History

Former Names: University Refectory, University Graduate Center

Constructed: 1912-1913

Opening and Dedication: 1913

This building was the final gift of S.W. Bowne. It was originally used as a dormitory/dining hall and also housed faculty for a short time. The main dining room (Great Hall) is a replica of the famous hall of Christ Church College, Oxford, where John Wesley was a student. The magnificent hall can hold up to 250 people for concerts and lectures. During the 1920-1921 academic year, Bowne Hall was used exclusively as women's housing until a new dorm could be built. During the 1930 commencement, four stained glass windows at the head of Great Hall were dedicated – these were the final gifts of Mrs. S.W. Bowne. In 1940 the dormitory not only housed women students but also a dietitian and a resident nurse. After the university center opened as the main dining hall, Bowne was still used for additional academic facilities. In 1960 the building seemed to have housed four seminar rooms, five faculty offices, a general classroom, and a large colloquium commons room. By 1960-1961 Bowne Hall was called the University Graduate Center and contained a large lecture room, seminar rooms, office for the Graduate School faculty, an archaeological museum, the graduate commons, and a dormitory space for men in the graduate school. In 1967 the building no longer housed students. By 1981-1983 the building contained the humanities department and later was home to the Women's Studies Office (in the basement) and a graduate continuing education center.

Credits

Composed by Anthony D. Rogers, Courtesy of the Drew University Archives.

Text from 'The Samuel W. Bowne Hall' pamphlet, published 1913' Drew Theological Seminary, Madison, New Jersey.

The Samuel W. Bowne Hall, the latest addition to an already important group of buildings on the famous campus of Drew Theological Seminary, Madison, New Jersey, is the gift of a great and good man whose honored name it bears, who died in Christ October 29th, 1910. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, for they do rest from their labors, and their works do follow them."

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At the laying of the corner stone, two addresses of singular felicity and beauty were given, by the Rev. Doctor Frank Mason North, speaking for the trustees, and the Rev. Professor Robert W, Rogers, speaking for the faculty.

Address of Professor Rogers

'Sir,' said Samuel Johnson to Boswell, 'it is a great thing to dine with the canons of Christ Church.' A fine sentiment, boldly expressed by that mighty master of letters and morals, who had seen much in the sixty-seven years of life which had then passed over his sage head. It was indeed a great thing to dine with the canons of Christ Church, and it still is a great thing to dine with them, for they have been and are men of distinction, of culture, of piety, and often of eminence. I should rather be able to repeat the names of them all than to recite the Popes or even the archbishops of Canterbury. I can do neither, though Macaulay, who himself sometimes went a bit astray among the Urbans and Clements was sure no man could fail to know his archbishops.

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"I am frankly glad that the Methodist preachers of tomorrow, who are here to study the various theological disciplines, are henceforth to dine amid surroundings of elegance, refinement and historical suggestion. I hope, indeed, that they may be men of spiritual passion, lovers of the Lord and lovers of men, but I hope also that they will be gentlemen. Gentlemen are indeed not made by their environment; there must be innate beauty of soul to make courtesy, gentleness, recognition of the rights of others spring instant to demand, but these qualities are all helped to a finer, a more fitting expression by the silent influence of beautiful and comely material things. I hope that they may find inspiration to manliness and courage, to nobility of character and to generosity of soul as they look up at Samuel, W. Bowne, whose portrait may, I hope, stand in this place where Henry VIII does in Christ Church Hall. I hope that some of them may rise to distinction as scholars and that all of them may here learn to love learning, even though they posses but little of its precious treasure. If they come to fame, may their portraits adorn these walls, even as their prototypes amid the glory of Oxford, until we also have academic tradition of learning. Until that day dawn we must glory in our historic connection with Oxford with Christ Church and with Lincoln College through John Wesley and with Jesus College through Thomas Coke. May those who are here to sit think often of our inheritance of learning, and let their hearts go out in day dreams to Oxford, "To that high city, throned beyond all song," whose lesser image is here to rise, beautiful for situation and in coming days destined to be rich in her own fair memories."

Address of Doctor North

"Who, standing here, can be unconscious of these other buildings, the silent watchers of these new foundations. Serene and steadfast they will mark the uplift of these graceful walls and, one might almost believe, will wonder what this newcomer may be.

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