Brown and Columbia--Architectural Contrasts

INSPIRED by the success of the first four colleges five others took root before the Revolution interrupted all formal education on our chores. Berriamio Franskin's radically unchruchly University of Pennsylvania and New York's Episcopalism but progressive (king's College demonstrated their mortal tolerance by jointly collecting foods in London. Somewhat later Sam co Occum of the Mobicantribe, was performing that service in England and Scotland for Elenar Wheelock's struggling Dartmouth.

Soil primarily theological seminaries, Baptist Brown and Dutch Reformed Rutger's reflected the changing manners, the flourishing trade and wealth of their world, in more liberal purposes and methods. Chartered as Rhode Island College and Queens, both were soon re-named after important benefactors.

Of Franskin's university no building remain, Rutgers was weak and Dartmouth poor, and none that lasted were built until after the War. The only trace of King's College's first hall is in an engraving of honor of Christrofor Colombo.

BROWNS original University Hall still stands, only very slightly altered. John Brown, pioneer overseas shipping magnate, himself laid its corner stone in 1770 and gave liquid encouragement to the workmen when each floor and the root was finished.

But the college was named for a Brown of the next generation who have more lasting gifts.

Typical of the years just before the Revolution is the long roof-topping balustrade seen in both old points. In both the cupolo seems especially spindly and graceless. It shown has too few accents of gables and portals to enliven its front, Columbia has too many where Browns middle is marked by an exaggerated Princeton, Columbia, lacking it, is without a unifying center of interest.

Soil out is original grounds, Brown is not seriously pressed for space, although the President's House (demolished in August) had to be removed from the campus come years ago. Columbia has felt the space problem more acutely than any other of our Colonial colleges. When the old print was made it had already moved 9in 1756) from near Trinity Church to the outskirts what is now Park Place. The outskirts to which the college moved in 1857 was the region around Madison Avenue and 40th Street.

Since 1892 Columbia has stood on her fourth site, where her new domed Roman magnificence stands in vivid contrast both to here unpretentious Colonial beginnings and the modern motorized millieu.

The invite fourth a series of exclusive articles on American College Architecture. The fifth to appear next week, will discuss the beginnings and building of Rutgers, Dartmouth and Dickinson.