Subject: Education

Homophiles of Penn State

Homophiles of Penn State (HOPS) was a student organization organized in 1971 to advocate for and bring together homosexuals that was part of the wave of activism which spread across college campuses during the decade.

Eisenhower Auditorium

Eisenhower Auditorium is Penn State’s primary theatrical performance center. The building opened in 1974 and was later named for former University President Milton S. Eisenhower. It hosts about two hundred concerts, theatre and dance performances, Penn State commencements, and other events annually. 

Calorimeter

The calorimeter is a scientific device at Penn State that was used to perform experiments on the energy metabolism of cattle. The building housing the calorimeter is part of Penn State’s Ag Hill National Register Historic District

James Irvin

James Irvin was the ironmaster of Centre Furnace and the benefactor whose gift of 200 acres led to the establishment in Centre County of the Farmers’ High School of Pennsylvania, the future Penn State University.

Bellefonte Academy

The Bellefonte Academy was a popular private school that educated students from Centre County and across Pennsylvania for more than 125 years. The “School in the Mountains,” as it was known, operated from 1805-1934, except during the War of 1812 and Civil War.

Fred Lewis Pattee

Fred Lewis Pattee was an author, literary scholar, and English professor at Penn State. He wrote the alma mater and made numerous other contributions to the college. The Pattee Library is named for him.

Julia Brill

Julia Gregg Brill was the first female professor in Penn State’s English Department where she taught composition from 1924 to 1954. She was a tireless advocate for women and recognized by the university for her work.

Faculty Cottages

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Penn State built on-campus cottages to house faculty members. In the years since, the cottages have served many purposes and three still fulfill important roles on the campus.

Alpha Fire Company

The Alpha Fire Company is the volunteer company that serves State College, Penn State, and the surrounding townships. The company was founded in 1899 as the Union Fire Company. A year later, the name was changed to Alpha Fire Company.

Phil Hallock

Philip Fischler Hallock was a professor at Penn State whose design of residential and commercial projects contributed to the growth of modern architecture in Centre County in the middle of the twentieth century.