A Longer, Stranger History of Boliou Hall
Boliou Hall was first constructed in 1949 and was named in honor of George H. Boliou, who donated $150,000 to the college to construct a new educational building.
Strangely enough, neither Mr. Boliou or his family attended Carleton, yet he added the donation to his will ~2 months before his death. His motivation for the donation is unclear, though the will was prepared by his lawyer, Mr. Lafayette French Jr., who was a graduate of Carleton College. Whether Mr. French willingly influenced the donation, merely suggested it, or was simply well-liked enough by Mr. Boliou to donate the majority of his life savings to the man’s alma mater is unknown. My guess is that he wanted to donate to a higher education facility so Mr. French suggested Carleton and Mr. Boliou liked the idea. However, this is just speculation. In his will, Mr. Boliou states, "I am sincerely and deeply interested in the education and development of all deserving young men and women, free from all narrow and sectarian influences, restrictions and prejudices. I believe that Carleton College is particularly free from any such criticism. "I, therefore, suggest and earnestly request that said building, which is to bear my name, shall be built and designed for some such purpose which, in the discretion and judgment of the trustees of said Carleton College, shall best carry out this ideal."
Boliou was constructed in the style of a “horizontal skyscraper,” and is made of Mankato stone and Virginia greenstone. The building also features large thermo-pane windows that look out onto Lyman lakes. In the early 1990s, a new addition was made to the building which expanded the art studios and connected Boliou to the CMC. The resources vary quite a bit as to when this addition was made, with the archives saying 1991 or 1993 and Facilities saying 1993 or 1995. This is surprising given that this addition was relatively recent. Perhaps an archive which clear it up has not been catalogued yet? Perhaps multiple additions were made? Perhaps there’s a lack of communication between the Archives and Facilities? The answer remains to be seen. As of 2020, Boliou is 30, 547 square feet and contains classrooms, a small auditorium, offices, drawing and painting studios, photography and photo development studios, a metalsmithing workshop, a sculpture workshop, a printmaking studio, a ceramics studio and kiln, and a woodshop.
Sources:
Hesse, Georgia. "Surprise Bequest Gives Carleton New Art Building" The Carletonian, 10 November, 1951, p.4.
Headley, Leal A. (Leal Aubrey) and Jarchow, Merrill E. Carleton: The First Century. Carleton College, 1966. p. 51.