['East Divinity Hall', 'West divinity, reference library, Marquand chapel'] before 1882

These photographs of Yale University Divinity School were created by James Notman at an undetermined date. Notman's images were published in a book called "Yale and the City of Elms," offering a glimpse into the architectural fabric of this institution. These photographs are visual documents of a key institution of social formation. The architecture is designed to evoke particular values. What do these buildings communicate about the kind of person that Yale seeks to cultivate? The cultural and social capital transmitted by elite American universities has played a powerful role in shaping the history of the United States. These images are testaments to the role of architecture and design in reproducing these institutional structures. Careful research into the history of Yale University, its Divinity School, and its architectural development will undoubtedly lead to a more informed understanding of its role in the social and cultural life of America.