Benton Hall (Miami University)
Encyclopedia
Benton Hall, built in 1907~1908 as an administration building, dedicated in 1909, was used as such until the new Administration Building was completed in 1956. It housed the music department, and the auditorium
seating 1200 was used for small group meetings as it can accommodate only a fraction of the present enrollment, and total Miami meeting. Currently, Hall Auditorium houses the Performing Arts Series Office and the Philosophy Department.
For many years, the old Benton Hall served not only the auditorium, but also the University administrative offices. The president, dean, and business manager had offices on the second floor; the registrar and Miami Student newspaper had offices on the ground floor. Ipon completion of the new Administration
Building (Roudebush Hall) in 1956, the old Benton Hall became the headquarters for the Music Department. In its early years of use, the building was known simply as the “Administration Building” or as the “Auditorium”.
, Hamilton
,and Middletown
. The School offers associate, bachelor's and master's degrees.
, President of Miami University from 1902 to 1911. One of the Miami’s greatest presidents, the 11th President Guy Potter Benton was born in Kenton Ohio on May 26, 1856. Before coming to Miami in 1902, Benton served as Superintendent of Schools in Fort Scott, Kansas
, Professor of history and sociology at Baker University
, and President if Upper Iowa University
. As Miami University
’s president, Benton presided over the beginning of his evolution from a small rural institution into a thriving modern university. The year Benton became president there were but five buildings on the campus and the total student enrollment was 124. When he resigned nine years later, the student enrollment had increased to more than 1,200. Many of the new students were women enrolled at the Normal School
which opened during Benton’s tenure.
By 1911, Miami’s income had grown to approximately a quarter of a million dollars, and seven modern buildings had been erected in response to a constantly growing University constituency.
President Benton was also largely responsible for the defeat of the Lybarger Bill, one of the greatest threats ever posed to Miami’s existence as a University. Introduced in the Ohio Legislature in 1906 and promoted by Ohio State President William Oxley Thompson
(a former Miami University president), the Lybarger Bill would have reduced Miami to the status of a teacher’s college. Benton actively and successfully lobbied legislators to defeat the Bill.
Following his departure from Miami, Benton was President of the University of Vermont
from 1911 to 1917, and he served with the American Expeditionary Force
in Europe from 1917 to 1919. In 1921 Benton became the first president of the University of the Philippines. Ill health forced his retirement three years later and he died in Minneapolis on June 28, 1927. In accordance with his wishes, Guy Porter Benton was buried in the Oxford Cemetery.
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
seating 1200 was used for small group meetings as it can accommodate only a fraction of the present enrollment, and total Miami meeting. Currently, Hall Auditorium houses the Performing Arts Series Office and the Philosophy Department.
History
In 1969 a building designed primarily for use by the Department of Psychology was given the name Benton Hall and the older structure renamed Hall Auditorium, after Miami’s fifth president, John W.Hall.For many years, the old Benton Hall served not only the auditorium, but also the University administrative offices. The president, dean, and business manager had offices on the second floor; the registrar and Miami Student newspaper had offices on the ground floor. Ipon completion of the new Administration
Academic administration
An academic administration is a branch of university or college employees responsible for the maintenance and supervision of the institution and separate from the faculty or academics, although some personnel may have joint responsibilities...
Building (Roudebush Hall) in 1956, the old Benton Hall became the headquarters for the Music Department. In its early years of use, the building was known simply as the “Administration Building” or as the “Auditorium”.
Design and construction
The new Benton Hall on the northeast corner of High Street and Tallawanda Avenue was to provide facilities for the Department of Psychology. It includes 2 lecture halls, 3 classrooms, 5 instructional laboratories, a library, 114 other teaching and research facilities, 19 supporting rooms and shops, and 33 offices. Benton Hall now houses the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Department of Computer Science and Systems Analysis.The School of Engineering and Applied Science was created in 1959 to provide professionally-oriented programs within Miami's liberal arts tradition. The School currently has approaximately two thousand majors in computing,engineering, and nursing on thress campus: OxfordOxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
, Hamilton
Hamilton, Ohio
Hamilton is a city in Butler County, southwestern Ohio, United States. The population was 62,447 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Butler County. The city is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area....
,and Middletown
Middletown, Ohio
Middletown is an All-America City located in Butler and Warren counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. Formerly in Lemon, Turtlecreek, and Franklin townships, Middletown was incorporated by the Ohio General Assembly on February 11, 1833, and became a city in 1886...
. The School offers associate, bachelor's and master's degrees.
Guy Potter Benton
Benton Hall is named for Guy Potter BentonGuy 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...
, President of Miami University from 1902 to 1911. One of the Miami’s greatest presidents, the 11th President Guy Potter Benton was born in Kenton Ohio on May 26, 1856. Before coming to Miami in 1902, Benton served as Superintendent of Schools in Fort Scott, Kansas
Fort Scott, Kansas
Fort Scott is a city in and the county seat of Bourbon County, Kansas, United States, south of Kansas City, on the Marmaton River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,087. It is the home of the Fort Scott National Historic Site and the Fort Scott National...
, Professor of history and sociology at Baker University
Baker University
Baker University is a private, residential university located in Baldwin City, Kansas, United States. Founded in 1858, it is the oldest university in Kansas and is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Baker University is made up of four schools...
, and President if Upper Iowa University
Upper Iowa University
Established in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private institution of higher education with its residential campus located in northeast Iowa near the Volga River in the rural community of Fayette, where around 900 students are enrolled....
. As Miami University
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...
’s president, Benton presided over the beginning of his evolution from a small rural institution into a thriving modern university. The year Benton became president there were but five buildings on the campus and the total student enrollment was 124. When he resigned nine years later, the student enrollment had increased to more than 1,200. Many of the new students were women enrolled at the Normal School
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
which opened during Benton’s tenure.
By 1911, Miami’s income had grown to approximately a quarter of a million dollars, and seven modern buildings had been erected in response to a constantly growing University constituency.
President Benton was also largely responsible for the defeat of the Lybarger Bill, one of the greatest threats ever posed to Miami’s existence as a University. Introduced in the Ohio Legislature in 1906 and promoted by Ohio State President William Oxley Thompson
William Oxley Thompson
William Oxley Thompson, D.D. , born in Cambridge, Ohio, was the fifth President of The Ohio State University. Thompson was educated at Muskingum College and Western Theological Seminary. An ordained minister, Thompson spent the first half of his career in Presbyterian ministry...
(a former Miami University president), the Lybarger Bill would have reduced Miami to the status of a teacher’s college. Benton actively and successfully lobbied legislators to defeat the Bill.
Following his departure from Miami, Benton was President of the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
from 1911 to 1917, and he served with the American Expeditionary Force
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
in Europe from 1917 to 1919. In 1921 Benton became the first president of the University of the Philippines. Ill health forced his retirement three years later and he died in Minneapolis on June 28, 1927. In accordance with his wishes, Guy Porter Benton was buried in the Oxford Cemetery.