The Stanton Memorial Carillon Foundation, incorporated in 1954, works for the preservation and advancement of Iowa State University's carillon. Its board, made up of eight alumni and four members of the University administration, meet annually in April. The first ten bells of the Carillion were placed in the Campanile in 1899, donated by alumnus and mathematics professor Edgar W. Stanton in honor of his wife Margaret MacDonald Stanton, first dean of women at the College (University). Upon Stanton's own death in 1920, his wife Julia and children donated an additional twenty-six bells to the carillon and the instrument was renamed the Edgar W. and Margaret MacDonald Stanton Memorial Carillon. These records document the work of the Foundation through articles, bylaws, news clippings, notes, meeting minutes, proposals, reports, publications, photographs, postcards, and drawings of the bells and their supports.

The Stanton Memorial Carillon Foundation, incorporated in 1954, works for the preservation and advancement of Iowa State University’s carillon. Foundation membership includes eight alumni who are not connected with the faculty or governing body of Iowa State University. These members serve five-year terms with staggered appointments. In addition, the Iowa State University treasurer, the president of the Alumni Association, and two directors of the Iowa State Foundation are also members of the Stanton Memorial Carillon Foundation. The foundation meets at Iowa State University each year in April.

The first bells of the carillon were placed in the 110-foot-tall Campanile in 1899. Since then they have become an outstanding tradition of the University as well as a unique symbol remembered pleasantly by alumni and campus visitors. This is exactly as their donor, Edgar W. Stanton, wished. Stanton graduated in the first class at Iowa State College (University) in 1872. He spent a total of fifty years on campus: first as a student, later as a faculty member. Stanton's roles in the College included head of the Department of Mathematics, secretary to the Board of Trustees, dean of the junior college, vice-president, and on four different occasions, acting president.

Stanton was married to Margaret MacDonald Stanton, the College's first dean of women. At the time of her death on July 25, 1895, she too had been closely identified with the University for almost twenty-five years. Stanton wanted to establish a monument so all students and friends of Iowa State would remember her. He finally decided to purchase a chime of ten bells to be installed in the Campanile; the original ten bells were inscribed with quotations selected by Stanton. Stanton died September 12, 1920, and his will provided that, after specific bequests were taken out, the remainder of his estate should be turned over to the University for furnishing a memorial to him. Stanton's second wife, the former Julia Wentch, and his children requested that the University install twenty-six additional bells into the central campus tower, creating the musical instrument known as the Edgar W. and Margaret MacDonald Stanton Memorial Carillon in 1929.

Since then, fourteen additional bells have been added – thirteen in 1956, one in 1967 – bringing the carillon's total to fifty bells. From 1992 to 1994, the Campanile underwent renovations to its exterior and had new clock movements and a digital control system to coordinate the clock and chimes. The carillon was also renovated, including redesigns to the bell frames, reposition of the bells themselves, and the installation of a new playing console and transmission system. The Music Hall houses a practice console, open to students and the University Carillonneur, the Cownie Professor of Music.

The bells chime on every quarter hour, and concerts by the University Carillonneurs and others are performed weekly, with concerts for special occasions. University carillonneurs have included Ira Schroeder (1931-1969), Bruce Eberle (1969-1971), Marilyn Anderson (1971-1973, 1991-1992), Richard von Grabow (1973-1991), and Tin-Shi Tam (1994-   ).

Sources

"Edgar W. and Margaret MacDonald Stanton Memorial Carillon," Iowa State University Department of Music & Theatre. Accessed December 6, 2013, http://www.music.iastate.edu/carillon/

This collection (1929-[ongoing]) details the work of the Stanton Memorial Carillon Foundation. Materials include articles, bylaws, news clippings, notes, meeting minutes, proposals, reports, publications, photographs, postcards, and architectural drawings of the bells and their supports. Also included in the records are research files relating to other carillons.

Related collections in the Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library include:

The collection is listed in chronological order.