The legendary first lady—and Roosevelt Hall’s eponym—visited URI in 1938, shortly after the infamous hurricane of that year—and again in 1953.

The University of Rhode Island had the honor of hosting Eleanor Roosevelt on the Kingston Campus twice: first, in 1938, in her role as first lady of the United States; and again in 1953 when she came as a distinguished speaker to address the campus community on world issues.

Roosevelt’s first visit, on Oct. 1, 1938, was for the dedication of Roosevelt Hall, which was built as a women’s dormitory. The region was still reeling from the Sept. 21 hurricane, “one of the most destructive and powerful hurricanes in recorded history,” according to the National Weather Service. In her syndicated “My Day” column, she wrote, “Many people lost members of their family and friends, and there are still many people among the missing. A rocking chair with a little child’s chair not far away, in the middle of a field, seemed the epitome of desolation. All around was wreckage of one kind or another. Along the shore we could see a few houses still standing, leaning crazily in different directions. In some places the land as well as the houses has disappeared, and prized possessions with which families had old associations are gone forever.”

The dedication of Roosevelt Hall on that day left her with a happier impression. In the same column, she wrote, “The exercises at the State College in Kingston, R.I., were simple and delightfully arranged. The girls’ dormitory, which had been named after me, is a charming building. After lunch the girls invited me to light a fire in one of the big living room fireplaces, to symbolize the warmth which should always surround the family hearth.”

Roosevelt Hall was the first major building on campus built of brick. Up to that point, all of them had been built from Westerly granite. The building was one of three on campus—along with Green and Quinn halls—constructed through President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Public Works Administration, which funded the construction of public buildings across the country. In the 1960s, the building transitioned from dormitory to office space and today houses offices and programs including University College, the Writing Center, and the Center for Career and Experiential Education.

Eleanor Roosevelt was the longest-serving first lady of the United States, serving from 1933–1945, through her husband’s four terms in office, during which time the nation struggled through the Great Depression and World War II.

She was known for her activism and outspokenness—especially on issues of civil rights and human rights. This made her controversial, especially during her early years as first lady. But her dedication to human rights and her diplomacy made her one of the most admired women of her time and led to her later career as a diplomat. She was an in-demand lecturer and public figure, which ultimately led her back to URI in 1953.

—Barbara Caron

Photos: Courtesy University Archives