anniversary of fdr cornerstone

75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONSEPTEMBER 22, 2011

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT LAID THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR MEDICAL SCHOOL BUILDING IN 1936

SEPT. 29, 1936 � PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT LAID THE CORNERSTONE OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL BUILDING IN SYRACUSE, NY

On the cover: Sept. 29, 1936.

US President Franklin D. Rooseveltand Herman Weiskotten MD,

dean of the College of Medicine, at the cornerstone laying ceremony

for the new medical school building.

This page: Early photograph of the medicalschool building now known as

Weiskotten Hall.

Page 1: The trowel used by

President Roosevelt; background: The building’s

steel structure.

All from the Historical Collections,Health Sciences Library,

Upstate Medical University

When President Roosevelt spoke on campus on that chilly September dayin 1936, he congratulated Dean Weiskotten, the faculty and medical students on our new building’s usefulness to future generations.

Over the next 75 years, thousands of doctors, nurses, health professionals andbiomedical researchers graduated from our university and have gone on to meaningful careers that are deeply useful to humanity. As Upstate Medical University continues to grow and thrive, FDR’s words ring astrue today as they did in 1936. “The country needs a large number of well-traineddoctors and nurses.” We continue to answer that call. Enjoy these pages. They are a wonderful glimpse of a memorable day in Syracuse.

–David R. Smith MDPresident Upstate Medical University

SEPT. 29, 1936 � UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY 1

FDR Dedicated Our Medical College Building

President Franklin D. Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the medical school buildingnow known as Weiskotten Hall on September 29, 1936. He congratulated its stewards on the usefulness to humanity that you will afford to future

generations of Americans. The College of Medicine was part of Syracuse University in 1936, becoming part of what is now Upstate Medical University in 1950.In 1972, the building was named in honor of Dr. Herman G. Weiskotten, medical college dean from 1920 to 1951. Weiskotten Hall now features state-of-the-art basic science laboratories and classrooms. The building houses the offices of the university president, deans of the colleges of Medicine and Graduate Studies, Student Admissions for all colleges, andthe Office of Continuing Medical Education. The adjacent Setnor Academic Building,which opened in 2007, is home to the largest clinical skills center in the United States.

2 SEPT. 29, 1936 � PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT LAID THE CORNERSTONE OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL BUILDING IN SYRACUSE, NYONONDAG

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President Roosevelt was greeted on his arrival by Mayor Rolland B. Marvin (pictured above), DeanHerman Weiskotten MD, and other officials. Roosevelt visited Syracuse to lay the cornerstone of the College of Medicine and to make the opening speech at the Democratic Party’s state convention.

It was FDR’s last public appearance in Syracuse.

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An estimated 25,000 people lined the streets of Syracuse to see President Roosevelt as his motorcade drove from the New York Central train station to the ceremony for the medical college building.

4 SEPT. 29, 1936 � PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT LAID THE CORNERSTONE OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL BUILDING IN SYRACUSE, NY

Crowds lined the streets.

Close to 6,000 people crowded at the construction site to enjoy the ceremony and see the president. Upstate Emeritus Professor Murray Grossman MD, class of1945, was there, as was retired Liverpool teacher Jane Elkin. See pages 18 and 19.

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Mortar was spread and speeches were made.Above:

President Franklin D. Roosevelt wields the trowel at the cornerstone laying for the new medicine school building. At his left is Herman G. Weiskotten MD, dean of the College of Medicine; at Roosevelt’s right is William Pratt Graham, acting chancellor of Syracuse University.

At right:Harold L. Ickes, secretary of the interior and administrator of public works, was one of the speakers at theceremony. The building was financed with an $825,000 loan from FDR’s Public Works Administration.

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8 SEPT. 29, 1936 � PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT LAID THE CORNERSTONE OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL BUILDING IN SYRACUSE, NYHEA

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FDR applauded “this great medical school.”

Dusk was beginning to fall when the president told the cheering crowd, “I am tremendously interested in the splendid work that is being carried on at this great medical school....The country needs a large number of well-trained doctors and nurses...We have not reached the limit.”

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Hatless despite a chilly autumn breeze and flashing his famous smile, President Roosevelt laidthe cornerstone of the new college of medicine building. This was the first time since the Civil War that a President of the United States had given a speech in Syracuse.



After the 4 p.m. ceremony for the medical school building, the President and Mrs. Roosevelt went tothe Democratic State convention, held at the Armory in downtown Syracuse. A few minutes afterthis photograph was taken, the President delivered the first speech in his campaign for reelection.

President Roosevelt went from cornerstone ceremony to reelection campaign...

