Dydanni Jiaqian Dai
Rotunda Italic
Source material:
Yale Schwarzman Center Memorial Hall
Spring semester 2024
Memorial Hall is home to engraved remembrances of Yale alumni/ae who died in wars throughout U.S. history. Located in the rotunda of a main entryway to Yale’s new Schwarzman Center, Memorial Hall was constructed along with Commons, Woolsey, and Woodbridge Halls in 1901 to commemorate the University’s bicentennial. In addition to commemorating the names of the deceased, Memorial Hall’s acknowledgement of those Yalies who served during past conflicts include their class year, military title, and the date and location of death.
A memorial cenotaph dedicated to the Yale students and alumni killed in World War I sits in front of the Memorial Colonnade attached to University Commons. Its prominent inscription features engraved and gilded lettering characterized by distinctive, “curly” terminals. Note the ends of the lowercase Fs and Rs, as well as the open loop of the lowercase Gs and unusual, hooked “ears” of the lowercase Ms and Ns. Inscribed upon the Memorial Colonnade’s frieze, and visible behind the cenotaph, are the names of seven important World War I engagements, including Marne and Ypres. Cut in monumental capital letters, they evoke the archetypal inscriptions of ancient Rome.
The inscriptional lettering of
Yale Commons and Memorial Hall, June 8, 2015
Written by our next Rollins Fellow
Cindy Hwang, Berkeley’15
The interior of Memorial Hall is filled with lettering; inscribed onto its marble walls are the names of hundreds of Yale’s war dead. Their names are cut in roman capitals, while descriptive information—their class years, military titles, and dates and places of death—is cut in an ornate italic with elaborate swash capitals. Note the flowery loop of the lowercase Ys and extended swashes of the uppercase Ks, Ms, Ss, and Vs.
When next you find yourself on Beinecke Plaza, take a look at the letterforms inscribed upon its architecture. Not only are they elegant but also surprisingly full of personality. And most importantly, they remind the many students, community members, and visitors who pass through the plaza every day of the immense sacrifices made by hundreds of Yale’s noblist alumni.
The inscriptional lettering of
Yale Commons and Memorial Hall, June 8, 2015
Written by our next Rollins Fellow
Cindy Hwang, Berkeley’15
Dydanni Jiaqian Dai
Rotunda Italic
Source material:
Yale Schwarzman Center Memorial Hall
Spring semester 2024
Memorial Hall is home to engraved remembrances of Yale alumni/ae who died in wars throughout U.S. history. Located in the rotunda of a main entryway to Yale’s new Schwarzman Center, Memorial Hall was constructed along with Commons, Woolsey, and Woodbridge Halls in 1901 to commemorate the University’s bicentennial. In addition to commemorating the names of the deceased, Memorial Hall’s acknowledgement of those Yalies who served during past conflicts include their class year, military title, and the date and location of death.
A memorial cenotaph dedicated to the Yale students and alumni killed in World War I sits in front of the Memorial Colonnade attached to University Commons. Its prominent inscription features engraved and gilded lettering characterized by distinctive, “curly” terminals. Note the ends of the lowercase Fs and Rs, as well as the open loop of the lowercase Gs and unusual, hooked “ears” of the lowercase Ms and Ns. Inscribed upon the Memorial Colonnade’s frieze, and visible behind the cenotaph, are the names of seven important World War I engagements, including Marne and Ypres. Cut in monumental capital letters, they evoke the archetypal inscriptions of ancient Rome.
The inscriptional lettering of
Yale Commons and Memorial Hall, June 8, 2015
Written by our next Rollins Fellow
Cindy Hwang, Berkeley’15
The interior of Memorial Hall is filled with lettering; inscribed onto its marble walls are the names of hundreds of Yale’s war dead. Their names are cut in roman capitals, while descriptive information—their class years, military titles, and dates and places of death—is cut in an ornate italic with elaborate swash capitals. Note the flowery loop of the lowercase Ys and extended swashes of the uppercase Ks, Ms, Ss, and Vs.
When next you find yourself on Beinecke Plaza, take a look at the letterforms inscribed upon its architecture. Not only are they elegant but also surprisingly full of personality. And most importantly, they remind the many students, community members, and visitors who pass through the plaza every day of the immense sacrifices made by hundreds of Yale’s noblist alumni.
The inscriptional lettering of
Yale Commons and Memorial Hall, June 8, 2015
Written by our next Rollins Fellow
Cindy Hwang, Berkeley’15
These student typeface designs created at Yale School of Art are noncommercial academic projects, commonly revivals or reinterpretations of historical typefaces. Read more about this typeface design course at Yale School of Art.
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