Sherzer Hall records

Collection

Identifier: 015.ShH

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Sherzer Hall records provide a comprehensive history of the structure, from its initial construction including the floor plans, and photographs, as well as documenting the fire that almost destroyed the structure in March of 1989.

The Sherzer Hall records have been divided into two series: Building history and Building fire. The Building history series includes published histories of the building, news clippings, events records, drawings and images of the building, materials from its rededication in 1958 and from its Centennial in 2003. The Building fire series includes materials relating to the two fires (1973 and 1989) and the 18 month building restoration that took place from 1989-1990.

Dates

1903 - 2010

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research, floor plans available upon request. Researchers are asked to request materials 24 hours prior to use through the University Archives.

Administrative History

Built in 1903 to house the Department of Natural Sciences, the building was designed by E. W. Arnold of Battle Creek with original plans calling for classrooms on the first floor and offices for the professors above. In 1922, the Natural Science Building was further updated when a 10-inch refactor telescope was installed on roof of building.

Renamed in 1957 for Dr. William H. Sherzer, professor of geology and head of the Department of Natural Sciences (1892-1932), the building has sustained two fires. In 1973, a small fire caused $10,000 in damage, all of which was completely restored. On March 9, 1989, the building burned with 50% of the exterior and 70% of the interior destroyed. Within 18 months, the building was entirely rebuilt, replacing wood flooring with concrete slabs and adding an elevator shaft to make the building ADA compliant. Quinn Evans Architects in partnership with the Historic Preservation program at Eastern Michigan University received joint recognition from the International Masonry Institute in 1992 for the excellent reproduction of Sherzer Hall’s original masonry techniques. Sherzer Hall, home to the Art Department since 1992, still remains tied to the natural sciences with the rooftop observatory's continued use by the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Extent

4.6 Linear Feet (2 archive box, 2 oversize box, 2 oversize folder, 1 object)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Built in 1903 to house the Department of Natural Sciences, the building was designed by E. W. Arnold of Battle Creek, In 1922, the Natural Science Building was further updated when a 10-inch refactor telescope was installed on roof of building. Renamed in 1957 for Dr. William H. Sherzer, professor of geology and head of the Department of Natural Sciences (1892-1932), the building has sustained two fires one in 1973 and another which almost destroyed the building in 1989. Sherzer Hall, home to the Art Department since 1992, still remains tied to the natural sciences with the rooftop observatory's continued use by the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

The Sherzer Hall records provide a comprehensive history of the structure, from its initial construction including the floor plans, and photographs, and documents the fire that almost destroyed the structure in March of 1989. The Sherzer Hall records have been divided into two series: Building history and Building fire.

Related Materials:

For information regarding William H. Sherzer, please see his official records in the University Archives.

[010.WS]: https://aspace.emich.edu/repositories/2/resources/298

For photographs of the building, see the Sherzer Hall building picture files.