By KATRINA PENAFLOR Campus Life Editor
Today, Todd Hall houses psychology offices, the modern language department, the Child Development Center and Teaching Research Institute. But what some students might not know is the hall itself was actually once a dormitory that housed female students who attended the Oregon Normal School, a former title of Western.
And the woman in charge of the students was Jessica Todd.
Todd originally came to the Oregon Normal School to work as a critic teacher, a supervisor of student teachers. She later became the dean of women, which was her highest title at the institution.
She also played a major role in the funding of what we now call Todd Hall, which was built in 1912, and the Cottage, built in 1917.
Additionally, Todd watched over the students living in the dormitory. She was known for her no-nonsense attitude, and for graciously taking girls of the school and turning them into respectable women.
In the October 1923 edition of The Oregonian, Louise Shields wrote: “Miss Jessica S. Todd, dean of women and head of the dormitory, has been a potent factor in working the miracle in the young women who are to be teachers” and “leaders in communities throughout the state.”
She had a “my way or the highway” type of attitude, said Jerrie Lee Parpart, exhibits coordinator and archives assistant at Hamersly Library.
Although she had a stern attitude, even rumored to have closed the door to the dormitory on girls who arrived after curfew, Todd cared deeply for the students. They were of the upmost of importance to her. The girls of the dorms showed their equal respect and gratitude towards Todd by dedicating a tulip tree to her.
According to an April 2, 1929 article in the student newspaper, The Lamron, “The Senior Cottage girls pleasantly surprised Dean Todd by dedicating to her, her home state tree as a token of lasting appreciation and friendship.”
Todd was frugal. She worked hard to save the university money and eventually saved the institution enough to add an extension to Todd Hall, giving it a music room and west wing.
Part of Todd’s work in forming girls into women was organizing formal Sunday dinners and Wednesday dress dinners, where students were allowed to invite family members or boyfriends. The girls at the dinner would alternate being heads of the table, handling etiquette and table rules.
“Even such a matter as table manners leaves its mark upon a girl’s general self-control,” Shields said.
One of Jessica Todd’s additions to the dormitory was the “Painted Alley” which was designed after a Parisian Café. It has also been known to be the spot where girls would sneak boys into the dorm.
Todd later retired in 1931; her hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed. As said in a tribute written to Todd in The Lamron, in 1931, “For nineteen years she has capably directed the dormitories, making them truly beautiful and inspiring places in which to live. She has worked patiently through stress and storm, guiding and helping.”
In October 1944, The OCE Lamron also wrote: “The dormitory was named for her in the recognition of her many years of service to the school,”
Todd died in 1944 in Pennsylvania, but it is rumored that her ghost or presence lingers around the university, continuing to watch over students and her former dormitories.
