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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, November 3, 1967
Spooner, Flint now oldest standing buildings
The two oldest buildings now standing on Mount Oread were gifts. Spooner Hall, new home of the Museum of Art, was originally KU's first real library. Flint Hall is now the home of the journalism school, but originally was Fowler Shops for engineering instructions.
Spooner library was built in 1894 from the major portion of the legacy left to the University by William B. Spooner. The legacy of $91,618.03 has been said to be the largest bequest ever made to a state institution.
It was not because of Spooner's affiliation with the University he left the money, but because of his affection and esteem for a favorite niece and her husband, Francis H. Snow. Snow was an early faculty member and chancellor of the University from 1890-1901.
How to spend the money?
Everyone had ideas for spending the money, but the Board of Regents first decided to build a suitable residence for Chancellor Snow. Snow was in favor of building a library. The money was finally used for the library which cost $80,000 and a house for the chancellor which cost $12,000-$15,000.
In the fall of 1924, the first unit of Watson Library was completed and the library was changed from the Spooner building to Watson. On May 1, 1928, the Thayer Collection of Art was dedicated to the University and was housed in the Spooner building which became the Spooner-Thayer museum.
The Thayer Collection was presented to the University in 1917 by Sallie Casey Thayer as a memorial to her husband, William Bridges Thayer.
Used to house men
After WWII, the lower floor of the museum was used as a living area for 80 men.
All of the men but one—he was an exchange student from Central America—were men just back from the war.
The area was divided into three rooms.
Surplus bunks
One area was a sleeping quarters consisting of surplus buns with the USAAF and USN identification numbers still on them.
The middle room was a study room. It formerly contained museum pieces and still had bars on the windows.
The third room was a lounge and snack bar where the men ate their meals and relaxed.
The museum has displayed collections of such things as crystal balls, Greek and Roman glass works, buttons, a Chinese bridal dress, rare coins, dolls, antique Chinese ceramic trading tokens, Russian Easter eggs, drinking mugs, rings, swords, and shoes.
THIS AREA ONCE HOUSED 80 MEN
Fowler gives money
George Fowler, the son of a wealthy Kansas City meat packer, decided in 10 minutes to write an $18,000 check to pay for a new building to be named for his father.
Until 1893, the engineering shops were in the powerhouse. When the powerhouse was de-
'Curmudgeon' Ise Remains near KU
In the fall of 1904, a freshman from Downs entered KU to begin work toward a Bachelor of Music degree. Ten years later he held the B.Mus., A.B. and LLB, from KU and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard.
In the fall of 1916 John Ise returned to KU to take a post as assistant professor of economics. When he retired to emeritus status in June 1955, he left behind 39 years of classes which were among the most popular ever taught on Mount Oread. Labelling himself an "old curmudgeon," Professor Ise is a man remembered by alumni who can't recall who the Chancellor was during their time on the hill.
Today, at age 82. Professor Emeritus John Ise lives quietly only a block from the KU campus.
build a separate shop building. Fowler gave the money for this building.
See Spooner, Flint, page 4
stroyed by fire, which incidentally forced the University to take a two-week vacation due to lack of heat and power, it was decided to
SPOONER ART MUSEUM
WELCOME ALUMS
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