Donner Hall

Name

Namesake: Cora "Barbara" Donner

Known as Barbara, Cora Barbara Donner was a professor of history at Oshkosh from 1926-1956. Donner was born in 1891 and raised in a large farming family in rural Green County, Wisconsin. After graduating from Monroe High School, she pursued a Bachelor's degree in mathematics from Valparaiso University in Indiana. Upon spending a few years teaching, Donner continued her education at the University of Chicago where she pursued several degrees in social sciences, history and political science, including her PhD. In 1926, Donner secured a position as a history professor at the Oshkosh State Teachers College.

As an instructor, and later chair of the History Department, Dr. Donner was known as a dynamic lecturer. In addition to teaching classes, she regularly spoke on history and contemporary events for local clubs. Of particular interest to these groups was Donner's extended study trip to London and Nazi Germany. On campus, in addition to her official duties, Donner is credited for helping the college secure its first student center, Reeve Memorial Union.

On October 1, 1956, Barbara Donner retired from the Wisconsin State College Oshkosh after thirty years of dedicated service to the school. In 1961, a late in life romance inspired her to marry for the first time. In 1974, Barbara Donner passed away at the age of 82. Humbled by the dormitory that bore her name, Donner left in her will a sum of $1,000 “for the purchase of good magazines for the women residing in Donner Hall.”

Facts

Completion Date: 1962

Original Purpose of Building: Men’s dormitory but quickly was changed to women’s residence a year later.

Current Use: Coed dormitory.

History

In 1962, newly constructed Donner Hall (tied with Breese Hall as the fourth on campus) joined Pollock House, Radford and Webster Halls in what would become a tight community of women-only residences nestled between High St. and Algoma Blvd. In 1970, Donner was the first of the four to become co-educational, with men and women living on alternating floors. Three years later, the University experimented and converted eight of Donner's rooms into four two-bedroom suites, each accommodating three residents.

Like other dormitories on campus, Donner Hall, had its share of unique events that helped form a sense of community. Starting in 1964, the "Donner Duke Dance" contributed to an already crowded campus royalty by having participants vote on a Duke, Duchess and Dork of the evening. With live music, snacks and drinks in the "Donner Dungeon" basement, the dormitory hosted one of the more ambitious events of all the residence halls.

Today the hall along with Webster Hall operates as a combined community (known affectionately as "Donster") with a shared hall council and staff serving all residents. 

Photos

Barbara Donner	Donner Hall, 2012.
Donner "Duke" crowned at Dance.	Room belonging to Mary Baber and Joan Finnegan after it was "toilet papered" in Donner residence hall, 1967.
Residents of Donner residential hall standing by a young tree outside the building, 1967.	Front desk worker working the public address system at Donner residence hall, 1967.