Henry Vaughan Building (SPH I) Bas Reliefs

Lewis J. Sarvis (design); Indian Hill Stone Co. (execution)
1942; Limestone; Architectural Feature
Medical Campus; In the frieze flanking the original west entrance pavilion of the Henry Vaughan Building (no longer an entrance)

There are two separate bas reliefs. Lewis J. Sarvis, the Battle Creek architect who designed the Vaughan building, also provided the designs for the bas relief panels. These were then executed by an unnamed sculptor at the Indian Hill Stone Company of Bloomington, Indiana. Sarvis explained how both his building and the bas reliefs were meant to express the “two outstanding parts to a School of Public Health: Basic scientific research, medicine, training of career workers in Public Health, nursing as related to Public Health; and Industrial Hygiene and Engineering as related to Public Health.” And of the bas relief panels he said: “The symbolic tree and leaves in the carved panels are the existing symbol for Public Health. The mechanical motif, represents industry and industrial hygiene. The human figure and child—the awakening in the field of Public Health and Public Health nursing; the woman’s hair to give a strong drapery effect. Both motifs framed under the symbolic tree of Public Health.”