History: Furman Hall’s Shumard oak

This photo of Furman Hall in the 1930’s shows the small Shumard oak 2-455 on the right. Photographer: Van Irwin Jr. Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives photo archive image PA.BLD.FURM.29

This view of Furman Hall was taken from the same location as the 1930s photo. Shumard oak 2-455 is visible on the right as a large tree behind the magnolia in the foreground. Photo by Steve Baskauf under a CC0 license.

Furman Hall on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville is named in the honor of Francis Furman, a successful businessman in Nashville. It was the result of a US$100,000 donation by his widow after his death in 1899, even though he never attended the university. Inside the building, there is a sculpture of Francis Furman. While this tree was not planted immediately after the Furman Hall was constructed, it still served as a solid evidence to the history of the campus.

Return to the historical tree tour page for Shumard oak 2-455.