ALUMNAE BUILDING

The Candler Building is part of the Wesleyan College Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places, which includes the entire 200-plus acre campus and arboretum. Part of the 1928 campus, the Candler Memorial Library was a gift to Wesleyan College by Judge John Slaughter Candler in memory of his parents, Samuel Charles Candler and Martha Beall Candler. Noted Atlanta architect Philip Trammell Shutze designed the library to be compatible with the Georgian Revivalstyle architecture of the new campus.

The two-story Candler Building has a portico with four Ionic columns. Curving stairs on either side provide entry to the upper story main level. The lower level of the portico has three arches; a doorway through the central one accesses the lower level.

A concrete stringcourse and keystones over the windows provide additional decorative elements. The oval hall on the main floor originally served as the library’s reading room and was furnished with sixteen reading tables, each seating eight students, and four individual tables, all equipped with specially selected reading lamps. A smaller reading room seated 65 students, and a study room seated 30 girls. Miss Carnes, Class of 1913, served as Wesleyan’s librarian from 1919 until her retirement in 1959.

When the Willet Library was constructed in 1968, the Candler Building became the alumnae center. In addition to serving as the alumnae center and venue for Wesleyan events, the building today houses Wesleyan’s Office of Institutional Advancement.

Benson Room

Restored by Arline A. Finch '56 and Ronald M. Finch, Jr.

Advancement Suite

Restored by Ronald M. Finch, Jr.

Wesleyan Fund Suite

Restored by Marjorie '51 and William H. Squires

Candler Foyer

Restored by Marjorie '51 and William H. Squires

Historic Candler Columns

Given by the Class of 1973 in honor of their 50th reunion

Katharine Payne Carnes Oval Hall

Restored by Stanford M. Brown

In honor of Katharine Payne Carnes, Wesleyan's librarian from 1919 to 1959

For 186 years, Wesleyan College has been accelerating equality for women. Now, we are telling the story of the College through its history in our latest project: Wesleyan College 1836 - 2022: 186 Years in 186 Artifacts.

Wesleyan College's Archives and Special Collections Archivist Virginia Blake and Library Director Kristina Peavy have curated this project over the course of almost two years. This project showcases 186 artifacts representing significant events and time periods in Wesleyan's history. Through this exhibit, Wesleyan's story of race, advocacy, class names, traditions, and student experiences comes to life.

In 2020, Wesleyan College was granted a “Reframing the Institutional Saga” grant from the Network of Vocational Undergraduate Education (NetVUE) through the Council of Independent Colleges. In addition to exploring the racial history of Wesleyan College, this project connects who we are today as an institution with who we were and explores all the ways we have evolved. It builds upon an earlier publication by Dr. Samuel Akers, The First Hundred Years of Wesleyan College

Artifacts include Catherine Brewer Benson’s diploma, the Soong Sisters’ cap and gown and collection, student publications including yearbooks, magazines, and newspapers, Class of 1926 class rings, and many other Wesleyan treasures.

PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS:

Kristina Peavy, Grant Director

Virginia Blake, Grant Co-Director

Stanford Brown

Rhiannon Bruner

Vivia Fowler

Melody Blake

Mariana Furlin

Millie P. Hudson

Dr. Timothy Miller

Dr. Brandi Simpson Miller

Dr. Teresa Smotherman

WESLEYAN COLLEGE ARCHIVES

STUDENT ASSISTANTS:

Ariana Lee

Marissa Smith