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"Tappan Hall, 855 S University Avenue, University of Michigan" (September 15, 2020). Photo Courtesy: aadl.org
The University of Michigan's Oldest Classroom Building
The University of Michigan's Oldest Classroom Building
by Emily Robinson
If you’re a student in LSA, like me, you most likely have already had or will have a class in Tappan Hall. Located on South University Ave. next to the University of Michigan Museum of Art, it’s likely you have at least passed by the red brick building with stone detailing, maybe even wondered about its history. Tappan Hall has a rich history and an interesting story behind its name.
Tappan Hall was built from 1893-1894, designed by Spier and Rohns of Detroit, and constructed by the Dietrick Brothers, also of Detroit (Shaw) at a cost of almost $50,000 ("Tappan Hall"), roughly two million in today’s dollars, which is relatively cheap in comparison to some of the newer buildings on campus. Opening in 1894 makes Tappan Hall the oldest classroom building on campus (Lambrou).
Tappan Hall (ca. 1898). Photo courtesy: lib.umich.edu
Tappan Hall (1984). Photo Courtesy: samuelsongallery.com
The south wing of the building was added in 1985 to house the Fine Arts Library, which was designed by Luckenbach/Ziegelman (Lambrou). The original and south wing’s total square footage is about 20,000ft, with 28 offices and classrooms (Shaw). Since the opening of the building in June 1894, Tappan Hall has housed many departments, including economics, education, mineralogy, industrial relations, and business administration (Lambrou). Since 1948, the History of Art department has occupied the building (Lambrou), but classes from several different departments are held there.
Tappan Hall is named after the first University of Michigan president, Henry Philip Tappan. Professor Winchell of the University of Michigan stated Tappan had “striven for absolute power” in 1859 (Tobin), which corresponds to the meaning of his first name. The name Henry comes from English-roots and means “ruler of homeland” or “power ruler” (“Henry”). His middle name, Philip, is Greek and means “lover of horses” ("Philip"). The last name Tappan is a variant of the German tappe ("Tappan") as well as the French tappere ("Tappan Coat of Arms"), which was an occupational name given to an owner of a pub/bar or “one who drew wine or beer," according to Ancestry.com.
Henry Philip Tappan. Photo courtesy: lib.umich.edu
Henry Tappan was born in 1805 and became university president in 1852 (Tobin). He was known for believing in scientific research and the practical application of knowledge (“Henry Tappan, 1860”), but many of his views did not align with the regents of the university. During this period, the churches had a lot of power, so positions at the university would be given out to its members (Tobin). Tappan did not believe in this practice and was the first to hire faculty based on qualification, not denomination (Tobin). Interestingly, Tappan’s beliefs that were causing controversy in the 1800s ultimately became the norm in today’s culture. In 1858, the regents that supported Tappan were removed from office so he stood alone against the reformers (Tobin). Eventually, in 1863 Tappan was forced to resign (“Henry Tappan, 1860”).
After Tappan’s term as president at the university, he moved with his family to Switzerland. Those back in Michigan who were loyal to Tappan pushed for the university to rekindle, and with the help of then-president James B. Angell, they were able to extend a formal invitation to the commencement ceremony in 1875 (Tobin). Tappan had to decline, but the relationship between Tappan and the university was repaired (Tobin). Tappan was a very influential figure at the University of Michigan and Angell later stated that he was “the largest figure of a man that ever appeared on the Michigan campus. And he was stung to death by gnats!" (“Henry Tappan, 1860”).
Tappan Hall has served the students and faculty for over 100 years and will continue to do so in Tappan’s honor. Henry P. Tappan was a positive influence at the university and his values of education and qualification align with having the oldest academic classroom building named in his honor.
Work Cited
“Henry Family History.” Henry Name Meaning & Henry Family History at Ancestry.com®, Ancestry.com, www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=henry.
“Henry Tappan, 1860.” Henry Tappan, 1860 | Ann Arbor District Library, Ann Arbor District Library, aadl.org/aafounders_tappan.
Lambrou, J.T. “Tappan Hall Historical Marker.” Historical Marker, Historical Marker Database, 12 Feb. 2023, www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=181718.
“Philip Family History.” Philip Name Meaning & Philip Family History at Ancestry.com®, Ancestry.com, www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=philip.
Shaw, Wilfred B. “The University of Michigan: An Encyclopedic Survey .” The University of Michigan, an Encyclopedic Survey , University of Michigan Press, 1958, quod.lib.umich.edu/u/umsurvey/AAS3302.0004.001?rgn=main%3Bview.
"Tappan Coat of Arms." Coat of Arms & Family Crests Store website. https://www.4crests.com/tappan-coat-of-arms.html Accessed 21 April 2023.
“Tappan and Tappe Family History.” Tappe Name Meaning & Tappe Family History at Ancestry.com®, Ancestry.com, www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=tappe.
“Tappan Hall: Bentley Historical Library: University of Michigan.” A Historical Tour of the University of Michigan Campus, Bentley Historical Library, bentley.umich.edu/legacy-support/campus_tour/tappan.php.
Tobin, James. “Tappan's End.” University of Michigan Heritage Project, University of Michigan, heritage.umich.edu/stories/tappans-end/.
Samuelson, Michael. “Tappan Hall, 1894”. Samuelson Gallery, samuelsongallery.com/product/tappan-hall-1894/. 7 Apr. 2023.
“Henry Philip Tappan [oval, head & shoulders]”. Bently Historical Library, quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/image-idx?id=S-BHL-X-HS5968%5DHS5968. 7 Apr. 2023.
Forbes, David. “Tappan Hall, ca. 1898”. UM Library, 10 Mar. 2017, quod.lib.umich.edu/b/bhl/x-hs16543/HS16543?lasttype=boolean;lastview=reslist;med=1;resnum=3;size=50;sort=relevance;start=1;subview=detail;view=entry;rgn1=ic_all;q1=tappan+hall. 7 Apr. 2023.
Jensen, Steve. "Tappan Hall, 855 S University Avenue, University of Michigan, September 15, 2020". Ann Arbor District Library, 15 Sept. 2020, https://aadl.org/steve_jensen_4589
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