Woman's Memorial Dormitory
The Story Behind the Building
Fundraised by women and built for women, Woman's Memorial Dormitory at Baylor University tells the story of the Woman's Missionary Union of Texas (WMU) and their successful campaign to secure funds for a much-needed women's dormitory. Under the leadership of Mary Hill Davis, a devoted Texas Baptist, WMU raised the necessary funds to construct the dormitory. In recognition of the WMU's significant contribution, Baylor named the building in the organization's honor. The story encapsulated within the walls of the Woman's Memorial Dormitory highlights the remarkable achievements of women who accomplished what others, and even they themselves, might have thought impossible. They created something lasting for others and made a meaningful contribution to their community of faith for Jesus.
Woman's Memorial Dormitory
A local Waco newspaper urged its readers to do their part and contribute to Baylor's building campaign for a new female dormitory. The journalist for The Waco Farm and Labor Journal wrote, "every dollar invested in this Baylor Building Campaign will be a permanent investment in the city of Waco in the shape of a memorial dormitory on campus."
"Omegas Report $500 for New Dormitory"
As the Woman's Missionary Union solidified plans to raise funds for a new female dormitory, this publication is one of the earliest announcements of the collective work. Various entities participated in the fundraising for the new female dormitory, including members of Alpha Omega (AO - today known as Pi Beta Phi), a Baylor women’s social club.
The college women collected $500 and wired the donations to Mary Hill Davis, President of the Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas (WMU) and a primary advocate for the cause. After contributing the money, Alpha Omega continued their efforts, organizing additional projects, including toothbrush sales, rummage sales, style shows, and candy sales to raise funds.
"Baylor's Memorial Dormitory" & "The Heart of Baylor's Memorial Dormitory"
Kate Lattimore Spencer wrote for The Baptist Standard and described her experience visiting Baylor’s campus. While waiting for Mrs. Vining, a Baylor employee, Spencer observed Baylor students gathering for a 3 p.m. prayer session. Struck by the students' sincerity and devotion in taking time out of their day to pray and seek God’s direction, Spencer urged her readers to contribute funds so that more young women could attend Baylor and become Christian leaders.
In a subsequent article, "The Heart of Baylor's Memorial Dormitory," Baylor's Dean of Women, Irene Barbara Marschall, continued this theme and appealed to the Baptist community to contribute funds not only for the construction of the memorial dormitory but also for a chapel to be included within the building. Marshall equated the chapel as being the heart of the dormitory.
Architectural drawings for the Woman’s Memorial Dormitory served as proof that the dream of building a new female dormitory was becoming a reality. The detailed plan of action conveyed that the completion of the six year project was in sight. The new dorm would be located at the corner of Seventh and Speight Streets. Note that in the blueprints the architect, Birch D. Easterwood, spelled Women's instead of Woman's Memorial Dormitory; beginning a long tradition of interchanging the words incorrectly.
Before the construction of the Woman's Memorial Dormitory, Baylor housed 350 female students in the Georgia Burleson Hall, Burleson Annex, and approximately 96 other students in eight frame houses across the campus. The university's insufficient housing for female students limited the number of women who could come. Each year, Baylor was turning more and more women away. The construction of a women's dormitory by women and for women was essential for the education of generations to come.
Esteemed Baylor alumna and Columbia University professor Dr. Dorothy Scarborough traveled to Waco for the 1928 groundbreaking ceremony of Woman's Memorial Dormitory. In her remarks, Scarborough emphasized her commitment to be present for such significant Baylor events, highlighting the importance of celebrating and commemorating Baylor's heroines.
The committee for the much-needed female dormitory held the "dirt breaking" ceremony to rekindle public interest and encourage further contributions. With donations dwindling, the campaign leaders aimed to remind supporters of their pledges to ensure a steady flow of funds, enabling the construction of an inspiring edifice for Baylor's women as they pursued their studies.
Student Annual Anticipates the New Dormitory
The 1930 Round-Up (student annual) heralded the construction of the new Woman's Memorial Dormitory.
"How to Telephone Memorial Dormitory"
A name. What is in a name? The student paper pondered how students would call someone in the dorm when the memorial dormitory did not yet have a name. Previously, students shortened Georgia Burleson Hall to G.B. Hall; the question then became what short form to use for Woman's Memorial Dormitory.
Is it Woman's Memorial Dormitory or Women's Memorial Dormitory? Today, the dorm is formally known as Memorial Residence Hall, shortened to Memorial, and affectionately called Memo. Originally, it was named Woman's Memorial Dormitory, not Women's Memorial Dormitory. This distinction is crucial because literature often contains errors regarding this slight variation.
The members of the Woman's Missionary Union aimed for unity and cooperation as they raised funds to build the dormitory and maintained that spirit in encouraging attendance at the opening festivities. Being present during the celebration was as vital to them as their collective effort in securing $350,000 to construct the dorm. Together, they celebrated the fruits of their shared sacrifice.
Classes Will Disband for 2 Hours Tomorrow
The day before the opening ceremenony, the university leadership decided in a faculty meeting to cancel classes for two hours on October 15, 1930, so that all students could attend the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Woman's Memorial Dormitory. See the annoucement in the bottom left corner of the student newspaper.
"Memorial Dormitory Is Formally Opened"
W.A. Payne, a student reporter for Baylor’s newspaper, proclaimed that an "air castle" became reality on October 15, 1930, during the celebration of Texas Baptist women. The Woman's Missionary Union leaders had succeeded in rallying support for women’s education as future Christian leaders and securing contributions to the cause. In the midst of the Great Depression, this accomplishment was noteworthy.
Despite growing skepticism amongst students over the years, Payne concluded that the completion of Memorial Dormitory served as a concrete example of what perseverance can accomplish. Baylor and Texas women inspired others with their forward-thinking and ongoing commitment.
"Woman's Memorial Dormitory at Baylor Officially Opened"
The Baptist Standard celebrated the opening of the Woman's Memorial Dormitory with the larger Texas Baptist community. The photographs highlight the interior design and the chapel, showcasing the impressive edifice that Texas Baptist women gifted to Baylor students. During President Samuel Palmer Brooks remarks, he expressed immense gratitude to "every woman in the state, who had a part in making this building possible, that her gift was appreciated, whether the gift was made in hardearned pennies or in thousands of dollars" appreciating every gift, whether made in hard-earned pennies or thousands of dollars. The Woman's Memorial Union's vision visibly came to fruition.