Skinner Memorial Chapel

Timeline of Architectural Changes:

July 1909: Myron W. Skinner, a respected trustee of the college, dies.1

28 October 1912: The Chapel Group (an organization of people interested in the construction of a chapel who were not necessarily affiliated with Carleton) unveils an initial plan for the chapel. In this initial plan, the chapel would have had two smaller buildings connected to it on either side, which would house classrooms, offices, and the registrar.2

The Chapel Group’s original proposition

22 October 1913: The first official blueprint for the chapel is created. The two smaller buildings are still clearly part of the plan.3

First official blueprint of the chapel

11 May 1914: The second iteration of blueprints is created. At this point, the college seems to have made the decision to focus only on the central portion of the chapel and to make the wings a later addition after the construction of the main chapel.4

Front of chapel
Side of chapel
First floor of chapel

1 June 1914: An adjusted set of blueprints is made.5

First floor of chapel
Basement of chapel
Second floor of chapel

Early 1915: Blueprints for the chapel begin to be finalized. The Chapel Group elaborates on their earlier plan, which would make the chapel the central building on campus.6 7

A finalized blueprint

The Chapel Group’s new plan

23 March 1915: Emily Willey Skinner, the widow of Myron W. Skinner, gives a donation of $75,000 for the construction of a chapel dedicated to her former husband.8

Week of 3 May 1915: The construction of the chapel starts.9

2 December 1915: James O’Brien, a workman employed on the chapel, falls to his death.10

Article from the 7 December 1915 edition of the Carletonian

1915-1916: Chapel construction continues.

Pictures taken during the construction of the chapel11

8 October 1916: The chapel is dedicated as part of the college’s 50th anniversary celebrations.12

1919: Additions to the chapel continue to be proposed. At some point, the wings get completely scrapped.

Drawing of a proposed addition to the north side of the chapel.13

20 June 1968: A hail storm breaks the stained glass windows in the chapel.

13 February 1969: The stained glass windows are replaced.14

Late 1970s: The chapel basement is renovated, after being described as “ugly in the extreme.”15

21 July 1982: The chapel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.16

20 January 1989: Two students fall into the pipe organ, causing $10,000 worth of damage.

Front page of the 27 January 1989 edition of the Carletonian17

Image from 17 February 1989 edition of the Carletonian18

Bibliography:

  1. Biographies of Skinners. Topical Files. TF Series 3, Buildings and Grounds, Skinner Memorial Chapel. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN ↩︎
  2. Chapel Group initial plan. 28 October 1912. Collection 21. Architectural drawings and maps, Box/Drawer 131, Folder 8: Patton, Holmes, and Flinn. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎
  3. First official blueprint. 22 October 1913. Collection 21. Architectural drawings and maps, Box/Drawer 131, Folder 8: Patton, Holmes, and Flinn. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎
  4. Second group of blueprints. 11 May 1914. Collection 21. Architectural drawings and maps, Box/Drawer 131, Folder 8: Patton, Holmes, and Flinn. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎
  5. More detailed blueprints of chapel. 1 June 1914. Collection 21. Architectural drawings and maps, Box/Drawer 131, Folder 8: Patton, Holmes, and Flinn. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎
  6. Finalized blueprints of chapel. 1915. Collection 21. Architectural drawings and maps, Box/Drawer 130, Folder 7: Patton, Holmes, and Flinn. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎
  7. Chapel Group proposal. 1915. Collection 21. Architectural drawings and maps, Box/Drawer 131, Folder 8: Patton, Holmes, and Flinn. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎
  8. Item 23: The Carletonia, March 23 1915. 23 March 1915. Carletonian, The, 1877. Collection PB008, Folder 38: 1914/15. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎
  9. Item 27: The Carletonia, May 4 1915. 4 May 1915. Carletonian, The, 1877. Collection PB008, Folder 38: 1914/15. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎
  10. Item 11: The Carletonia, December 7 1915. 7 December 1915. Carletonian, The, 1877. Collection PB008, Folder 39: 1915/16. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎
  11. Ogden, Warner. Items 11515-11517. 1912-1916. Carleton scrapbooks and photo albums, 1879-2016. Collection 28, Series Z, Box/Drawer 2, Ogden, Warner, 1912-1916. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎
  12. Item 3: The Carletonia, October 11 1916. 11 October 1916. Carletonian, The, 1877. Collection PB008, Folder 40: 1916/17. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎
  13. Proposed addition to chapel. 1919. Collection 21. Architectural drawings and maps, Box/Drawer 130, Folder 7: Patton, Holmes, and Flinn. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎
  14. Northfield News article. 13 February 1969. Topical Files. TF Series 3, Buildings and Grounds, Skinner Memorial Chapel. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎
  15. Maitland, David J. Internal memo. 23 September 1975. Topical Files. TF Series 3, Buildings and Grounds, Skinner Memorial Chapel. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎
  16. Stevens, Ruth. News release. 21 July 1982. Topical Files. TF Series 3, Buildings and Grounds, Skinner Memorial Chapel- National Register of Historic Places. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎
  17. Item 11: The Carletonia, January 27 1989. 27 January 1989. Carletonian, The, 1877. Collection PB008, Folder 112: 1988/89. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎
  18. Item 14: The Carletonia, February 17 1989. 17 February 1989. Carletonian, The, 1877. Collection PB008, Folder 112: 1988/89. Carleton College Archives, Carleton College, Northfield, MN. ↩︎