Pearson Hall (Miami University)

The original site of Pearson Hall was known as Miami Field. This historic field became the main athletic field in 1895, when Miami trustees subleased four acres for twenty dollars from a botanical gardener. The field was cleared and a fence was constructed with a ticket box. A half-mile track was added, a baseball diamond, and a football field. In 1934 the Pageant of Miami was presented at Miami Field. Here hundreds of students acted out the timeline of Miami University. In 1945 during wartime Miami Field was used as a training camp for two professional baseball teams. In 1959 John F. Kennedy gave a speech at Miami Field for convocation. In October 1962, following a Miami victory against Purdue, students swarmed Miami field and tore up both of the goalposts to celebrate their victory. The goalposts were then raised in the middle of High Street. Miami Field continued to see use until Yager Stadium was constructed. It remained present on the campus regardless until February 2, 1984, when the groundbreaking for the construction of the Biological Science Building began.[2]

In 1986 The Biological Sciences Building was constructed in the previous location of Miami Universities historic Miami Field. The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held at 8 AM, on November 1, 1986. The attendance included many Ohio government officials, professors, donors, and Miami Staff. After opening the building was used for a variety of different science departments.[3]

In 1993 the Biological Sciences Building was later dedicated to Dr. Paul G. Pearson, who was the 18th president of Miami University. Dr. Pearson received the honor of having his name dedicated because the building was one of several major construction projects built during Pearson's presidency. Pearson Hall, being one of the more recently constructed buildings at Miami paved the way for a complete restructuring of Miami's landscape. Following its erections in 1986 a new engineering building psychology building, and the Farmer School of Business completed the “Academic Quadrangle” between Tallawanda, Patterson, and High.[4]

Dr. Paul G. Pearson was the 18th President of Miami University and who Pearson Hall was named after. He was born December 5, 1926, and Died on August 12, 2000. He was born in Lake Worth, Florida and received his bachelor's degree, masters, and doctorate from the University of Florida. Pearson began his work as an academic official at Rutgers, where he was a zoology professor for 26 years. He was also Rutgers president. He then went to Miami University in 1981 where he stayed until 1992.[5]