Confederate Memorial Hall has been renamed Memorial Hall. The new name is intended to honor the men and women who have lost their lives in this country’s armed conflicts. “The decision to change the name of the building was not made lightly,” said Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Michael J. Schoenfeld. “It came after careful consideration and review, and will be effective immediately.” The name change reflects efforts by the University to create a positive, inclusive environment, and to ensure that Vanderbilt facilities and symbols do not inadvertently reflect values that are inconsistent with the University’s mission. Confederate Memorial Hall was constructed in 1935 on the campus of the former George Peabody College for Teachers with partial funding from the United Daughters of the Confederacy to provide housing for young women who would become teachers at a time when they were sorely needed in the South. After a renovation of the building in 1989, a plaque was added to explain origins and historical significance of the then-Confederate Memorial Hall, and the contributions of the United Daughters of the Confederacy to its construction. That historic marker will remain in its current location inside the lobby.

Posted on 9/19/02 at 10:00 a.m.