Rolfe Hall: A Chronicle of UCLA's Academic and Cultural Hub
Rolfe Hall stands as a cornerstone of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), embodying its academic mission and rich cultural landscape. From its foundational role in housing the College of Letters and Science to its current status as a center for diverse academic departments and artistic expression, Rolfe Hall's history mirrors the evolution of UCLA itself.
The Early Years and Academic Foundation
Franklin Prescott Rolfe, for whom Rolfe Hall is named, held numerous administrative positions at UCLA, including chair of the English Department and the Humanities Division, as well as dean of the College of Letters and Science. His leadership was instrumental in shaping the academic direction of the university during its formative years.
UCLA itself traces its origins to the Southern Branch of the University of California, established in 1919. Ernest Carroll Moore served as director of the Southern Branch, playing a key role, alongside Regent Edward A. Dickson, in the eventual establishment of UCLA. Early leaders like Charles Henry Rieber, who became professor of philosophy and dean of the Southern Branch in 1922, laid the groundwork for the university's academic structure.
Emergence of Centers and Institutes
Over time, UCLA has fostered the creation of various centers and institutes dedicated to specialized areas of study. These centers have enriched the academic environment and contributed to UCLA's reputation as a leading research university.
UCLA Emeriti Center
The UCLA Emeriti Center, established in 1969 by Chancellor Charles E. Young, serves as a vital link between the university and its retired faculty. This initiative, prompted by the UCLA Emeriti Association, aimed to maintain connections with retired academic personnel and recognize their continued contributions. Marian G. Broome was appointed as the Center’s founding director. The Center began with a roster of 150 retired faculty members and surviving spouses. In 1978, the Center extended support to staff employees nearing or in retirement and was later renamed the Emeriti/Retirees Relations Center (ERRC).
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Center for Social Theory and Comparative History
Established in 1987, the UCLA Center for Social Theory and Comparative History fosters interdisciplinary scholarship. It aims to encourage the development of social theory that is historically rooted and of comparative history that is theoretically informed. The core of the Center's intellectual work is the biweekly colloquium series, which runs more or less every other Monday during the Winter and Spring quarters. Each year the colloquium series is organized around a single theme, with each session intended to build upon the previous one. The colloquia have, from the start, succeeded in attracting top scholars in the relevant fields from around the globe. In recent years, the colloquium series focuses on contemporary issues in historical context.
Center for Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Studies
The Center provides a forum for the discussion of central issues in the field of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century studies. It organizes academic programs, bringing together scholars from the region, the nation, and the world, with the goal of encouraging research from as early as the time of Lope de Vega and William Shakespeare to the defeat of Napoléon and the death of Lord Byron. Established in 1985, the Center also administers the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, located on a historic property in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles. The Clark serves as the research laboratory for a distinguished array of fellows working either in early modern studies or the fin-de-siècle world of Oscar Wilde. The annual core program-a series of interdisciplinary events developed around a common theme-ranges from three or four consecutive workshops to a series spanning a year or more, with a full complement of symposia, workshops, graduate seminars, and public lectures, held at the Clark or on UCLA’s main campus. Core programs are organized each year by the current Center/Clark Professor or Professors, who are encouraged to design programs that will lead to publication in the Center/Clark series. Stephen A. Kanter Lecture on California Fine Printing-a biennial event supported by Stephen A. Browse list of Stephen A. William Andrews Clark Lecture on Oscar Wilde-a biennial event endowed by Dr. Chamber Music at the Clark-an annual series established in 1994 with the support of a pilot grant from the Ahmanson Foundation-presents internationally acclaimed chamber ensembles in the drawing room of the Clark Library. Chamber Music at the Clark is made possible by The Ahmanson Foundation, under the auspices of Lee Walcott; The Colburn Foundation; Martha Bardach; Catherine Glynn Benkaim, Ph.D. and Barbara Timmer; Dr. Rogers Brubaker; Dr. Susan Harris and Mark Harris; Judy Hellinger; Henry J. Bruman Endowment for Chamber Music; Dr. Sheldon H. Kardener and Monika Olofsson Kardener; Elaine and Bernie Mendes; Janet Minami; Bette I. and Jeffrey L. Nagin; Dr. Jeanne Robson; Carol E. Sandberg; Charles H. and Carol “Jackie” Schwartz; Dr. Patricia Bates Simun and Mr. Richard V. Simun Memorial Fund; Patricia Waldron, M.D., and Richard Waldron; and Roberta and Robert Young. Henry J. Bruman Summer Chamber Music Festival-an annual event founded in 1988 by Professor Henry J. Bruman-aims to introduce new audiences to chamber music at informal concerts on campus. Concerts are made possible by the Henry J. Bruman Trust, a gift in memory of Raymond E. Johnson, and a gift from Wendell E. Jeffrey and Bernice M. Browse list of Henry J. Arts on the Grounds creates intersections of literature and the performing arts. Events have included modern interpretations of classical theater and site-specific productions designed for the Clark grounds. The program engages a broad new range of audiences and brings the Library’s rich collections to life through performance.
