This memorial space boasts a 2,600 square foot marble floor, a sixty foot high wooden gothic vault, two stained glass windows spanning 708 square feet each, black walnut paneling, stenciled walls and 28 white marble tablets bearing the names of 136 Harvard associates who fell on behalf of the United States Army and Navy during the Civil War. The youngest, Sumner Paine, class of 1865, fell at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863, two years before his intended graduation. The Paul Joseph Revere listed is the grandson of the famous Paul Revere.
Three different stained glass works have been installed in the north transept window. The original work designed for this window by Donald MacDonald was removed and replaced by Sarah Wyman Whitman’s Martin Brimmer Memorial Window in 1898. There are no records indicating the reason for the replacement nor the fate of the original north transept window. In 1902 or 1903, the Whitman window was transposed with MacDonald’s Virtues window which was originally installed in the south window. The transposition was made, presumably, to allow more light for the Brimmer Memorial Window.
Viewing hours of the transept are dictated by the College’s academic calendar, the Sanders Theatre performance schedule and maintenance requirements. Due to construction, public viewing hours will not be available for the duration of summer 2022.