During his tenure as Head of School from 1952-1971, Lyle Farrell assembled a loyal group of Trustees. Bestowing the epithet "The Great Builder" on himself, Lyle turned repeatedly to Trustees for cash donations to fund the construction of Holland Auditorium, Shirley Hall and the Fieldhouse--which he named for himself. (Only Lyle Farrell could make me use the odious word "himself" twice in the same sentence.) Today, Shirley Hall is home to social sciences, science and mathematics. Phil Goodnow speaks to the causal factors of the first Indo-China conflict while students scribble notes.

To save a dime, Lyle turned to William R. Shirley--a generous alumnus from the Class of 1916--for architectural work. In the building that bears his name, Shirley graced the center of campus with a pleasant Neoclassic design. Here's Eric Viandier distinguishing sedimentary from metamorphic rock in geology.

Opened on May 12, 1962, the upper floor was originally dominated by Lovejoy Library. That configuration was abandoned in 1994, when Lovejoy Library moved to the extraordinary Fowler Learning Center. The space was chopped up into much-needed classrooms. Sarah McIntyre answers Tuckerman's question in biology:

The chemistry lab is dedicated to Jim "Doc" Hand, who headed up the science department for so many years. Here, Timmy and Geordie observe the function of a wick in bringing wax (which is what is really burning) up into the combustion column.

And here's Dylan pretending to concentrate in bio:

Advanced Placement biology:

Back in biology, Sophie and Jackson at work.

Phil Goodnow sets up daughter Hannah with a "Brown Bess" to demonstrate the function of black powder similar to the stuff they concocted in chemistry.