World War II Memorial Campanile and Carillon

Built to honor the 277 students who died in World War II, the University of Kansas dedicated this Memorial Campanile on May 27, 1951. Inside the Campanile is a carillon, an instrument of 53 large bells which reside at the top of the tower. During KU’s graduation ceremony, students march through the opening of the Campanile on their way to Memorial Stadium where commencement takes place. Popular student legend says that if a student should walk under the Campanile prior to their graduation, they will fail to graduate in four years.

The first push for the construction of a campus carillon tower came from Olin Templin, the namesake of campus residence hall Templin Hall. Templin had graduated in 1886, and in 1890 returned to establish what are now the philosophy, sociology, and psychology departments. Later, he would serve as the Executive Secretary of the KU Endowment Association.

Templin wished to construct a carillon tower to honor the pioneers of the city of Lawrence, particularly those who suffered during the Civil War. He secured a site, funding, and more for the construction of the carillon tower, but at his death in 1943 his dream was unfulfilled, and plans for the construction faded. Templin’s dream was resurrected by the KU Memorial Association Committee, who picked the Campanile out of around 17 proposals of ways to memorialize those who served from the University. The tower began construction in 1950, using Kansas limestone, and commissioning bells from the John Taylor bell foundry in England. 

Dedicated on May 27, 1951, the East and West walls of the Memorial Room, at the base of the tower, have the names of the 277 Jayhawks who lost their lives in World War II engraved into the Virginia Greenstone. The inscription in the frieze inside the Memorial Room says, “Free Government does not bestow repose upon its citizens but sets them in the vanguard of battle to defend the liberty of everyman.” The South door’s bronze panels depict war, and the North door’s depict both the history of Kansas, and the state’s and University’s ideals.

For students currently attending KU, the Campanile is an aspirational figure. To walk through the memorial room is a goal achieved upon graduation, and the legend that those who would do so beforehand would fail to do so on time preserves the significance of the act.

Historic Mount Oread. n.d. “The Campanile: World War II Memorial.” KU Preservation. Accessed May 31, 2023. http://www.jayhawks.com/hmof/landmarks/campanile.shtml.

KU Campanile and Carillon. 2022. “Virtual Tour of the KU World War II Memorial Campanile & Carillon.” Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4zxg78n9k0&t=6s.

KU School of Music. n.d. “Carillon.” KU School of Music. Accessed May 31, 2023. https://music.ku.edu/carillon.

Varney, Courtney, and Darby VanHoutan. 2015. “Campanile holds a legendary curse for students who walk under it.” University Daily Kansan, September 23, 2015. https://www.kansan.com/campanile-holds-a-legendary-curse-for-students-who-walk-under-it/article_5b92cfe0-61ff-11e5-a082-9fbe398c0b52.html.