Norman in Cleveland County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Carpenter Hall

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 20, 2025

1. Carpenter Hall Marker

Inscription. This building, which is now named in honor of Paul S. Carpenter (1895-1949), Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Professor of Violin, began its life as the Geology Building. It was built in 1919 as part of a trio of buildings that also included an auditorium (now Holmberg Hall) and a library (now Jacobson Hall). At that time, the School of Fine Arts had not yet been designated a college. The School of Art took over the building in 1961. With the completion of the Fred Jones, Jr. Memorial Art Center in 1971. Carpenter Hall. as it was now called, began to be used by the School of Music.

Paul Simons Carpenter was born in Philadelphia in January 18, 1895. He graduated from Philadelphia's Combs Street Conservatory of Music in 1913, and came to the university in 1914 to teach violin. While at the university, he became an important leader of the School of Music, and of the fine arts as a whole. The College of Fine Arts at the University of Oklahoma was the first comprehensive fine arts college established in the Great Plains states west of the Mississippi. Except for his military service during World War I, Carpenter spent

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the rest of his life at the university. He began to conduct the University Symphony Orchestra in 1925, and in 1946, he became the director of the School of Music. In 1947 he was made dean of the College of Fine Arts, a role which he continued, along with directing the symphony and continuing to teach violin, until his death on January 4, 1949. His legacy lives on in the College of Fine Arts and its School of Music, both of which enjoy high national rankings.

Erected by The University of Oklahoma.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education. In addition, it is included in the University of Oklahoma series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 18, 1895.

Location. 35° 12.627′ N, 97° 26.649′ W. Marker is in Norman, Oklahoma, in Cleveland County. It can be reached from Asp Avenue south of West Boyd Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 840 Asp Ave, Norman OK 73069, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Oklahoma — Frontier Country

and in Greater

Michael Barera; via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), July 27, 2019

2. Carpenter Hall Marker

Oklahoma City.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Oklahoma Memorial Union (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Parrington Oval (about 500 feet away); Monnet Hall (about 500 feet away); The Robert S. Kerr Courtyard (about 500 feet away); Donald W. Reynolds Performing Arts Center (about 600 feet away); Boyd House (about 600 feet away); Whitehand Hall (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Norman.

Paul Simons Carpenter image. Click for full size.

University of Oklahoma Bulletin, No. 728 (Feb. 26, 1938) via HathiTrust (Public Domain), circa 1938

3. Paul Simons Carpenter

Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 142 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on July 14, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.