Dillard University

Dillard University, New Orleans, Louisiana

Dillard University report to the Getty (PDF) 37.9MB

A historically black private college chartered in 1930, Dillard University occupies a unified, axially designed campus in the Beaux Arts tradition. The ten white brick buildings that comprise the historic campus surround a large open quadrangle delineated by two long rows of live oak trees, the Avenue of the Oaks. A grant will allow the university to assemble detailed documentation on their historic buildings and landscape, which will serve as the basis for future rehabilitation projects.

Dillard University received a Getty grant in 2003 for $100,000 to support campus heritage planning.

Historic Designation(s): Flint-Goodridge Hospital of Dillard University and Dillard University (National Register of Historic Places)

Report Summary

Purpose: A grant will allow the university to assemble detailed documentation on their historic buildings and landscape, creating a basis for future rehabilitation projects.

Strengthen the University Archives and Special Collections, and “establish renovation standards that will preserve the distinguishing characteristics of the historic campus.”

Historic Designation: The university hospital, once part of the campus, is listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places. The campus and its 11 historic buildings have been listed on the register since 2003.

A historically black private college chartered in 1930, Dillard University occupies a unified, axially designed campus in the Beaux Arts tradition. The 10 white brick buildings that comprise the historic campus surround a large open quadrangle delineated by two long rows of live oak trees, the Avenue of the Oaks. Moise H. Goldstein served the campus as designer and architect 1930-62, assisted by son Louis Goldstein, Frederick D. Parham, F. Monroe Labouisse Sr.; his firm continues in that role. William S. Wiedorn designed at least some of the landscaping.

Dillard arose from the 1928 merger of Straight College and New Orleans University. Fully half the capital campaign came from The Rosenwald Foundation (funded by Julius Rosenwald, leader 1908-32 of Sears, Roebuck & Co.). In 1942, Dillard’s Flint-Goodridge Hospital offered Louisiana’s first accredited program for nurses

Site list--buildings (all by Moise Goldstein use the formal, symmetrical style of Classical Revival):

• Flint-Goodridge Hospital (1932, Art Deco; designed by Moise H. Goldstein; 1960, 1964, 1968 expansions) (sold and no longer part of campus)
• Rosenwald Hall aka Library and Academic Building (library, classroom, administrative) (1934, painted brick, Georgian Revival, designed by Moise H. Goldstein; 1967 expansion designed by Parham and Labouisse (formerly Goldstein, Parham and Labouisse); 2003 renovation designed by Sizeler Architects)
• Power House aka Boiler House / Incinerator (1934, Industrial Style, designed by Moise H. Goldstein)
• Hartzell Hall (dorm) (1935, painted brick, Georgian Revival with French Eclectic elements, designed by Moise H. Goldstein; 1962 connected to Camphor; expanded 1967 by Parham and Labouisse)
• Straight Hall (dorm) (1935, painted brick, Georgian Revival with French Eclectic elements, focal point of Moise H. Goldstein’s symmetrical landscape plan; expanded 1944 and 1957; expansion removed 2000)
• Kearny Hall (art studios, dining, recreation) (1935, painted brick, focal point of Moise H. Goldstein’s symmetrical landscape plan; expanded 1962 by Parham and Labouisse, and 1995 by Mathis Group; renovated 1999-2001; surrounding landscape designed by William S. Wiedorn)
• President’s House (1936, painted brick; 1978 expansion removed 1997; newly expanded 1999)
• Howard House aka The Practice House […for homemaking] (guest house and dorm, now administration) (1936, painted brick, designed by Moise H. Goldstein; renovation 1945 and 1958 designed by Goldstein, Parham and Labouisse; converted 1999 by Billes Manning)
• Main Entrance Gates (1942)
• Williams Hall (dorm) (1946,painted brick, Georgian Revival plus French Eclectic, designed by Moise H. Goldstein; 1957 expansion designed by Goldstein, Parham and Labouisse; 2000 renovation)
• Camphor Hall (dorm) (1947, painted brick, Georgian Revival plus French Eclectic, designed by Moise H. Goldstein; 1962 expansion designed by Moise H. Goldstein with Louis Goldstein; 1970 expansion)
• Stern Hall aka Science Building (natural science) (1952, painted brick, Georgian Revival designed by Moise H. Goldstein with input from scientists and science teachers; 1966-67 expansion and renovation designed by Parham and Labouisse; 2003 renovation designed by Sizeler Architects)
• Lawless Chapel (1955, designed by Goldstein, Parham and Labouisse)
• Will W. Alexander Library (1961, painted brick, International Style with Classical elements; designed by Milton G. Scheuermann Jr. of Goldstein, Parham and Labouisse) (not eligible for historic registration, per Secretary of Interior’s standards for significance)

Site list—landscape features:

• Rosa Freeman Keller Avenue of Oaks (ca. 1938)
• Campus Green
• New Orleans Parkway Commission Gateway (1935) (outside the identified historic district)
• Sculptural Element in Circular Island, behind Parkway Commission Gateway (1935) (outside the identified historic district)
• Primary Gateway (1943)
• Flagpole in front of Kearney Hall, within Avenue of Oaks (1943)
• Dillard Sign at Warrington Park Gateway (ca. 1952), embedded in an evergreen hedge
• Duck Pond (1999 restoration by Terradesign) (outside the identified historic district)
• No longer existing: President’s Garden; Entry Roundabout
• Vegetation—Oaks, Crape Myrtles, etc.
• Furnishings and pathways:
  • Light Standard—Acorn Globe, Concrete Fluted Post
  • Bench—Concrete benches at Duck Pond
  • Concrete Walkways
  • Campus Drives

Planning Process:

Review illustrations of previous campus plans:

• 1933-35 Services and Distributions Plan by Moise H. Goldstein
• 1941 Plan Showing General Utilities, designs by Moise H. Goldstein
• Aerial photographs, 1943 and later
• Dillard University Site Improvements for the Women’s Part of the Campus by architect Moise H. Goldstein and landscape architect William S. Wiedorn

Collect drawings of the historic buildings, then catalogue and scan them for the University Archives

Survey campus buildings, and historic building assessment by Clement & Wynn with Beth Grashof

Apply Secretary of the Interior’s standards for significance to the current Dillard campus, create appropriate recommendations for future campus development

Digitized collection of historic drawings, catalogued and available for research

Outcomes: Policies and Plans:

Focus on Rehabilitation and Restoration

Unique Features:

Full c.v. for the main campus architect

Advisors:

Clement & Wynn Program Managers
with
Beth Grashof: Grashof Design Studio, Architectural/Historical Preservation
The Jaeger Company, Landscape Architecture and Historic Preservation