Walton Residence Hall

Building Name

Walton Residence Hall

Description

This residence hall was originally constructed in 1968, and was renovated in 2023 to include central A/C, updated bathrooms, and study and lounge areas.

Namesake Biography

Genevieve Walton was born in Ypsilanti on June 25, 1857. She was educated at St. Mary's Academy in South Bend, Indiana. While Miss Walton and her family were residing in Denver, Colorado, she took up the study of painting and displayed a great talent. She then studied for a year in Italy and upon her return to Ypsilanti, she opened a studio. Unfortunately, due to eye trouble, Miss Walton was forced to give up painting and seek a new career. It is not known how she came to choose a career in the then emerging field of library work, there is no evidence that she ever worked in a library prior to her appointment at Michigan State Normal School. Miss Walton was appointed head of the library in 1892. After her appointment, she attended a five-week course at Amherst College, taught by William I. Fletcher, the librarian. This appears to be the only training she had. She supplemented this for the rest of her career, with meetings, library publications, and personal contacts with other librarians. Walton was a major force in the modernization of the library over the next 40 years. In 1892, the Normal School had a student population of 1,002 students and 31 members on faculty, and the library was in one room holding approximately 11,000 volumes. By 1930, enrollment had risen to above 2,100 students with a faculty of 200, and the library had the first building of its own holding some 70,000 volumes. When Walton was named librarian, she had one assistant, who worked three hours a day. By 1930, the staff had grown to eleven regular assistants and fifty-eight student assistants. The high point of Miss Walton's career was the opening of the new library building on January 3, 1930, today Ford Hall. Genevieve Walton died in her home April 25, 1932.

Building Namesake

Genevieve Walton, Librarian 1892-1932

Year Constructed

1968

Date Dedicated

1968

Building Functions

Residence Hall

First Year Center

Date Renovated

2023

Architect

R.S. Gerganoff, Ypsilanti, MI

Architectural Style

International

Square Footage

43,920

Rights

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the owner, Eastern Michigan University Archives (lib_archives@emich.edu).