprints and drawings for these buildings.

Barnard Hall was named for Anna M. Barnard, who was the head of the Department of Foreign Language, 1899-1944. Barnard was the fourth dormitory built at CMU and the first one on campus designed by architect Roger Allen of Roger Allen and Associates. Barnard opened before it was completed on September 23, 1948 due to the high demand for housing. It cost $1.4 million and housed 400 students, although it was usually filled beyond capacity. Until 1973-1974 it housed women, after which it became co-ed. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt stayed in Barnard’s guest room when she visited CMU in 1955. Barnard’s adjoining food commons seated 600 students from Barnard, Sloan and Ronan halls, and was the first of its kind.

Tate Hall was named for Rachel Tate, an instructor in the Department of English and a part-time women’s dean, 1897-1916. Also designed by Roger Allen, Tate Hall opened in September of 1956, although it was not dedicated until January 19, 1958. Tate cost $1.14 million to build and housed 300 women from 1956 to 1972, after which it became co-ed. Like Barnard, Tate was demolished in 1997.

Preston Apartment building, also called Preston Court Apartments, housed married students. It was built by Roger Allen in 1955 and demolished in 1999 to allow for the expansion and reconstruction of the Park Library Building.

For additional information on Tate and Barnard see the Clarke’s website on CMU buildings that no longer exist.

Collection of 16 mm films, black and white and colored, about Central Michigan University construction and cornerstone layings of buildings, bands, homecoming, events, fottball, and related topics. Also included are 2 copies of film of the Mun San Korean Orphanage and 1 digital copy on hard drive.

The collection consists of 16 mm films, both black and white and colored, about Central Michigan University (CMU) showing the band, 1945, 1968, undated; building construction, undated; CM Life Office, undated; children playing sports inside and outside of Finch Fieldhouse, ca. 1960s?; Football Coaching School, 1949; Football Scrimmage, 1950; Fourth of July Parade, undated; Graduation, undated; Health Services, 1970; Homecoming, 1940-1969 (scattered), undated; laying the cornerstone of Finch Fieldhouse, 1951; May Festival, 1940, 1948; Miss CMU Pageant, undated; Mun San Orphanage, Korea, undated (2 copies), the receiving line at Pres. Boyd's inauguration, 1968; the University Center Construction, 1951, and Dormitory shots, 1951. One film in the collection, Film ID Number 0-1-1, has a strong vinegar smell, indicating some decomposition of the safety film. All of the film was rehoused in 2012 into archival film cannisters. A 2017 addition is a digital copy on a hard drive (in 1 small box) of the Mun San Orphanage, Korea, undated (1950s) film ID Number 0-1-12. The digital copy occupies 63.7 GB and includes 1 copy each in a .avi and .mp4 file. The digital copy plays for 8 minutes, 34 seconds. For more description including physical state of the film, please see the catalog record.