Wilbur Herbert Burnham designed the stained glass in the main hall of the Doheny Memorial Library, and was inspired by fifteenth century English glass.
The top tier of medallions contains symbolic representations of great scholars. Each medallion is framed with a border of laurel, symbolizing honor and reward. Appropriate dates in pure color are woven into the quarry backgrounds. The pen and inkwell, symbolizing letters, and the lamp, symbolizing knowledge, are decorative features of the background:
| North side, left to right:
- Socrates is represented as holding a scroll, and the cup of hemlock is worked into the design
- Plato is depicted with the book and scroll, symbolizing "The Republic" and other writings
- Aristotle is shown holding the scroll and rule
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South side, left to right:
- Moses Maimonides, great Jewish philosopher, humanitarian, physician, theologican and man of letters, is shown holding a book, which represents his "Guide".
- St. Thomas Aquinas is shown holding a book, and the sun is represented on his breast.
- Francis Bacon is holding an open book.
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The intermediate tier of medallions shows seals of American universities. The oak, symbolizing strength, is used as the decorative framework for these seals. The lower tier of medallions shows seals of foreign universities. The seals are surrounded by the grapevine, symbolizing fruitful growth.
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North side, left to right:
- Harvard University
- College of William and Mary
- Northwestern University
- University of Paris
- Trinity College, Dublin
- Oxford University
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South side, left to right:
- University of California
- Stanford University
- Princeton University
- Heidelberg
- Universidad Major de San Marcos de Lima
- Universidad Nacional de Mexico.
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10/1999, updated 08/2007 ||| Back to Doheny Memorial Library page