The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

William Goodell Frost Building

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William Goodell Frost Building (ca. 1910), Berea College

William Goodell Frost Building, Berea College

Institution Name: Berea College
Original/Historic Place Name: Carnegie Library (1904-1938)
Location on Campus: Chestnut St.
Date(s) of Construction and Designer(s):

1904-1907	dedication June 1905 Cady, Berg & See
1935-1936	brick addition and library reading room built Cellarius, Charles F.
1963	renovation Unknown
1997-1998	renovation Unknown

Type of Place: Individual building
Style(s): (Glossary)
Materials:

Foundation: local stone

Walls: limestone

Roof: slate

Function:

1938-1969	library
ca. 2004-present (2007)	academic department building (history, psychology, political science, sociology)

Significance: architecture, education
Landmark designation:

none

Narrative: see below
References: see below

Narrative:
Named for a former college president, the William Goodell Frost building was a gift from Andrew Carnegie, a close friend of the College. In addition to serving as the college's library, the original building had a children's library and an extension library that from 1916 through 1943 went into surrounding areas by horse cart, bringing books to the county and the mountainous region of Kentucky. Archives and special collections were also housed there. A brick addition was added to the original limestone structure in 1935-1936, along with a Georgian-style library reading room designed by Charles F. Cellarius of Cincinnati. The reading room is modeled after the old Boston State house, revealing Berea's Massachusetts roots. Additional renovations took place in 1963 and 1997-1998. Today the Frost Building houses the departments of History, Psychology, Political Science, and Sociology.

References:

I. Bibliographic sources:

None specified.

II. Location of other data:

University: Library, Special Collections, Facilities Management Office