The Long Tangled History
Between The Benton and The
Beanery, Located in Storrs, CT


     By Jummy Aremu
History of the Benton




            The Benton Museum has a rich history. The building that housed the original museum
built in 1920, was called “The Beanery”, which was the campus’s main dining hall until the mid-
1940s. It was originally was designed as a gothic structure.

            The formation of the Benton began with College President Charles Lewis Beach’s death.
When he died in 1933, he gave his holdings of American art to the University, along with a trust
fund for future acquisitions. It was his plan to "instill and cultivate an appreciation of works of art
in the student body of the College and in such other persons as may avail themselves of said
collection." The Benton officially opened in 1967.
Max Klinger. A Glove. 1881. Etching. http://www.flickr.com/photos/logicalrealist/7989471839/
            The museum was later named in honor of Connecticut senator and university trustee
William Benton. His family donated some of his collection of Reginald Marsh paintings and
works by other 20th century American artists. The museum has a collection of more than 5,500
works including paintings, drawings, watercolors, prints, photographs, and sculptures. It includes
works from artists such as Henry Ward Ranger, Emil Carlson, George Bellows, Rembrandt Peale,
and Kiki Smith. In the past years the gallery has added features such as the Evelyn Simon Gilman
Gallery, a members lounge, a Café and a store.

           The picture above is from Max Klinger’s “A Glove” (1881) which is a sequence of
etchings. This print is currently featured in the collection : "The Dark Side of Life": 19th-Century
Narrative Cycles by Rethel, Klinger, and Kollwitz. The exhibition is currently running from
September 4- October 14, 2012, and the reception is on Thursday, September 6, 5–7:30 pm.
The Beanery
                                                   The name “The Beanery” comes full circle. In
                                                   2010, “Café Muse” was renamed “The
                                                   Beanery.” From 1962 to 1972, the building
                                                   underwent a modern transformation.




A 1920’s college catalogue described the then
state-of-the-art dining hall: “The kitchens,
ovens, cookers, potato peelers, bread mixers,
dish washers, and other similar equipment are
installed on the lower floor. Cooking is done
chiefly with steam from the central heating
plant. Storage capacity is provided for a year’s
supply of staple foods. The refrigerating system
is modern and ample. On the cafeteria plan,
some four hundred persons can be served.”
Today at the Beanery, there are
                                          over 22 different soda flavors,
                                          and specialty lattes such as
                                          “Nutty Ella,”“Apple Pie,”
                                          “Tropical Buzz” and “Paddy O’
                                          Bean.” They also have a “Tea for
                                          Two” complete with afternoon
                                          tea and treats.




Hours for the store & The Beanery are :

Tuesday-Friday 8:30 am-4 pm
Saturday & Sunday 1-4 pm

They are closed October 20-21 &
November 17-26
Upcoming Events at the Benton
                                                                 This Thursday, October 4, at
                                                                 12:15 pm, there will be a
                                                                 “New Acquisitions” Gallery
                                                                 Talk. Two prints by the
                                                                 18th-century German
                                                                 engraver Franz Habermann
                                                                 will be shown for the first
                                                                 time. The works, which
                                                                 date to the 1770s, are
                                                                 known as "perspective
                                                                 views." The collection
                                                                 includes depictions of
                                                                 scenes from the
                                                                 Revolutionary War period.
Habermann, Franz. Prospect des Plazes vor dem Rath Haus zu
Boston. 1780. engraving and etching.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/6056086224/   Museum Hours
                                                                 Tuesday-Friday 12-4:30 pm
                                                                 Saturday & Sunday 1-4:30 pm
                                                                 Closed October 16-22 &
                                                                 November 17-26
Works Cited
http://www.thebenton.org/index.php
http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2010/04/benton-coffee-shop-renamed-the-beanery/
http://uconnwelcomemat.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/the-beanery/
Pictures on Slides 2,4,5- Taken by Jummy Aremu
Picture on Slide 3-http://www.flickr.com/photos/logicalrealist/7989471839/
Picture on Slide 6-http://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/6056086224/

