Digital Commons Network^™

“Passages” Mural On College Union Building, Elizabeth A. Ryan

Hidden in Plain Sight Projects

The mural “Passages” in the back of the Ballroom in the College Union Building may seem to be another painting on the wall to add to the décor of the room, but it can be found to be a case of “history in plain sight.” The mural depicts the history of Gettysburg College through the art work of Ellen Elmes on four separate panels. But the mural is more than a visual reminder of Gettysburg College’s past. It was donated by Luther Ritter, Class of 1933, and as such is a reminder of all the great Alumni who have passed …

Distinguished Gallantry In Action, Ashley N. Towle

Hidden in Plain Sight Projects

Among the many paintings of Abraham Lincoln hanging in the Civil War Institute, there is one face that may not be as familiar. Peering out from a small wooden frame in the main office sits Philip Goettel, a Civil War soldier. His posture is relaxed as he sits in a chair proudly displaying his Union uniform. A caption with the mere word “Father” appears below him, along with a significant date: 1863. Truly, the year 1863 would be a pivotal year in Philip Goettel’s life. He would be wounded, scale a mountain under fire, and earn a Medal of Honor. …

Gargoyles On Glatfelter Hall, Katherine D. Anthony

Hidden in Plain Sight Projects

When one walks around the campus of Gettysburg College, Glatfelter Hall towers above them, as one of the College’s most commanding edifices. One takes notice of the arched doorways, sunken windows, and the giant bell tower whose occupant chimes on the hour. What one may not notice are the eyes watching from the brownstone; faces and creatures at home in the stone, surveying your every move. Grotesques and gargoyles sit in the moldings, on the window sills and at the junction where roof and wall meet, hidden from the eye that does not have the compulsion to look. These architectural …

Silent Doorway To The Past: “Vigil” Painting In Weidensall Hall, Elizabeth A. Appenzeller

Hidden in Plain Sight Projects

Every object has a story waiting to be told. There is one such artifact that hangs boldly on the mantle of the fireplace in Weidensall Hall its presence large and demanding. The plaque reads “‘The Vigil’ Presented in honor of Mrs. H.W.A. Hanson by the Altoona League.” The artist’s signature is absent from the painting. The painting acts as a window into the history of Gettysburg College. One cannot understand the history of “The Vigil” without knowing the story of the Woman’s League of Gettysburg College, or of Robert Weidensall and the Young Men’s Christian Association. “The Vigil” that hangs …

Gettysburg College Fountain, Amanda M. Spillman

Hidden in Plain Sight Projects

When visiting Gettysburg most people are surprised to find a college nestled amongst the acres of battlefields and quaint tourist town. The few that find their way to the campus are taken back by its unique array of architecture, beautifully manicured lawns, and a fountain right in the middle of all of it. Prospective students often have the same reaction. On paper Gettysburg College seems like any other school, but usually once a student visits, they fall in love with the with the campus, charming in every shade of green in spring, and ablaze with vibrant oranges and reds in …

Portrait Of Thaddeus Stevens By Jacob Eichholtz, Axel T. Kaegler

Hidden in Plain Sight Projects

When we were approached to do a paper on the hidden history of an object in Gettysburg College, a colleague and I decided to take a weekend afternoon to walk around the campus in order to find an object to write about. After wandering for a while, we entered Penn Hall, and in the Lyceum we looked at the portraits of great contributors to Gettysburg College. One face that struck me was that of Thaddeus Stevens, who I remembered as one of the great Radical Republicans of the Civil War era. Gettysburg is very much a Civil War oriented area. …

The Remnants Of A Shard Of Hope Tainted By The Shadow Of Evil, Sergio J.A. Ragno

Hidden in Plain Sight Projects

A symbol is unique as a form of communication in that it holds no meaning standing alone, but rather gains meaning by people. As such a symbol can sometimes lead one astray for its meaning is liquid. A symbol that once represented something beautiful can be used by a sinister group, and through that become an icon of evil. Such a symbol can be found here at Gettysburg College: the Swastika. I found this symbol decorating the floor tiles of the second floor entrance to Breidenbaugh Hall. What the symbol represents may not be as ambiguous as it may seem, …

