The Schiff Photographs of the River Campus
(Click on the images to zoom and see additional content)
In 1930, Josef Schiff made a portfolio of photographs of the new campus that have been featured in the University's publications since their creation.
Schiff was a viola player in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, but is best remembered for his photographic expertise. Nationally noted for his portraits of fellow musicians Alec Wilder and Jose Iturbi, one of his studio assistants was Lou Ouzer, who helped make these images of the new campus. Ouzer's own career as a photographer is legendary, and his photographic legacy is held by the Eastman School of Music.
Only a few building interiors merited Schiff's attention: Strong Auditorium, Rush Rhees Library, and Todd Union.
The views in these images show a campus untouched, and in the case of Fauver Stadium, incomplete. Absent from the landscape are the people who would soon bring the campus to life.
Schiff died in 1946 at the age of 38.
Rush Rhees Library
Against the sincere protest of President Rhees himself, the Board of Trustees voted to give his name to the new Library. It was thought, "the dominant architectural and structural feature of the new campus should be honored with the name of the dominant personality behind the entire development."
(Images of the Periodical Reading Room, Great Hall, and Welles-Brown Room)
Lattimore Hall
Samuel A. Lattimore [1828-1913] was a Professor of chemistry at the University for 41 years. He also served as acting President between the administrations of Martin B. Anderson and David Jayne Hill [1896-98]. The Chemistry laboratories were located in Lattimore Hall until their removal to Hutchison Hall in 1972.
Morey Hall
William Carey Morey [1843-1925] was a member of the Class of 1868. He entered the UR in 1862, and returned to get his degree after serving in the Civil War as brevet major and lieutenant colonel of the cavalry. He taught a variety of subjects, mainly history and political science. He was beloved by his students who fondly called him "Uncle Bill."
Dewey Hall
Professor Chester Dewey [1784-1867] was among the original faculty when the University was founded in 1850. He was a distinguished scientist and "veteran educator." He kept detailed records of Rochester’s weather for thirty years [1837-1867] that can be seen in the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.
Bausch and Lomb Hall
This building was a gift of the families of the founders of Bausch and Lomb Optical Company, John J. Bausch and Henry Lomb. The families gave $300,000 to the University during the Greater University Campaign, specifying that the money be used to build a physics laboratory building.
John Jacob Bausch [1830-1926] and Henry Lomb [1828-1908] were German immigrants. Bausch offered Lomb a partnership in his optical company in 1853; Lomb at the time was a cabinetmaker in Rochester, where he had arrived from Germany in 1849.
Schiff did not make a portrait of the building's facade, but it can be glimpsed through the colonnade, along with Rush Rhees Library.
Gavett Hall
The Engineering Building was named Gavett Hall in 1951 in honor of Professor Joseph W. Gavett, Jr. [1889-1942] who headed the Department of Engineering for 21 years. Under his direction the engineering department expanded to a major division.
Strong Auditorium
Named for Henry Alvah Strong [1838-1919], former buggy whip manufacturer who became George Eastman’s original partner and first President of the Eastman Kodak Co. Strong’s widow Hattie Maria Strong and her son L. Corrin Strong provided the funds for this magnificent building in his memory.
(Images of the interior of Upper Strong Auditorium)
Burton and Crosby Residence Halls
Named for Henry F. Burton [1851-1918], Professor of Latin, who also taught Sanskrit. He was a bulwark to the University acting as President for two years, 1898-1900 and was recommended for president, but disliked "executive duties and responsibilities." The dormitory was a twin to Crosby Hall, the original dormitories on the River Campus.
George Nelson Crosby [1840-1923] of Rochester, who founded a large tanning-furrier business, bequeathed his entire residuary estate to educational institutions in Rochester. Upon his death his estate was to be left to his wife with the understanding that when she died the remainder of the estate would be divided between the University and RIT. Mrs. Crosby died in 1925 while the fundraising for the River Campus was underway. The Crosby bequest went towards this end and when the campus opened in 1930 one of the new dormitories was named after George Nelson Crosby.
Todd Union
George W. Todd [1860-1938] Rochester businessman is credited with suggesting the Oak Hill site, now the River Campus, as the most propitious location as the new home of the College for Men. He also helped to raise the necessary funds to do so. Although a great friend to the University he was not formally connected to it. He, and his brother Libanus, founded the Todd Protectograph Company.
(Images of the formal and informal dining areas, lounge, and game room)
Alumni Gymnasium
In recognition of the contributions of the University’s alumni to the University, the gymnasium on Prince Street, built 1899-1900, was originally called the Alumni Gymnasium. When the River Campus was built the name was transferred to the new building. The Alexander Palestra is part of this structure. The Palestra was named for Louis Albion Alexander (1899-1976), who served as director of the University’s Athletics program from 1939 until 1966, in 1968.
Fauver Stadium
Named in 1951 for Dr. Edwin Fauver [1875-1949] for 29 years associated with athletics at the University as professor of hygiene and physical education, college physician, coach and athletic director. Known as a "champion of clean, wholesome college sports," Dr. Fauver spent almost two years visiting the athletic facilities at other colleges and consulting with experts in designing the new physical education plant at Rochester.