Robert Graham's Art Installations at UCLA
Robert Graham, a sculptor known for his focus on the human form, has left a lasting mark on UCLA's North Campus through several art installations. These works, gifts from Carol and Roy Doumani, enhance the university's cultural environment.
Graham was inspired by the formal possibilities of human anatomy. Almost all of his works were based on the human figure. Graham was enormously productive during his career, and UCLA is fortunate to have a number of his works on North Campus, all gifts from Carol and Roy Doumani ’57. Dance Columns I and II are in the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden. In front of Schoenberg Hall is a study (three-quarter scale) for the Duke Ellington Memorial, in New York’s Central Park. Ellington and his grand piano are atop a circular platform held up by nine female figures that represent the Muses. Graham, whom the Los Angeles Times said had “a towering public presence,” was best known for large public commissions that honored historical figures or big ideas in prominent places. He first came to the attention of many Angelenos in 1984, when he created sculptures for the ceremonial Olympic Gateway at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. In 2002, he created the Great Bronze Doors for the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown L.A. In 1978, Graham had designed a freestanding bronze door, commissioned by art collector Frederick Weisman, who donated the piece to the Music Center downtown in 1982. As early as 1964, Graham’s work was the subject of solo exhibitions at prominent contemporary art galleries in California, New York City and several European cities. Born in Mexico City in 1938, Graham told the Los Angeles Times that he recalled having his mother take him to visit the great public monuments in Mexico, such as the pyramids and Rivera and Siqueiros murals, as well as cathedrals and churches. When Graham was 9, the family moved to San Jose, California. He went on to study at San Jose State University and the San Francisco Art Institute, and in 1965 he moved to Los Angeles. “He demanded to do things on his own terms, and did them with incredible excellence,” fellow artist Tony Berlant ’62, M.A. ’63, M.F.A. ’64 told the Los Angeles Times.
Representations of Women in Rolfe Courtyard
The representations of women within the Rolfe Courtyard suggest a woman expecting recognition. The hour-glass pedestal is an extension of her contour. Strength and individuality are embodied in these figures. Their poses indicate their differing objectives. Similar qualities can be seen in the women forming the tripartite columns, creating a unique whole. Stephanie and Spy (her horse) evoke an expectancy that both seem to vanish into the future, their essence captured within their circumference. Contemplating these masterpieces from a distance allows for a deeper appreciation of their artistic expression.
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Notable Figures Linked to UCLA
UCLA has been the academic home to numerous individuals who have achieved distinction in various fields, from athletics and the arts to politics and science. Their contributions have shaped society and brought recognition to the university.
William Coit Ackerman: As the UCLA tennis coach from 1920 to 1950, Ackerman led his teams to 10 Pacific Coast Conference titles and an NCAA championship. He also served as executive director of the Associated Students from 1933 to 1967.
Arthur Ashe: A UCLA alumnus, Ashe was a tennis champion and activist. He won three Grand Slam titles, including the U.S. Open, and was the first African American to be named No. 1 in the world.
Llewellyn M.K. Boelter: Boelter organized and led UCLA’s College of Engineering from 1944 until his retirement in 1965.
Paul D. Boyer: A professor in UCLA’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry since 1963 and founding director of the UCLA Molecular Biology Institute, Boyer's research on enzyme mechanisms earned him a Nobel Prize.
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Tom Bradley: After earning a scholarship to UCLA and serving in the Los Angeles Police Department, Bradley became Los Angeles’ first African-American mayor, holding office for 20 years.
Ralph Bunche: A UCLA alumnus, Bunche was a scholar, athlete, and diplomat. He worked for the U.S. government and the United Nations, and he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in mediating the 1949 armistice agreement between Israel and Arab states.
Lily Bess Campbell: Campbell taught at UCLA from 1922 to 1950, leaving her mark on the academic world through her work in Renaissance and Shakespearean literature.
William Andrews Clark Jr.: Clark named the library for his father, William Andrews Clark Sr., who founded a mining empire in Montana.
James A. Collins: A UCLA graduate, Collins opened his first restaurant and later built a company that included hundreds of Kentucky Fried Chicken and Sizzler restaurants.
Clark and Barbara June (B.J.) Cornell: Constructed in 1995, Cornell Hall is named after Clark and Barbara June (B.J.) Cornell, who funded this new addition to UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.
Mitchel D. Covel: After earning his medical degree at UC San Francisco, Covel joined the clinical faculty of the UCLA School of Medicine in 1960.
