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Letters
from alumni about the P.U. chapel
Though I always enjoy reading the Princeton Alumni Weekly, I was particularly
pleased to see Kathryn Federici Greenwood's piece
on the Chapel's restoration in the March 13, 2002, issue.
As the partner in charge of that project, I can attest to the exceptional
work done by the Masonry Preservation Group and Femenella and Associates.
My only disappointment in the story was that Ms. Greenwood failed to mention
the architectural firm in charge of that project, of which two of the
five partners are graduates of Princeton University: Jeremiah Ford ’54
and myself in ’73. Both Jerry Ford and Michael Farewell also received
their MFA degrees from the university.
In addition, the following people played significant roles in the project:
Ed Meade, structural engineer with Robert Silman Associates; Ivan Myjer,
stone conservator; Nick Micros, sculptor; Julie Sloan, stained glass consultant;
and David Howell, architect and project manager for Princeton University.
It was an honor to work on such a significant commission, and we were
delighted to have the opportunity to lead the restoration effort.
Michael J. Mills ’73
Princeton, N.J.
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April 2, 2002
I enjoyed your March 13 PAW account
of the "eclectic but much-loved" Marquand Chapel and the fire
that destroyed it in 1920. However, your article seems to have conflated
the Chapel's donor, Henry G. Marquand (1819-1902) with his son, Allan
Marquand (1853-1924), Class of 1874.
Henry made a fortune in railroads, then used his wealth to support his
lifelong enthusiasm for art and architecture. When Allan entered Princeton,
his father made his first contribution to the Princeton campus, co-sponsoring
the building of the Bonner-Marquand Gymnasium.
After graduating in 1874, Allan went to the seminary. His choice may have
encouraged Henry to fund the design and construction of the Marquand Chapel,
completed in 1881. By then, Allan had left the ministry to devote himself
to collecting art and teaching Princeton students about it. Appointed
to the faculty as its first professor of Art and Archaeology in 1882,
he established the Art Museum, the Marquand Library, and the Art Department
in the course of the next 20 years. He also found time to raise a family;
his daughter Eleanor w' 23 w'17 h. '17, was my mother.
G. Allan Forsyth ’53
New York, N.Y.
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I was on campus in February for Alumni Day and, along with two other family members, I attended the Service of Remembrance, specifically to honor my uncle Ed Eisenhart ’42, who passed away last fall.
I was stunned at how beautiful the restored
chapel looked and how well the refurbished organ sounded. The chapel
choir’s rendition of John Tavener’s Song for Athene in
that rededicated space was very moving indeed. So it was with great interest
that I read your cover story and Jane Chapman Martin’s “From
the Editor” column in the March 13, 2002, issue of PAW. The excerpts
from architect Ralph Adams Cram’s article in the May 25, 1928 PAW
were eloquent and left me wanting to see the entire articles – is
there more?
Douglas M. Eisenhart ’72
Natick, Mass.
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