Yale Postcards

Beinecke Plaza

Overview of Beinecke Plaza

Beinecke Plaza was originally developed as the building-site for the Bicentennial Buildings in 1901, including Commons, Woolsey Hall, and the Memorial Rotunda.  It was first known as University Court upon completion in 1917.  With the construction of the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library in 1963, the surrounding paved courtyard was re-designed and the name “Beinecke Plaza” came into common use.  The plaza has since served as a central gathering place on campus for ceremonial events, student activism, and public art installations—underscoring its role as the symbolic heart of the Yale campus.

Then-and-Now at Beinecke Plaza

In the below, the view on the left is what appears in one of the postcards from the collection, and the view on the right is a photo taken of the same camera angle in 2025.  Use the slider to see how these views compare more than a century apart!

Then Now
Then Now

Postcard Views of Beinecke Plaza

Click or tap any of the postcard photos in the below gallery to zoom-in and explore further.

Front and Back of Beinecke Plaza Postcards

Mouse-over or tap any of the below postcards to see what the other side looks like!