Ogilby Hall
A dormitory for students and faculty, Ogilby Hall is located at the corner of Vernon and Summit streets in the “Vernon Street Neighborhood,” which also consists of Doonesbury, Hansen, High Rise, North Campus, and Vernon Place.
In June 1939, the College purchased an available lot in close proximity to the Summit Campus. Funding for the construction of the hall itself was through an agreement between the College and the Alumni Association of Delta Psi (St. Anthony Hall) fraternity. The fraternity raised the money for constructing the building and then the College purchased the building for tax purposes.
Robert O'Connor, Class of 1916 and Clinton Brill, Class of 1919 designed the building, which was completed in 1941 and named in honor of Trinity President from 1920 to 1943, Dr. Remsen B. Ogilby.
In the original agreement from October 1940, there were provisions for the onsite dining hall (Haight Dining Hall) with kitchen services, which were available to the Epsilon Chapter of Delta Psi at a nominal annual rental fee. The living quarters included rooms for students, one or two apartments for faculty, as determined by President Ogilby, and a small janitor's apartment. Lastly, the dormitory was planned for upperclassmen with several wings. In the north wing, the students who were members of the Epsilon Chapter of Delta Psi had first selection of the rooms. The west wing was available to any upperclassmen.
From 1941 to 1972, Ogilby was used solely by the members of Delta Psi, friends of members, and faculty members. In 1972, the College Affairs Committee, chaired by Professor Randolph Lee, issued a report concerning residence halls and room selection. The report recommended that the entirety of Ogilby Hall remain available first to members of Delta Psi, with any remaining room vacancies to be filled by the Office of Student Services. The agreement was to remain in effect at least until January 1977, and then reevaluated, but only if another group requested a need for the facility. The primary concern of the investigating committee in 1972 was whether Ogilby was in violation of Title IX housing requirements by not being available for co-ed occupancy.
Ultimately, under pressure for many years to conform to Title IX regulations, Delta Psi allowed four women to live in the dorm during the 1983-1984 academic year. However, those students were only allowed to live there as a result of two rooms remaining unoccupied and unfilled by male students. Plans for further expansion to more equal representation to male and female student residents were made for the 1984-1985 academic year.
As of 2022, Ogilby continued to be the residence hall for members of the Delta Psi co-ed fraternity, also known by its building, St. Anthony Hall.
Sources
The Bantam Network: Neighborhoods and Residential Communities
Ogilby Hall-The Bantam Network
Trinity College in the Twentieth Century (2000) by Peter and Anne Knapp, p. 75.
Trinity Tripod, 02/28/1984.
Trinity Tripod, 02/01/1983.
Trinity College Alumni Magazine (May 1964), p. 4.
Trinity College Handbook, 1960-61 (1960), pp. 5-6.
Trinity College Alumni News (December 1940), p. 2.