Washington and Lee University - Calyx Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

Page 11 text:

As Washington and Lee expanded, an increased student body naturally expressed a wider range of interests. Buildings constructed during the period bear the names of men and women whose in- fluence and generosity did so much to make ou r university a great one. Newcomb Hall, con- structed in 1882 and named in honor of Warren Newcomb, was built with funds given to the school by his wife, Josephine Louise. This building was used as a library before its renovation and use as the Commerce School. The present Tucker Hall was built in 1936. It replaced the old Law School, which burned in 1934, and was not in harmony with the general architectural theme of the campus. It is named in honor of John Randolph Tucker, once Dean of the School of Law. Reid Hall, erected in 1904 as a building devoted to the laboratory sciences, is named for William H. Reid of Chicago, who became interested in the university through friends close to the institution. The Mc- Cormick Library was constructed in 1906 as the Carnegie Library. In 1941 the McCormick family of Chicag o sponsored extensive remodeling and renovation. The building is named for Cyrus Mc- Cormick, inventor of the reaper. Born in Rockbridge County, Virginia near Raphine, this man served as a member of the Board of Trustees during Lee ' s presidency. The Doremus Gymnasium was built in 1915 with funds left by Robert Packer Doremus of New York. The story of how an imknown student impressed the visitor to Washington and Lee so favorably is a well known one to us. On the death of Mrs. Doremus in 1936, the University inherited the entire family estate. Howe Hall, constructed in 1924, was known for years simply as the Chemistry Building. It is now named in honor of Dr. James Lewis Howe, once head of the Chemistry Department here. DuPont Hall, erected in 1954 is named for Mrs, Alfred I. duPont in gratitude for her generosity to Washington and Lee over a number of years. All these people are important to our history as a university. Their memory has been justly perpetuated.

Page 13 text:

In 1959 our eyes and ears are constantly tuned to current growth. The handsome new dining hall and dormitories rising on the Washington and Lee campus are a constant re- minder that our University has reached a new phase in its physical development. As the demand for higher education increases by veritable leaps and bounds, old systems become more and more obsolete. If we are to match these modem trends, we must face our situation with a realistic attitude. Doing this, we see clearly that the new commons and neighboring dormitories are not only desirable and attractive additions to our plant, but also satisfy a very basic need. As in the past, these improvements were made possible by a number of gen- erous gifts and bequests made by friends of the University. The commons will be called the Evans Dining Hall after the late Mrs. Kelly Evans, who remembered Washington and Lee so generously in her estate. The dormitories are to be named Davis Hall and Baker Hall respectively after John W. Davis and Newton D. Baker. Davis, perhaps one of the Univer- sity ' s most distinguished graduates, followed a successful law career, and was president of the American Bar Association. He received the Democratic presidential nomination in 1924. Baker, also a prominent lawyer, was Secretary of War under Woodrow Wilson and later sat on the Permanent Court of International Jurisdiction at the Hague. Although great changes will be necessitated by these new buildings, we know they are timely, and realize their importance. A view of the new Commons, to be completed in 1959.