Bishop Hall (Miami University)
Encyclopedia
Bishop Hall is an academic, administrative, and residence building housing members of the honors program and co-ed upperclass residents of Miami University
.
In her annual reports, Elizabeth Hamilton, the Dean of Women, pressed the need for an additional women’s dormitory. Guy Potter Benton
is attributed for the enactment of the appropriation granted for the construction of Bishop Hall.
The appropriation amount granted by the Board of Trustees House of Representatives for the construction of Bishop Hall was $37,500. There was a small wait for the concurrence of the Senate, but also an expression of the need for a “rapid completion”, indicating the urgency of the construction and need of the new residence hall. The hall was to accommodate 104 women. There was encouragement for the new building to be used for the women of the present university and not for the addition of more women. The expected completion date was projected to be January of 1912.
The cost to construct Bishop Hall was $75,000.
Bishop Hall is 26,289 square feet.
The residence hall houses 102 occupants in 55 rooms.
Bishop Hall is actually the second dormitory for women.
Today, Bishop Hall is used as an academic, administrative, and residence building, specifically housing members of The Honors Program and Co-Ed upperclass residents.
It was designed by F.L. Packard
, contracted with Vesta Construction, and was built in 1912.
Although there was no cornerstone or dedication ceremony, the building was named after Robert Hamilton Bishop
.
As home to many members of The Honors Program, Bishop Hall serves as an atmosphere to boost the development of residents on both a personal and academic level. As members of The Honors Program and residents of Bishop Hall, students are able to tailor their courses to align with their interests and aspirations and have opportunities for out-of-class endeavors, such as attending special seminars and receiving valuable advice from faculty members.
Robert Hamilton Bishop was the first President of Miami University (1824-1841). He also served as a Professor of Logic and Moral Philosophy and History. Bishop was admired by the students, but fell into much disagreement over many issues with the Trustees, Faculty, and public which led him to resign. Bishop remained on campus as a professor, but, as turmoil continued, was removed from campus entirely in 1844.
Bishop Hall was utilized as a dining hall too.
Until a university infirmary was erected in 1923, the second floor of Bishop Hall was also used as a hospital and was entirely taken over during the Influenza Epidemic of 1918 for this purpose.
Shortly following the construction of Bishop Hall, the proposition of the need for a college infirmary was expressed by many prominent figures of the university, including the president. The current circumstances did not allow for proper care of students who were ill. There was also a need to handle potential epidemics that are common among small college towns. This created much irony as Bishop Hall was utilized as an infirmary, especially during the Influenza epidemic of 1918.
There was a dismissal of the women of the college in order to accomplish the transition of Bishop Hall into a hospital that would allow treatment for patients. Over 100 cases were treated in the hospital of Bishop Hall. The first floor was reserved for the fifteen nurses and the second and third floors were occupied by patients. The primary care for all cases was accredited to Dr. MacMillian, after who the first infirmary was named. The transformation of Bishop Hall from an infirmary back to a residence hall followed the erection of Wade MacMillian Hospital.
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
.
Development
Before the erection of Bishop Hall, the original system of living for the women of Miami University consisted of two cottages. The women affiliated with Sororities attempted to live off campus in order to provide more living space for unaffiliated women, but returned to the cottages after one year. There was a “pressing need for more accommodations for women” and many “inconveniences of the cottage system”.In her annual reports, Elizabeth Hamilton, the Dean of Women, pressed the need for an additional women’s dormitory. Guy Potter Benton
Guy Potter Benton
The Reverend Dr. Guy Potter Wharton Benton was an American educator who served as president of Miami University from 1902–1911, the University of Vermont from 1911–1920, and the University of the Philippines from 1921-1925...
is attributed for the enactment of the appropriation granted for the construction of Bishop Hall.
The appropriation amount granted by the Board of Trustees House of Representatives for the construction of Bishop Hall was $37,500. There was a small wait for the concurrence of the Senate, but also an expression of the need for a “rapid completion”, indicating the urgency of the construction and need of the new residence hall. The hall was to accommodate 104 women. There was encouragement for the new building to be used for the women of the present university and not for the addition of more women. The expected completion date was projected to be January of 1912.
The Building
The address of Bishop Hall, abbreviated BIS, is 300 East Spring Street, Oxford, Ohio 45056.The cost to construct Bishop Hall was $75,000.
Bishop Hall is 26,289 square feet.
The residence hall houses 102 occupants in 55 rooms.
Bishop Hall is actually the second dormitory for women.
Today, Bishop Hall is used as an academic, administrative, and residence building, specifically housing members of The Honors Program and Co-Ed upperclass residents.
It was designed by F.L. Packard
Frank Packard
Frank L. Packard was a prominent architect in Ohio.He designed the porch for the home of President Warren G. Harding in Marion, Ohio . Known as stick style architecture the house was designed by Harding and his wife and constructed in a neoclassical architecture style...
, contracted with Vesta Construction, and was built in 1912.
Although there was no cornerstone or dedication ceremony, the building was named after Robert Hamilton Bishop
Robert Hamilton Bishop
Robert Hamilton Bishop was a Scottish-American educator and Presbyterian minister who became the first president of Miami University in Ohio...
.
As home to many members of The Honors Program, Bishop Hall serves as an atmosphere to boost the development of residents on both a personal and academic level. As members of The Honors Program and residents of Bishop Hall, students are able to tailor their courses to align with their interests and aspirations and have opportunities for out-of-class endeavors, such as attending special seminars and receiving valuable advice from faculty members.
Robert Hamilton Bishop was the first President of Miami University (1824-1841). He also served as a Professor of Logic and Moral Philosophy and History. Bishop was admired by the students, but fell into much disagreement over many issues with the Trustees, Faculty, and public which led him to resign. Bishop remained on campus as a professor, but, as turmoil continued, was removed from campus entirely in 1844.
Bishop Hall was utilized as a dining hall too.
Until a university infirmary was erected in 1923, the second floor of Bishop Hall was also used as a hospital and was entirely taken over during the Influenza Epidemic of 1918 for this purpose.
Shortly following the construction of Bishop Hall, the proposition of the need for a college infirmary was expressed by many prominent figures of the university, including the president. The current circumstances did not allow for proper care of students who were ill. There was also a need to handle potential epidemics that are common among small college towns. This created much irony as Bishop Hall was utilized as an infirmary, especially during the Influenza epidemic of 1918.
There was a dismissal of the women of the college in order to accomplish the transition of Bishop Hall into a hospital that would allow treatment for patients. Over 100 cases were treated in the hospital of Bishop Hall. The first floor was reserved for the fifteen nurses and the second and third floors were occupied by patients. The primary care for all cases was accredited to Dr. MacMillian, after who the first infirmary was named. The transformation of Bishop Hall from an infirmary back to a residence hall followed the erection of Wade MacMillian Hospital.