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Thursday; October 14, 1971
University Daily Kansan
Built in 1919, the house was donated to the University in 1929 by the Jabrin Williams family to become the permanent residence for its owners.
Photos by John Gram and Marilyn K. King
Chancellor and Mrs. Chalmers and their son Tom gather in the kitchen for breakfast. The kitchen contains
all the modern conveniences and would be the envy of any housewife.
The Chalmers' KU White House
By MARILYN K. KING
Kansan Staff Writer
Most KU students walk past it at some time in their college careers, and often they stop to gaze at the massive white home of our professor. The Victorian exterior is a little awaken-inspiring and the interior is a tasteful blending of furniture from various periods that has a chic appeal. They make any housewife envious, and the touches that make it home for Chancellor and Mrs. Chalmers, the former M.D., Jeffrey, a very friendly Pontiverian
The home was built in 1919 for the Jabee Watkins family, which has left large areas of land and woodland. The Watkins family gave the home to the University as a residence for its chancellors in 1930.
Before 1939, the chancellors and their families lived in a white residence behind the Spooner Art Museum. It was torn down in 1933.
The present residence is a center hall. Colonial, well designed for the many residents that live there each year. The living and dining rooms are spacious enough to make any apartment dweller feel of the lives in a sardine can. Furniture was built especially for the room and some pieces of furniture have been gifts from the family.
As with the White House in Washington, the rooms downstairs are for the public. The Chalmers do most of their "living" upstairs where there are three bedrooms, another living room Tom Chalmers hobby kitchen, study Buffy lives everywhere.
Tom's hobby room contains several tanks of tropical fish, an array of scorpions and a variety of model rockets. "The projects are all 'fis.' Mrs.
Actually, Chalmers revealed that that was not quite the case when he displayed the harpstock when he displayed the accordion, and voiced the usual complaint of those who have hobbies; he never has enough time to devote it to. He is still from a busy afternoon to pose for a few pictures, but as the shutter snapped he and Mrs. Chalmers discussed family matters with his guitar and organ to him at college for a band he is joined, upcoming meetings and works to serve dinner and half it takes place in a fishbowl.
The Chalmers have their own baby grand piano in one of the drawing rooms, and they all play it. The piano was enclosed and remodeled before they moved in. They turned it into what they call their "federal" piano.
Since it is done in shades of ornamental white and tropical green and tropical accents, it's well named. In the afternoons it's the summed room in the
There are several sets of china in the house. The largest set is used for the kitchen, embsolved in gold and has service for 100 persons. There are several smaller sets, one with service for 24 and the Chalmers own service set, two with service they used their own serving pieces before the Edowment Association purchased two, three and four tray serving pieces for the house.
Much of the silverware and crystal has been donated by the museum, stored in the basement are available to soak large numbers
Chancellors Mallot, Murphy and Wescoe occupied the residence before the Calmers came to KU.
The Florida room (above) and the drawing room contain original paintings by artist Aaron Maimers, residues placed there for entertaining guests.
guests. The Florida room was remodeled shortly before the Chalmers family moved in.
An ornate stairway connects the entertainment area of the first floor with the more private living area of the Chalmers family on the second floor.
The upstairs living room is a private area of the Chalmer family. The room is an informal gathering place for
During his brief moments of leisure time, Chalers relaxes by building harp-schords. He constructs them in his hobby area in the basement. An area where the
Chancellor spends a great deal of time below is his study, located on the second floor.
watching television, sitting by the fire or playing foosball.