Happy 75th birthday, Alexander Hall!

In 1939-40, while the Great Depression was still deeply felt across the country, Baylor University faced the kind of “problem” that many would love to have; the University was growing so quickly that it was hard to keep up. In fact, more than 100 deserving female students were turned down for admission in 1939 simply because there was not enough housing to accommodate them.

Seventy-five years ago today — Jan. 22, 1940 — Baylor broke ground on Alexander Hall to provide a new home for Baylor students. The groundbreaking came amidst concerns from some voices that the poor economic conditions should force the university to build the hall in sections, rather than all at once. Administrators, however, felt losing out on the ability to provide perhaps hundreds or thousands of female students with a Baylor education was a far greater concern. So, too, did Mrs. Catherine Alexander.

Though not a Baylor graduate, Mrs. Alexander provided the lead gift of $350,000 to make Alexander Hall a reality, and for nearly three-quarters of a century now it has housed students near the southern edge of campus. (For nearly 30 years, the building also housed Mrs. Alexander herself; part of the agreement with her gift was that she would have an apartment of her own. She lived there until she passed in 1968.)

Fast forward to the present, and Alexander Hall remains a residence hall that helps Baylor keep up with the demands of higher education. Today, Alexander Hall houses approximately 140 young men as part of Baylor’s Honors Residential College. These students, along with the Honors College women who live in Memorial, join together in a classic University model to pursue interdisciplinary education in a community setting that fosters inquiry that transcends departments or majors.

Alexander Hall started as a symbol of Baylor’s growth amidst challenging times, and it remains a symbol of Baylor’s commitment to the education of the whole person.

Sic ’em, Alexander Hall!