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Ground was broken for the medical college building on June 2, 1936. Structural steel— 515 tons of it —was used to create the framework, and 600 yards of concrete was poured into the footing for thesteel framework. This was the first building in Syracuse in which the steel was erected by welding

instead of the riveting method. The reason? “So as not to disturb patients in nearby hospitals, as rivetingwould do,” said the Syracuse Herald on September 27, 1936.

The College of Medicine building opened in November 1937.

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The designers and builders showcase the finished building.

The College of Medicine building is of English-Georgian design and located at 766 Irving Avenue in Syracuse. Dwight James Baum and James Russell Pope of New York City were the architects, and Russell Stephens was in charge of construction. The original building was 3 1/2 stories high with 110,000 feet of floor space.

Follow-up story on September 30, 1936: President Lays Cornerstone for Medical Building at Syracuse University

Newspaper reports told the story.



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Two Syracusans remember being there...

Jane Elkin, a retired teacher, and Murray Grossman MD, ’45, an Upstate emeritus professor of medicine,were 12 and 13 years old, respectively, when they attended the cornerstone-laying ceremony for theCollege of Medicine building on Irving Avenue, Syracuse. The neighborhood was residential, with several hospitals and the Yates Castle (then the journalism building of Syracuse University) nearby.

Ms. Elkins wrote: “My best friend lived at 712 Irving Ave. and so we had ‘front row’ seats to watch the motorcade as it droveup the hill. Luckily, we were on the correct side of the street. As FDR’s convertible rolled past, we touchedthe car. To us it was as if we shook his hand. In my mind’s eye I can still visualize that moment.”Dr. Grossman, pictured at right, said:“The schools were closed because of the president’s visit, I think, so there were lots of children there. The crowd was electrifying. I remember climbing up on something to get a better view. I was fortunate tosee President Roosevelt drive up and do his dedication ceremony. It was something I shall never forget.”

Jane Elkin in 1932/33, 1938/40, and 2011

Dr. Grossman’s first encounterwith the College of Medicinewas as a boy, peeking at the

steel structure as he watched the 1936ceremony. Just a few years later, at age20, he was a medical student there,which was followed by an illustriousmedical career in Syracuse, that included 40 years on the faculty.What were his first memories of medical school in that beautiful,new building?“We were required to wear dressshirts and ties to class,” he smiled. “It was summer, and it was hot.”

A rich life at theCollege of Medicine


Murray Grossman MD ’45 in 1934/’37 and in 2011


The cornerstone holds the college’s history.

The cornerstone is located at the right of the front doors of Weiskotten Hall. The following items are in the cornerstone, placed there in 1936:

� The first College of Medicine catalogue, issued in Geneva in 1834� The first catalogue of our college after its transfer to Syracuse University in 1872� The 1936 college catalogue� The names of all who had served as members of the faculty of the college, to date� “Fifty Years of the College of Medicine” by Dean John L. Heffron� “The Pioneer Medical Schools of Central New York” by Dr. Harvey Cushing� The 1936 Educational Number of the Journal of the American Medical Association� A copy of the resolution of the Board of Trustees of Syracuse University authorizing the

construction of the building� A telegram from former Chancellor C.W. Flint which reads as follows:

“Regret unable to be present for cornerstone laying but will be rejoicing with you on this auspicious occasion. Give my regards to your distinguished guest and my cordial greetings to all other friends present.”

� Copies of the daily press

SEPT. 29, 1936 � UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY

“ThE MainTEnanCE OF hEaLTh, ThE PrEvEnTiOn OF DiSEaSE, ThE PrOLOnGaTiOn OF LiFE, anD ThE rELiEF OF hUMan SUFFErinG arE OFSUCh ParaMOUnT iMPOrTanCE...TO havE yOU, Mr. PrESiDEnT, anD yOU,Mr. SECrETary, ParTiCiPaTE in ThE LayinG OF ThE COrnErSTOnE OF ThiSBUiLDinG whiCh iS SO CLOSE TO OUrhEarTS iS inDEED an hOnOr whiCh wEDEEPLy aPPrECiaTE anD a FiTTinG CLiMaxTO ThE EFFOrTS OF OUr CiTizEnS, OUr CiTy, OUr STaTE, OUr COUnTry.”

–From the September 29, 1936 speech byHerman G. Weiskotten MDDean, College of Medicine

750 East Adams Street l Syracuse, NY 13210 11.1800911250umusk

Upstate Medical University traces its roots to the Geneva Medical College,founded in 1834. The college was transfered to Syracuse University in 1872and became the State University of new york College of Medicine in 1950. The Upstate name was then adopted and it has been formally known asUpstate Medical University since 2000.

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