Benton presentation 2

  • 1.
    The Long TangledHistory Between The Benton and The Beanery, Located in Storrs, CT By Jummy Aremu
  • 2.
    History of theBenton The Benton Museum has a rich history. The building that housed the original museum built in 1920, was called “The Beanery”, which was the campus’s main dining hall until the mid- 1940s. It was originally was designed as a gothic structure. The formation of the Benton began with College President Charles Lewis Beach’s death. When he died in 1933, he gave his holdings of American art to the University, along with a trust fund for future acquisitions. It was his plan to "instill and cultivate an appreciation of works of art in the student body of the College and in such other persons as may avail themselves of said collection." The Benton officially opened in 1967.
  • 3.
    Max Klinger. AGlove. 1881. Etching. http://www.flickr.com/photos/logicalrealist/7989471839/ The museum was later named in honor of Connecticut senator and university trustee William Benton. His family donated some of his collection of Reginald Marsh paintings and works by other 20th century American artists. The museum has a collection of more than 5,500 works including paintings, drawings, watercolors, prints, photographs, and sculptures. It includes works from artists such as Henry Ward Ranger, Emil Carlson, George Bellows, Rembrandt Peale, and Kiki Smith. In the past years the gallery has added features such as the Evelyn Simon Gilman Gallery, a members lounge, a Café and a store. The picture above is from Max Klinger’s “A Glove” (1881) which is a sequence of etchings. This print is currently featured in the collection : "The Dark Side of Life": 19th-Century Narrative Cycles by Rethel, Klinger, and Kollwitz. The exhibition is currently running from September 4- October 14, 2012, and the reception is on Thursday, September 6, 5–7:30 pm.
  • 4.
    The Beanery The name “The Beanery” comes full circle. In 2010, “Café Muse” was renamed “The Beanery.” From 1962 to 1972, the building underwent a modern transformation. A 1920’s college catalogue described the then state-of-the-art dining hall: “The kitchens, ovens, cookers, potato peelers, bread mixers, dish washers, and other similar equipment are installed on the lower floor. Cooking is done chiefly with steam from the central heating plant. Storage capacity is provided for a year’s supply of staple foods. The refrigerating system is modern and ample. On the cafeteria plan, some four hundred persons can be served.”
  • 5.
    Today at theBeanery, there are over 22 different soda flavors, and specialty lattes such as “Nutty Ella,”“Apple Pie,” “Tropical Buzz” and “Paddy O’ Bean.” They also have a “Tea for Two” complete with afternoon tea and treats. Hours for the store & The Beanery are : Tuesday-Friday 8:30 am-4 pm Saturday & Sunday 1-4 pm They are closed October 20-21 & November 17-26
  • 6.
    Upcoming Events atthe Benton This Thursday, October 4, at 12:15 pm, there will be a “New Acquisitions” Gallery Talk. Two prints by the 18th-century German engraver Franz Habermann will be shown for the first time. The works, which date to the 1770s, are known as "perspective views." The collection includes depictions of scenes from the Revolutionary War period. Habermann, Franz. Prospect des Plazes vor dem Rath Haus zu Boston. 1780. engraving and etching. http://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/6056086224/ Museum Hours Tuesday-Friday 12-4:30 pm Saturday & Sunday 1-4:30 pm Closed October 16-22 & November 17-26
  • 7.
    Works Cited http://www.thebenton.org/index.php http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2010/04/benton-coffee-shop-renamed-the-beanery/ http://uconnwelcomemat.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/the-beanery/ Pictures onSlides 2,4,5- Taken by Jummy Aremu Picture on Slide 3-http://www.flickr.com/photos/logicalrealist/7989471839/ Picture on Slide 6-http://www.flickr.com/photos/boston_public_library/6056086224/