VOL.LVI MECTION ONK MO. 12
l \IVKKSITVOF OREGON, El GENE, FRIDAY, OCT. K. I MM
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Formal Opening—Eric W. Allen Hall
ERIC W. ALLEN
Doan of the School of Journalism, 1916-1944
Eric W. Allen hall is a memorinl
to a man who for 28 years was
teacher, friend and confidant of
hundreds of students, and a strong
influence on Oregon journalism.
Eric W. Allen founded the Uni
versity of Oregon school of journ
alism and was its dean from 191(1
until his death in 1944.
Because of his custom of teach
ing many of his early classes in
the living room of his own home,
an Erie Allen seminar room has
been included in the new building.
It is a close reproduction of his
living room and will contain Dean
Allen’s personal library. The room
was.' entirely furnished by funds
contributed by alumni and friends
of the school, many of whom were
students of the late dean.
Loved by his students, the
school's first dean was one of the
pioneers of journalism education
in America. Twice he was elected
president of the American Associ
ation of Schools and Departments
of Journalism. His graduates hold
top positions in various phases oi
journalism all over the world.
The University Alumni associa
tion named him one of the six
best teachers the University has
ever had. A member of Sigma
Delta Chi, national professional
journalistic fraternity, he was
president of the organization in
1925.
The four children of Dean Allen
will attend the formal opening
Saturday of the building named in
honor of their father. They are
John Allen, Socorro, N M.;-Robert
Allen, Seattle; Mrs. Charles
(Elizabeth! Gilbert, Berkeley,
Calif., and Eric W. Allen Jr.,
Medford. Last year Eric Allen Jr.
was the school of journalism's
second Eric Allen fellow, a grad
uate fellowship established in
honor of his father.
“School of Journalism—hut wait ‘til next year’’ read
the sign on the quonset hut headquarters of the journal
ism school last year. “Xext year ' has arrived and with
it the completion of the new $600,000 Eric W. Allen
hall, new home of the University’s journalism school.
Although the structure was ready for students when
classes began this fall, formal opening of the building is
scheduled for Saturday. The program includes tours
of ^ie hall, and a luncheon in the Student Union.
Allen hall is the newest and one of the largest
journalism buildings in the United States and one of
the few planned and constructed for journalism train
ing. It is the realization of the dreams and plans of
many persons over a long period of years.
The approving nod for construction of the journalism
school building was given by the state senate in April,
1953, and work began when old McClure hall was torn
down during the summer of that same year. The school
of journalism was housed in three quonset huts during
construction of the new building.
Every aspect of the mass communications field has
been included in the design of the building. The en
tire first floor of Allen hall houses the University
press, with its letterpress, offset and bindery equip
ment.
Faculty offices, classrooms, a reading and reference
room and a display room occnpv the second and main
floor of the new structure. The reading room contains
copies of nearly all Oregon newspapers and periodicals.
The second floor also contains an auditorium with a
seating capacity of 180 and facilities for motion picture
projection. * • *
Laboratories for photography, advertising copywrit
ing. copy editing, typography, and radio-television
work are located on the top floor of the structure- Also
found there are offices of the Oregon Daily Emerald,
Oregon Newspaper Publishers’ association and Oregon
State Broadcasters association.
For the opening Saturday, congratulatory letters
from many of the nation’s top journalists, and artwork
drawn by several of the country's leading cartoonists
will be on display in the building.
A year-long dedication program has been planned for
Allen hall. The schedule includes several addresses by
leading journalists on the general theme of “The Re
sponsibility of Journalism and Journalists.”