Living in McMillan Hall

A picture of the McMillan Hall gymnasium, pictured in the Illustrated Circular of Information (1915). This image shows an example of the common spaces that the girls living in McMillan Hall had access to.

A picture of one of the bedrooms in McMillan Hall, pictured in the Illustrated Circular of Information (1915). This image shows how women living in McMillan Hall might have used their personalized their spaces.

As the first women's dormitory on campus, McMillan Hall had many facilities for its residents. It was advertised as sufficient housing for 125 girls, with a combination of single rooms and two-or-three-person suites. Rooms came equipped with steam heat, electric light, bathrooms, and more. The building had shared spaces for students as well, such as a dining room and gymnasium ("Illustrated Circular").

These accomodations came with a strict set of rules. Dress codes, dorm rules, and student conduct policies were much longer for female students compared to male students, although restrictions were lifted gradually over the years (Celebration of Women).

McMillan Hall and the adjoining courtyard were also part of the university's social scene, hosting events like the May Fete and vaudeville performances over the years (The Hatchet, 1916).