Following the end of World War II, Case and WRU entered a period of growth, both in enrollment and in their physical campus. Because of building material shortages and restrictions on new construction only a few buildings were completed in the late 1940s, and many of these were old military buildings. (The notable exception being Tomlinson Hall, the new Case student union.) These buildings included the Temporary Building and University Cafeteria at WRU and the Government Building at Case. With the federal government’s help, WRU acquired its own trailer camp in 1947 (the Blackacre Trailer Camp).

By 1950 both institutions were poised for big changes on campus.

At WRU, planning was underway for the 125th anniversary campaign. This campaign called for the construction of new buildings: a library, a men’s dormitory, a Cleveland College building, a science center, a School of Applied Social Sciences building, and the remodeling of Thwing Hall as a student union.

Case began its Diamond Jubilee Campaign in 1952, the first of three successive campaigns raising funds for buildings


Number of buildings in use by Case in 1950: 16.

Number of buildings in use by WRU in 1950: 88.

This pictorial map shows the campuses of Case, WRU, University Hospitals, and some other University Circle facilities. Notice the pictures illustrate some of the functions carried out in the various buildings. Note the "Future Case" showing the planned growth of the Case campus. See also the dotted lines for the Millis Science Center on Adelbert Road and Claud Foster Hall on Euclid Avenue (next to Severance Hall). Note the official seals of WRU and Case in the upper corners.



Here we see the Case and WRU campuses looking north. In the foreground are the railroad tracks that are the southern boundary of the main part of campus. You can see the juxtaposition of the two athletic fields: Van Horn Field on the left and Clarke Field on the right. The bridge over the railroad tracks is the Adelbert Road bridge. You can see the Dental School building, Law School, and medical complex on the right as you go over the bridge. Note the apartment houses lining Cummington Road, now known as Circle Drive.



This aerial shows the Adelbert campus on the left and Case campus on the right with the property line superimposed.


Information was compiled by staff of the Case Western Reserve University Archives, November 2004.