Finney's Tent

Date

1835-1846

Location

Various locations; Tappan Square when at Oberlin

Architects/Collaborators

Maker unknown

History

The tent was a gift to Professor Charles Grandison Finney from friends in New York City, for holding revivalist meetings throughout the region, in places where no suitable houses for such meetings could be found. It was one hundred feet in diameter, and had a seating capacity of three thousand. The Tent was used for the Commencement exercises in the year 1835, and for the same purpose for eight years thereafter, until 1843. During one summer it was used for Sabbath services, the students erecting it on Saturday afternoons and removing it Monday mornings. For Commencement purposes it was erected on the Campus east of Tappan Hall (behind the tent in this drawing). The tent finally passed into the possession of the Anti-Slavery Society. The Oberlin College Archives holds a scrap from this and another tent.

Source

Oberlin College Archives, Office of the Secretary Records.