University Hall (University of Oregon)

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = University Hall, formerly Deady Hall

| nrhp_type = nrhp

| image = DeadyHallWest.jpg

| caption =

| location = Eugene, Oregon

| coordinates = {{coord|44.04667|-123.07643|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = University of Oregon Campus#Oregon#USA

| map_caption = Location on U of O campus##Location in Oregon##Location in United States

| built = 1873–1876

| architect = W.W. Piper

| architecture = Italianate

| added = April 11, 1972

| area = {{convert|1|acre}}

| refnum = 72001082{{NRISref|version=2010a}}

}}

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University Hall, formerly Deady Hall, is a historic building located in Eugene, Oregon, United States. It was built from 1873 to 1876{{cite web | url = http://libweb.uoregon.edu/guides/architecture/oregon/timeline-19thc.html | title = UO's Architectural Timelines: 19th century | author = UO Libraries | publisher = University of Oregon | access-date = 20 July 2013}} by W. H. Abrams{{cite web | url = http://libweb.uoregon.edu/guides/architecture/oregon/deady.html | title = The Architecture of the University of Oregon: Deady Hall | author = UO Libraries | publisher = University of Oregon | access-date = 20 July 2013}} to a design by architect William W. Piper. It was the University of Oregon's first building, and remained the university's only building for almost ten years after its construction. After the university gained other buildings, it was known simply as the "Old Building", but in 1893 it was renamed "Deady Hall" in honor of Matthew Deady, Oregon's first federal judge. Ironically, Deady believed that state universities were of little use to anybody, and in 1857, during the Oregon Constitutional Convention, Deady moved to strike the section authorizing a university from the Oregon State Constitution. His efforts were initially successful, although by the 1870s a state university had become inevitable, and the building that bears his name was constructed in spite of Deady's earlier objections. In another twist of fate, Deady was first president of the university's Board of Regents.{{Citation

| last = Force

| first = Rebecca

| title = Gambling on Higher Education: A History of the Founding of the University of Oregon

| journal = Oregon Historical Quarterly

| volume = 102 No. 4

| issue = Winter 2001

| pages = 500–508

| jstor = 20615186

| year = 2001

}}

University Hall is variously described as simplified Italianate with Second Empire details or simply as Second Empire (though not as elaborate an example as Villard Hall).

This building was listed on National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It and nearby Villard Hall were together designated as one National Historic Landmark in 1977.{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1260&ResourceType=Building|title=Deady and Villard Halls, University of Oregon|access-date=2008-07-05|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430235109/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1260&ResourceType=Building|archive-date=2008-04-30}}{{Cite web|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Deady and Villard Halls, University of Oregon|url={{NHLS url|72001082}} |format=pdf|date=1977-02-17 |author=Carolyn Pitts |publisher=National Park Service}} and {{NHLS url|72001082|title=Accompanying nine images, from 1876 and undated|photos=y}}

At the Oregon Constitutional Convention in 1857, Matthew Deady had advocated for discrimination towards African-Americans, who were not allowed to settle in the new state.Flores, Trudy and Sarah Griffith. [http://oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/us-district-judge-matthew-deady/#.V2fCkVei3o4 The Oregon History Project: U.S. District Judge Matthew Deady.] Oregon Historical Society. Retrieved on June 20, 2016.Leeson, Fred. (1998). Rose City Justice: A Legal History of Portland, Oregon. Oregon Historical Society Press. pp. 13-15, 21-26, 47-48, 52. Because of these views, Deady Hall became a target of an effort to remove his name from the building.{{cite web|url=https://president.uoregon.edu/sites/president2.uoregon.edu/files/deady_dunn_final_report_08-05-16.pdf|title=Report on the History of Matthew P. Deady and Frederick S. Dunn|last2=Taylor|author2-link=Quintard Taylor|first2=Quintard|website=University of Oregon|last3=Weisiger|first3=Marsha|last1=Johnson|first1=David Alan|access-date=10 September 2016}} On June 10, 2020, UO President Michael Schill sent a letter to the Board of Trustees recommending renaming Deady Hall because of Deady's racist views.{{Cite web|last=Schill|first=Michael|date=June 10, 2020|title=Letter to University of Oregon Board of Trustees, re:RThe Denaming of Deady Hall|url=https://president.uoregon.edu/sites/president2.uoregon.edu/files/schill_memo_board_of_trustees_061020.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=June 14, 2020|website=president.uoregon.edu}} On June 24, 2020, the University of Oregon's Board of Trustees announced that the name "Deady" would be removed as the name of the hall until a date when a new name can be chosen. In the interim, the hall will be named "University Hall."{{Cite news |last=Hubbard |first=Saul |date=2020-06-24 |title=UO board votes unanimously to seek new name for Deady Hall |work=Around the O |url=https://around.uoregon.edu/content/uo-board-votes-unanimously-seek-new-name-deady-hall |access-date=2022-06-30}}