The Mining Engineering Building
Old Haworth Hall
details
In 1907, the University of Kansas submitted appropriations to the State legislature for a new building to house the Geology and Mining Engineering Department which was rapidly growing while housed in a few small, dark rooms in Old Fraser Hall's basement. These rooms were inadequate for engineering work. Compared with other State institutions around the country, the investment that the State of Kansas and the university were putting into engineering programs demonstrated delayed development.
Professor Erasmus Haworth, head of the Geology Department from 1902 to 1920, suggested the arrangement for the geology and mining building and subsequently was named for him.
Haworth Hall was completed on June 30th, 1909, by State Architect John F. Stanton. It was designed to match the style of architecture that was predominate on Mount Oread at the time. Its design had influences of the Renaissance style recognizable in buildings such as Dyche Museum and Marvin Hall.
By the end of its lifespan, Haworth Hall was the result of many architects' work. In 1911, only two years after its completion, a clay working laboratory was added and designed by Charles H. Chandler. In 1943, after becoming the university's Medical School, a blood processing lab designed by State Architect Charles Marshall and a biochemistry research lab designed by John A. Brown were added to the building.
By the 1960's the general condition of Haworth was relatively poor. Much of the material used in its construction had decrepitated. This was most aparent in the condition of the woodwork and in the plaster on the walls which was cracking from old age. If left standing, the structure wouldn't have lasted very long.
Finally in 1967 Haworth Hall became a memory to be replaced by Wescoe Hall which occupies the site then taken by Haworth Hall and Old Robinson Gymnasium which was demolished that same year.
View from Marvin Hall in 1915. Haworth Hall seen on the right.
Haworth Hall from Strong Hall. Marvin Hall in the back
South façade after 1953 annexe construction. Strong Hall in the Back
Professor Erasmus
Erasmus Haworth was the head of the KU Geology Department from 1902 until his resignation for "economic reasons" in 1920. He was a very popular personality during his time at KU, due to his paternal behavior, his students called him "Daddy" Erasmus. After his resignation he went into private practice as a pretroleum engineer. Haworth was also the Kansas State Geologist for 21 years and contributed mightily to Kansas by organizing the State Geological Survey in 1894 and writing many volumes of the organization’s publications.
Images courtesy of University Archives