Building America's First University: An Historical and Architectural Guide to the University of Pennsylvania

I guess it helps being an extremely old (the actual founding date is debated and discussed within the book) Ivy League university to get your very own historical and architectural guide published. Part I of the book follows the development of the University from its initial charter through to its march to modern times. Speaking as an alumnus of Penn, I always though the University had an exceptionally beautiful campus, but its rich history was virtually unknown to me. This book makes it clear that the plan for institutional growth required the Deans, Trustees, and other campus leaders engage in detailed campus architectural planning - where, what, and how?. Only now can I appreciate the decisions and compromises made that are reflected by the campus architecture. The authors use the epilogue to address some of the myths that campus students have spread and continue to perpetuate. Part II of the book is a detailed review (North, South, East, West, and Central campus) of the current structures on the campus. Each building gets its own entry detailing its address, date of construction, purpose, and accompanying photo. The book is chock full of diagrams, illustrations, and photographs showing the campus and the movers and shakers that shaped it. This is the perfect coffee table book for graduates of The University of Pennsylvania.