Millersville University is known for its history as Pennsylvania’s first normal school in 1855 under the name of Lancaster Normal School, along with their two famous residents; swans Miller and S’Ville. However, there is a historical part of campus that is not as well known, which is the stained glass windows.
The windows were designed in three sections, with the bottom having the Normal School class pin design, which is a lamp in front of a keystone. The middle has the depiction of the theme of each window, while the top depicts an alumni badge with a seven pointed alumni star, along with the Latin phrase “ad astra,” meaning “toward the stars.”
The 14 stained glass windows were installed in and remained in the chapel of Old Main until the building was demolished in 1965 to build the Ganser Library. Prior to the demolition the windows were removed and placed into storage, where they remained until being restored and placed into several buildings across campus.
These windows can be found around campus in the following locations:
Biemsderfer Executive Center
Biemsderfer Executive Center features the window “Charity,” which is one of the 14 windows that were originally in Old Main. The building also features a window titled “Climb Through the Rocks be Rugged,” which was presented by the class of 1909, and dedicated to language professor Dr. Andrew R. Byerly. There are also several windows in the Sherts Board Room.
Caputo Hall/Roddy Science Center
The two stained glass windows in Caputo Hall and the Roddy Science Center are both a part of the original 14 located in the Chapel at Old Main. Both windows contain two of three possible pieces in the set.
The window, titled “Justice,” is located in the lobby of Caputo Hall. “Justice” depicts the figure of Lady Justice with scales suspended from her left hand, along with the bottom piece containing the Normal School class pin design. The window was restored in memory of George R. Anderson, a Mathematics professor and Department Chair. The window was presented by his wife, Dorothy Anderson, and his daughters, Carol Snyder and Barbara Stitchberry.
The second window, titled “Science,” is also in the lobby of Caputo Hall. “Science” displays a figure holding a chalice, along with the bottom piece of the Normal School class pin. This window was restored in memory of William H. Caulwell, an associate professor of science and biology. It was presented by his wife, Virginia Caulwell-Karel, and his daughter, Oak Sky.
McNairy Library and Learning Forum
The McNairy Library contains four of the original 14 stained glass windows. All four windows are completed in their entirety, with all three pieces (the Normal School class pin, the depiction itself, and the alumni badge).
The first window is “History.” The window depicts a person holding a book, along with a pencil or quill. On both sides of the figure are columns that have names of historical figures. The bottom reads “History,” along with the Latin phrase “Litera scripta manet,” which translates to “the written word endures.”
The second window is “Literature,” which shows a figure holding a book, along with the Latin phrase, “Efficiunt clarum studio,” which translates to, “they make it clear by study.”
The third window is “Art.” This window contains a woman with a scroll in one hand and The Parthenon in the other, along with the phrase, “Seraphs share with thee knowledge: But art, O man is thine alone!”
The fourth and last window located at the library is “Hope.” This window depicts a woman reaching into the sky, and the face was created based on a Lancaster child whose mother was a member of the class of 1904. The bottom piece of the window is not the original one, and is believed to actually be the bottom part of the “Charity” window. The window was dedicated in memory of Esther Risser Whitely in 1984.
Gordinier Hall
Gordinier Hall contains three of the original 14 stained glass windows, all of which are in the Old Main room of the Bolger Conference Center. These three windows also contain the three pieces of each original window.
The first window is “Christianity,” which depicts Jesus Christ in a welcoming pose along with the phrase, “The light of the world.”
The second window is “Faith.” The window depicts Sir Galahad leading his horse through three different landscapes during his quest to find the Holy Grail. The window also contains the phrase, “O just and faithful knight of God.”
The third and last window is “Prosperity.” This window features Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, wearing a crown made of ears of corn and carrying a torch.
Hash Building/Bassler Hall
One of the original 14 windows is located in Hash/Bassler. This is the window, “Education,” and features the goddess of wisdom, Minerva, holding a two-headed spear with her shield and helmet on the ground. In this window Minerva is also standing by a statue of Nike, a representation of victory, and an owl sitting on a post. The window was presented to the Hash building in 2006 in honor of Barbara G. Will, an elementary teacher, principal, and director.
McComsey Hall
The top part of the window “Truth” is located in McComsey Hall, outside Myers Auditorium. The window depicts the alumni star, along with the phrase, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”
Osburn Hall
Osburn Hall holds the bottom part of the window, “Truth,” which is the Normal School class pin design.
Wickersham
The window in Wickersham is the bottom piece of “Hope.” The window contains the Normal School class pin design along with the inscription, “Class of 1904,” and the phrase “The Victory and Honor is Ours” in Greek. The window is in memory of George Maynard Snyder.
Stayer Hall
While there is currently no stained glass window installed at Stayer Hall, there are plans to add the original of the stained glass windows, “Socrates Teaching the Youth of Athens.”
