Knowles Hall II

Built to replace the building of the same name that burned to the ground, the second Knowles Hall was a brick structure designed for better fire protection. With lesson learned from the fire of 1909, every major building on campus afterwards was built of brick or stone. The construction cost of $35,000 was largely donated by the Knowles family and Andrew Carnegie. Home for the Departments of Biology, Botany, Chemistry and Physics, Knowles Hall II had many recitation rooms, three large laboratories, and a large auditorium, which served as a chapel with a large organ fixed to the front. After the Knowles Memorial Chapel was built in 1932, the old chapel space was converted into a small museum named after Thomas R. Baker.

Knowles Hall II 1930s

Knowles Hall II 1978

The new chapel found within Knowles Hall II

In 1969, when all the science programs moved into the new Bush Center, Knowles Hall II became the home of the Departments of Behavioral Science, History and Political Affairs, and the Center for Practical Politics until 1983, when the site was needed to build the Olin Library. Despite objections from several history faculty members, Knowles Hall II was completely demolished in August 1983.

Faculty protest over demolition

Knowles Hall II in early 1980s

Demolition of Knowles Hall II