Eisenhower Statue, Jamie L. Kessler

Hidden in Plain Sight Projects

Every day thousands of students walk across the Gettysburg College campus. They are distracted by thinking about class, or homework, or the latest happenings in their social lives. Whether or not they think about it daily the students are aware of the historical place in which they are present, the battlefields which surround the campus and the Civil War re-enactors who are reminders of the historical significance of this area. But what is much less obvious to the students is that on their walks to and from classes and to meals or to check their mail they pass what is …

Ronald Warner: The Unknown Superstar, Eric J. Schroeder

Hidden in Plain Sight Projects

Gettysburg is a place with plenty of history. Everyone knows about the battle of Gettysburg in the civil war and that it took place on this campus. Everyone knows that President Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address just minutes from the Gettysburg College campus. This area is rich in history that Americans know. When Gettysburg College opened in 1832, it too began to makes its own history space. New buildings erected, some buildings knocked down, new memorials, and everything on this campus has a certain history. [excerpt]

Course Information:

• Course Title: HIST 300: Historical Method
• Academic Term: …

George C. Baum – His Life, His Work, And His Relationship With Gettysburg College, Daniel C. Scotto

Hidden in Plain Sight Projects

There is a tablet in Gettysburg College’s Plank Gym, partially obscured by trash bags and stacks of materials and boxes, that reads, “THIS TABLET IS PLACED IN AFFECTIONATE MEMORY OF GEORGE CROLL BAUM, A.M., B.A., THE ARCHITECT OF THIS BUILDING, BY A GRATEFUL ALMA MATER.” These commemorative tablets are not rare at Gettysburg. In the same room as Baum’s tablet is one for Eddie Plank, the famed deadball-era hurler for the Philadelphia Athletics and member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. Across the campus, there are tablets commemorating graduating classes, historic moments, and historic people. One could ask …

An Astronomical Account: A History Of Hatter Planetarium From 1966-2006, Jonathan D. Neu

Hidden in Plain Sight Projects

When most individuals stare up at the vast dome of Hatter Planetarium, they often gaze upon the projected stars appearing on its surface, listening to an astronomical story told by one of its operators. However, there is a second story told by the planetarium itself. This story is the history of Hatter Planetarium, which spans five decades and includes the events in the lives of several individuals who have played a critical role in its existence at Gettysburg College. Its history has encompassed several phases of Gettysburg College traditions but is in danger of passing permanently and fixedly into the …

Rocks In Gettysburg College History, Harold J. Stevens

Hidden in Plain Sight Projects

The glittering stones fill the cases in the lower lobby of the science center. Each one is has a tag saying where it was collected and what kind of rock formation it is. The cases themselves add to the feeling of being in a museum. Each rock is in pristine order and in good condition, very professional. While it is still not the most noticed of all collections on campus (located as it is on the bottom floor of the Science Center), it is still more obvious than it was just a few years ago. The rock collection is actually …

Musselman Display Case, Kara J. Sharkey

Hidden in Plain Sight Projects

The Gettysburg College campus without the influence of the Musselman family would be a very different place. The Musselman name is not one that can be easily overlooked on campus, as numerous buildings are named after the famous apple processing family located in Biglerville, Pa. Yet without the generosity of the Musselman and the Emma G. Musselman foundation, the college would not only be lacking Musselman Stadium, Musselman Hall, and Musselman Library, but also the Bream Wright Hauser Field House, and thousands of dollars in scholarships awarded to students over the past several years. The Musselmans have undoubtedly left a …

The Life And Impact Of Daniel Alexander Payne, Brian A. Vazzano

Hidden in Plain Sight Projects

On Washington Street, across from McKnight Hall and adjacent to the Intercultural Resource Center, a sign stands in commemoration of the life and accomplishments of an African American who studied at the seminary from 1835 to 1837. The plaque reads: Daniel Alexander Payne (1811-1893). Born a free African American. He taught the colored people at this college, 1837, while a student at the Lutheran Seminary. A historian, he was elected bishop of the AME Church, 1852, and was president of Wilberforce University, 1863-76. What Payne was able to achieve in his life is matched by few of his contemporaries …