VKC: A president's legacy
Amidst several recent constructions and renovations, the Daily Trojan looks into the stories behind various historic buildings on the University Park Campus.
Chantal Garcia
Issue date: 9/15/04 Section: Lifestyle
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As students, faculty, staff and visitors can see, there is plenty of construction going on all over campus. While the buildings being renovated on W. 34th St. and those being constructed near Parkside International Residential College are merely another development that passersby come across daily, these buildings are in reality history in the making.
Three buildings in particular tell a few classic stories about the important figures and events that stand out in USC's history. They include Waite Phillips Hall and Social Sciences, and, notably, the von KleinSmid Center of International and Public Affairs.
USC created a Master Plan for Enterprise and Excellence in Education more than 40 years ago that included the construction of classrooms, offices, libraries, and other research locations.
Architect Edward Durell Stone, a globally respected designer who was the recipient of the first honor award from the American Institute of Architects in 1958, was commissioned by USC to design the buildings behind the Master Plan. He worked alongside Anthony D. Lazzaro, USC's associate business manager and director of campus development at the time, to accomplish some of the goals of the plan.
The planning commission projected it would take 20 years to complete the project, but the successful fundraising and numerous donations contributed to the school by 63,467 individuals garnered USC more than $106 million and allowed construction of 30 major buildings to be accomplished within only five years.
Coming down Hoover Street, whether by foot, bike or car, the 167-foot tower with the 5,500-pound metal globe on top signals a close arrival to USC. This tower is part of the von KleinSmid Center of International and Public Affairs, which at one point issued the sounds of carillon's chimes playing "Fight On," "Song of Troy," "Cardinal and Gold" and even some religious hymns. The man behind the name of the building is thought of just as highly as the tower.
"Dr. Von," as he was affectionately called, was formally known as Dr. Rufus B. von KleinSmid, an accomplished man both locally and internationally. He was USC's president between 1921 and 1946, and he continued to improve USC's conditions as the university's first chancellor unanimously voted on by the board of trustees from 1946 through 1964.
A token to his legacy, von KleinSmid once stated, "Life begins with every day and every year brings a broader understanding, a deeper sympathy, and a conclusion that the greatest thing in the world is people."
During his presidency and his time as chancellor, von KleinSmid managed to impact the lives of others to the point where the three-story building would be named after him, a suggestion made by former USC President Norman Topping. After all, as Lazzaro said, "All the money to build the center was donated by von KleinSmid's friends and admirers." "Dr. Von" helped USC attain a place of national ranking, saw the expansion of the student body and faculty, and was a key player throughout the construction of new buildings. He was also recognized as "one of three of the nation's most distinguished citizens" through the National Institute of Social Sciences Gold Medal Award. On an international level, von KleinSmid received awards from 20 national governments for his achievements.
The structure is now home to the School of International Relations, which von KleinSmid founded in 1924, the School of Political Science, the School of Policy, Planning and Development, and the School of Art History. The building contains 60 classrooms on the first and second floors and a total of 76 offices on the second and third floors. It also has a library in the basement.
Completed in November of 1965, it has stood and will continue to stand as a nod to the efforts and accomplishments of "Dr. Von."
