Arkansas Hall

As its first and second service buildings of the Teachers College era, Henderson contracted on January 8, 1948, for the simultaneous construction of two major facilities: a Library-Auditorium and a Cafeteria-Commons.

A two-story, V-shaped structure of Georgian Colonial design, the combination library-auditorium conformed in style with the newer buildings on the campus in the 1940s and was fireproof. Erected on the extreme southwest corner of the campus and facing east toward the campus proper, the air-conditioned building housed the library in the left or south wing and the Auditorium in the right or north wing. Huie Library now had shelf space for 52,000 volumes and could seat 180 people in the reading room. The library also featured a film and record collection, listening rooms, and study rooms. Including the balcony, Henderson Auditorium could seat about 1,000 people. It contained a concert Steinway piano, a specially constructed three manual Moller organ, and the latest type of stage and projection equipment. Another valuable resource, provided on the second floor of the south wing, was the Henderson Museum.

The new Auditorium was first used for Commencement Exercises on May 29-30, 1949. A three-day dedication program opened on Monday night, October 17, 1949, when the Masquers presented Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer directed by Thomas L. Headley. On Tuesday night, Miss Dorothy Munger, noted concert pianist of Indianapolis, Indiana, presented a recital. H.S.T.C. formally dedicated the Library-Auditorium and the Cafeteria-Commons in a special program from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Auditorium on October 19, 1949. J. H. Lookadoo, chairman of the Board of Trustees, presented the two buildings to the State of Arkansas. A. B. Bonds, Jr., Commissioner of Education and graduate of the H.S.T.C. Class of 1935, accepted for the State, since Governor Sidney McMath could not attend.

Other guests on the campus to attend the formal ceremony included former President J. P. Womack; Mrs. Ruth T. Day, widow of former President Joseph A. Day; Mrs. Matt L. Ellis, wife of former President Matt Ellis; and members of the Board of Trustees. Several presidents from other Arkansas colleges also attended.

On April 4, 1950, the Trustees approved the name Arkansas Hall for the Library-Auditorium; Huie Library for the south wing; Henderson Auditorium for the right wing; and Caddo Commons for the Cafeteria-Commons, later changed to Caddo Center.

In 1967, Huie Library moved into its own building. On November 15, 1967, the Trustees approved a plan to remodel the south wing of Arkansas Hall into classrooms, faculty offices, and a studio for closed circuit television and an FM radio station. On October 21, 1970 the Trustees approved the addition of the Stagecraft Laboratory to the rear or northwest wall of the Auditorium wing of Arkansas Hall.