Main entrance to the White-Gravenor Building at Georgetown University

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Main entrance to the White-Gravenor Building at Georgetown University

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Title: Main entrance to the White-Gravenor Building at Georgetown University
Author: John Brosnan, S.J.
Description: The White-Gravenor Building was completed in 1933 as a Science-Recitation hall. It is named for two of the Jesuits who arrived in Maryland in 1634 on the Ark and the Dove, Andrew White (1579-1656) and John Altham alias Gravenor (1589-1640.) The Building has been described as a "sermon in stone" because of the Catholic and Jesuit symbolism of its external architectural details. The three story oriel over the main entrance includes carved symbols representing academic subjects. The symbol for each subject is accompanied by the name of a Jesuit educator prominent in that field. For example, Suarez, with the lamp of learning, represents Philosophy and Kircher, with lab instruments, represents Science. Directly above the door are five shields symbolizing academies founded by the Jesuits in Maryland. These read: 1634 St. Mary's City; 1640 Calverton Manor; 1677 Newtown Manor; 1745 Bohemia Manor; and 1789 Georgetown Heights.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/10822/552733
Date Issued: 1935
Date Created: 1935
Rights: Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus. Permission to copy or publish must be obtained from the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus and the Georgetown University Archives
Subject: White-Gravenor (Building : Washington, D.C.); White, Andrew, 1579-1656; Gravenor, John, 1589-1640; Jesuit heritage; Learning environment; ; Architecture

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