Marquis Hall - Denton, TX
N 33° 12.791 W 097° 08.927
14S E 672527 N 3676447
Dedicated in 1937, Marquis Hall was the first dormitory at North Texas State Teachers College, today's University of North Texas. It was named for Robert Lincoln Marquis, who was the college president at the time construction began.
Waymark Code: WM12W5Q
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 07/23/2020
Views: 2
The Person
A bronze plaque at the east entrance has a photo of President Marquis, who did not live to see this building dedicated. The text notes his work here:
President 1923-1934
In 1923, 43-year-old R.L. Marquis became President of the North Texas State Teacher's College. Marquis described himself as a "Teachers College man," and fought to improve educational quality and to bring the Teachers College to recognized high standing with the public, the press, and the legislature, a status that was achieved with accreditation by the Southern Association in 1925. During his term, the first post office came to campus; the Students' Association was established; the Placement Bureau was created; and the Saturday Night Stage Show became a tradition. President Marquis died on April 15, 1934 at the age of 54. A faculty resolution stated that "although the loss of our leader is deep, the loss of our friend is unfathomable."
This plaque dedicated in the centennial year 1990 by the Professional Development Institute and the North Texas Forty Student Foundation.
The Place
A sign was placed near the east entrance by the University of North Texas in 2013. It features a vintage photo of this side of the building, back in the day when there were less trees and one could pull up to the curb to park, and it reads:
Marquis Hall, a three-story building with a partial basement, was the first dormitory on campus. The hall was built with Public Works Administration funds in 1935 to house female students. Among the rooms on the first floor were the main dining hall, grill, sitting room and Crystal Room, a community reception and dining area famous for its chandelier. In the spring of 1936, 114 women moved into the building. President W. Joseph McConnell said it was not the school's intention to make the hall "a place of reform for incorrigibles" but a "happy, most completely wholesome and satisfactory place." Residents were allowed to entertain young men from 5 to 7 p.m. on study nights and until 11 p.m. on weekends and could leave the dormitory to attend midnight picture shows on Saturdays with escorts or in groups. Mrs. McConnell, who chose the furnishings for the building, said formal dining with white tablecloths soon gave way to cafeteria-style service. The hall was a popular Sunday lunch spot for people from town, and the policy was to treat visitors like "guests in our own home." The dining service continued for 39 years, even after the dormitory was converted for office use. The building is named for President R.L. Marquis, who served from 1923 until his death in 1934, soon after construction began. On the grounds is a stone bench inscribed "in memory of our beloved president and friend." The 1935 senior class sponsored the memorial, each member contributing a minimum of 20 cents to begin the fund for the bench, which cost $575. Donations also came from other students, ex-students, faculty, staff and friends.
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The Living New Deal website notes that the government provided $210,000 to construct the building, and it was formally dedicated on April 27, 1937. The building served in its original capacity until 1969, when it was converted to office space. The University of North Texas's International Program now operates here, using the first floor for offices and the second and third floors for classrooms.