Marion Davies: An actress of the early 20th century, Davies donated $1.9 million in 1952 for the construction of the children’s center that bears her name.
Paul A. Dodd: Dodd came to UCLA in 1928 as a labor economist.
Clarence Addison Dykstra: Dykstra became provost and vice president of UCLA in October 1944. He taught political science and eventually became president of the University of Wisconsin.
Louis Factor: Factor, once vice president of the international cosmetics firm Max Factor Co., began his career as a teenager, working in his family’s Hollywood plant.
Grace Maxwell Fernald: Fernald established the center in 1921 originally as a research and training center for the study, diagnosis and treatment of learning disorders in children.
Francis E. Fowler Jr.: In 1992, what had been known as the Museum and Laboratories of Ethnic Arts and Technology was renamed the Fowler Museum of Cultural History - after the family of collector and inventor Francis E. Fowler Jr.
Shepherd Ivory Franz: At UCLA from 1924 to 1933, Franz served as professor and as the first chairman of the UCLA Department of Psychology.
Leslie Gonda: Gonda escaped from the Komárom forced-labor camp in Hungary. His wife, Susan, survived Auschwitz.
Charles Grove Haines: As an undergraduate at Ursinus College, Charles Grove Haines played football and discovered his love for government. He served on UCLA’s political science faculty from 1925 until his death in 1948.
Earle Raymond Hedrick: Hedrick served as vice president and provost of UCLA from 1937 to 1942. Prior to his administrative position, he taught mathematics for 13 years.
Mira Hershey: Hershey was a wealthy philanthropist whose support made the building of the first campus dormitory possible.
Glorya Kaufman: Philanthropist and dance lover Glorya Kaufman is a generous patron of the arts.
William G. Kerckhoff: Kerckhoff found success in the lumber industry and then turned his attention toward the development of hydroelectric power, bringing electricity to Southern and Central California. Less than two decades later, he and his colleagues created the Southern California Gas Corporation in 1910.
Edgar Lee Kinsey: Kinsey, professor of physics and former chairman of the department, taught at UCLA from 1928 until his death in 1961.
Vern Oliver Knudsen: Knudsen served as professor, department chair, dean of graduate studies, vice chancellor and, eventually, chancellor of UCLA. As an academic, Knudsen studied physics and specialized in acoustics.
Lester Korn: Korn was a founder of Korn/Ferry International, the world’s largest executive recruiting firm, and served as its CEO for more than 20 years. In 1987-1988, he served as an ambassador to the United Nations. He is now the chairman and CEO of Korn Capital Group and Korn Tuttle Capital Group, as well as a member of the UCLA Anderson Board of Visitors.
Morton La Kretz: La Kretz founded Crossroads Management, which manages industrial, commercial and residential properties throughout the Los Angeles Basin.
James E. Lu Valle: Lu Valle was a student-athlete who won a bronze medal as a track runner in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Kenneth Macgowan: Macgowan taught at UCLA from 1946 until his retirement in 1956 and served as the first chairman of the UCLA Theater Arts Department.
William Melnitz: Melnitz earned his degrees in Germanic languages at UCLA and joined the faculty soon after.
Ernest Carroll Moore: Moore was director of the Southern Branch of the University of California (prior to the formal founding of UCLA) in 1919. Through the efforts of Moore and Regent Edward A. Dickson, UCLA came into being.
Peter Morton: Morton owns the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and, with partner Isaac Tigrett, started the Hard Rock Café chain of restaurants. He also chaired the board of visitors of the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Franklin D. Murphy: Murphy, a physician, became UCLA’s chancellor in 1960. During his eight-year tenure, the College of Applied Arts transitioned into the College of Fine Arts, and the schools of library science and architecture and urban planning were established.
Morris “Mo” and Evelyn Ostin: The Ostins are generous supporters of UCLA and the arts, athletics, medicine and education.
Harvey S. Perloff: Perloff served as dean of the UCLA Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning from 1968-1983.
Lawrence Clark Powell: Powell joined the library staff in 1938 and served as UCLA’s second university librarian from 1944 to 1961.
Clarence C. Reed: Reed was a Southern California physician whose gift of land, plus a matching grant of $1.37 million from the National Institutes of Health, provided construction funding for the center.
Charles Henry Rieber: Rieber graduated from UC Berkeley (known then as the University of California) in 1888, then earned advanced degrees at Harvard and taught at Stanford before returning to UC Berkeley to teach in 1903. In 1922, he became professor of philosophy and dean of the new Southern Branch of the university at Los Angeles.
Franklin Prescott Rolfe: Rolfe held a number of administrative positions at UCLA. He chaired the English Department and the Humanities Division and served as dean of the College of Letters and Science.
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