The Sterling Law Buildings (Law School) and Hall of Graduate Studies (Graduate School) were the final major components of James Gamble Roger's conception of the Central Campus for Yale University.  Despite the planning authority given to him by President Angell and the Corporation in 1924, Rogers' intention to place the two groups of buildings near Sterling Memorial Library was not without controversy.  Beginning in March of 1928 and throughout the rest of that year, Rogers, the Sterling Trustees, and most of the Corporation members argued with President Angell and  Law School Dean Robert Hutchins about where the Law School (and, by extension, the Graduate School) should be placed--an episode that Angell referred to as "a rather disagreeable snarl" (Angell to John Farwell, 20 April 1928. Corporation Committee on Architectual Plan Papers).

Angell and Hutchins wanted to move the Law School near the Medical School with the intention that the close proximity of the two schools would encourage research into criminology, pathology, and sociology.  Angell's plans for Yale's graduate programs were to fashion them into individual places of research, separate from Yale College and its traditions.  Rogers and the Corporation argued that it was essential to maintain those traditions by placing graduate facilities near the library, which was now at the physical and intellectual heart of the University.  In 1928, Angell had other concerns that affected his argument, such as the need for new freshman dormitories, which he proposed placing in the site Rogers intended for the Law School.   He also voiced concern for the "diversions" and "distractions" that undergraduates would have upon the graduate students, which he said would result in a "mediocre Law School" (Angell to the Corporation Committee on Architectural Plan, 22 March 1928, and Farwell to Edwin Herr, 25 July 1928. Corporation Committee on Architectual Plan Papers).  Angell lost the battle, however, and the Law School and the Graduate School were designed and built as Rogers and the Sterling Trustees wanted them--as Gothic extensions of the Sterling Library.

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Last modified March 1999, K. Jensen.  Copyright@ 2009 Yale University.
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