Myers Hall

Old postcard of Myers Hall (Pre-Renovations) from 1978.

Built in 1953 as reserved residence for women, Myers Hall was originally built to include multiple sundecks, guest suites, student lounges, a combination grill in the basement and a bookstore named after Jennie Belle Myers (Arch 121). She was an impactful housemother who established a scholarship fund for home economic students, the first available to women. Myers passed in 1950 and in her honor, the dormitory was given the official name of Myers Hall (Arch 121). Following UGA's desegregation in 1961, headlines were made as Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes became the first African American students to attend beginning that year. Myers Hall is where Hunter was given the opportunity to live during her time in school, but unfortunately many boycotts and protests erupted around Athens due to the lack of acceptance of the university’s newest members. Concern for her safety eventually came into question and precautionary measures were taken by suspending Charlayne Hunter from the school.
In 1974, the dorm incorportaed co-ed living measures and in that same year the national craze of streaking led to over a thousand students running naked from the Myers Quad all the way to the Reed Hall (Arch 121). Further down the road, in 2003, Myers was renovated by adding a tradition modernized style and expanding to hold about 410 residents. The University of Georgia's website states that "Myers Hall is now a magnet residence hall that allows students in the honors program to live among like-minded peers." Within the lobby, historical memorabilia [to honor UGA's desegregation] can be found (Arch 122).