An icon of tradition, the Iowa State University campanile comes alive every time a musician ascends its spiral staircase to play 50 scientifically tuned bells, some of which have been ringing for 125 years.
The story of the campanile and carillon begins with Edgar William Stanton. He was part of the first graduating class in 1872 and later became head of the mathematics department, dean of the junior college, vice president, acting president, and a founder of the alumni association. His wife, Margaret Price MacDonald Stanton, was the university’s first dean of women.
After Margaret’s death in 1895, Edgar gave a “gift of love” to Iowa State in her memory. He purchased 10 bells from John Taylor Bell Foundry in Loughborough, England, and with university President William M. Beardshear, selected a site for a free-standing bell tower on central campus. Funds appropriated by the state legislature propelled the tower’s completion in 1897; the bells were installed in 1899.
In the following decades, a playing console and more bells were added, and the instrument in the bell tower was renamed the Edgar W. and Margaret MacDonald Stanton Memorial Carillon.
Tin-Shi Tam, the Charles T. and Ivadelle Cobb Cownie Professor of Music, has served as university carillonneur for 30 years. She says each bell is played from a keyboard by depressing a foot pedal or striking a wood baton with a half-closed hand. Along with noon performances each weekday, Tam arranges music for the carillon and teaches Iowa State students.
“The bells and the building are the fruit of creativity, but it is always about the people at Iowa State,” Tam says. “I am the keeper of what was passed on to me, and I will pass it on to the next generation.”
To honor the history of the Stanton Carillon and tell the stories of people who have worked to ensure the ancient art of bell-playing lives on, the Stanton Memorial Carillon Foundation published “The Bells of Iowa State: An Enduring Love Story” in April.
“It is the only book focused on the carillon, and more specifically, those who have dedicated much of their lives to preserving it,” says Jennie Gromoll, president of the Stanton Memorial Carillon Foundation.
As part of the 125th anniversary of the bells of Iowa State, the foundation is also sponsoring a carillon composition competition for Iowa State students. The winning composition will be played on Sept. 15, during a celebration on central campus.
Brad Dell, chair of the department of music and theatre, says the event will include remarks from President Wendy Wintersteen, carillon performances accompanied by the ISU Wind Ensemble and the Iowa State choirs, and stories of the campanile’s founding.
“The campanile/carillon is truly the sound of Iowa State,” Dell says. “We are so very excited to celebrate the rich history and tradition of this ISU landmark.”