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A Time Series of the University of Toledo's Bancroft Campus Using Aerial Photographs
...by Michael Edwards
1940 (image: 1.01 Mb)
 As shown, the buildings on campus including University Hall (1931) and the Field House (1931) are located near Bancroft St. South of these two buildings, tennis courts and the main parking lot on campus can be found. A baseball diamond and a running track also are located nearby. The football field (1937), found in the same location as it is today, is accessible by a crosswalk across campus and held 11,000 fans. The other buildings present at the time include: Scott Hall (1935), Tucker Hall (1935, home to faculty apartments, Libby Hall (1935), the former student union location and MacKinnon Hall (1939). The rest of campus is either forested or grassed over. The blurry bright spot on the northern edge is newly turned up dirt in anticipation of a new farm field shown in subsequent images. The area where Rocket Hall was to be located was used for farming purposes at the time.
1950 (image: 2.74 Mb)
 During World War II, military barracks were constructed South of University Hall. Note how the baseball diamond has been replaced by a grass parking lot signaling the importance of parking on campus. In 1946 the football stadium was renovated and renamed "The Glass Bowl". Later that same year, land was bought West of Campus Drive to accommodate 40 temporary housing units for faculty and married students. This image was taken in November, which allows a view of what lies beneath the trees. It is useful to see the natural course of the Ottawa River through campus. South of the parking lot you could find a marshy area leading into an island as the river tried to straighten itself out naturally.
1957 (image: 359 Kb)
 Dowd, Nash, and White Halls (1952) were constructed to accommodate the growing student population. Gilliam Hall (1953) was built to house a new library. Compared with the 1940 photograph there was an increase of forest cover on campus but with the growing size of the University, the natural beauty along the Ottawa River would soon be gone.
1963 (image: 438 Kb)
 By 1963, the Ottawa River had been channelized through the UT campus to allowed for more development and flood control. Most of the forest cover was cleared on campus in the process as denoted by the large amounts of bare dirt visible. Constructed during the past six years include : The Old Student Union Building (1959), The Engineering - Science Building (1960), and the new MacKinnon Hall (1963). The newly created land between the river and football field was ideally suited for a practice field and a running track. The farm fields in the Southwest corner have been converted into a strip mall and a large parking lot.
1969 (image: 929 Kb)
 Compared with 1963, the photograph from 1969 shows noticeable changes. Buildings constructed during this time include : Snyder Memorial (1964), Carter Hall (1964), Ritter Planetarium and Observatory (1967), Bowman-Oddy Laboratories (1968), Health-Education Center (1969) and four new parking lots from the reclaimed areas along the Ottawa River also appear. Note the road linking Secor Rd. and Bancroft St., running through campus.
1972 (image: 2.31 Mb)
 By 1972, more buildings were constructed or modified. Parks Tower completed in 1971 while initially controversial, helped recruit out-of-town students to the University and added more housing space on campus. Carleson Library (1973) although not yet dedicated is near completion by 1972. The Law Center Building (1972) initiates development into the Southern and Western sides of campus. More seats were added to the Glass Bowl in 1972 following UT's undefeated season in 1971.
1980 (image: 1.79 Mb)
 More construction continued on campus during the 1970's. Included in this time are Centennial Hall (1976), later renamed "Savage Hall", Center for Performing Arts (1976), Driscoll Center for Continuing Education (1978). In 1976, two parking garages were constructed to alleviate the parking problems on campus, one of which eliminated the married student housing plot. Lot 10 along the river is also created during this time period. The East-West road through campus was removed to accommodate expansion as well. Possibly the most pleasant change occurred when the Army barracks were removed South of University Hall. And in 1979, after the blizzard of '78, Geography students laid out Centennial Mall based on foot traffic through the snow.
1998 (image: 2.40 Mb)
 The remaining areas of the University were developed primarily in the late 80's and early 90's. An entire neighborhood (south of the railroad tracks) was razed to make room for the Transportation Center and Plant Operations Center. The following buildings were constructed during this time period : Stranahan Hall (1985), McMaster Hall (1985), McComas Greek Village (1990), Larimer Athletic Complex (1990), Student Recreation Center (1991), Student Medical Center (1992), Academic House (1992), International House (1995), Nitschke Hall (1995) and Wolfe Hall (1998) An extensive Glass Bowl reconstruction added the press box and indoor boxes (1990).
2001 (image: 3.02 Mb)
 The main growth since 1998 has been concentrated in the acquired land south of the railroad tracks as the Bancroft Campus is reaching its maximum development. The former strip mall has been remodeled and reduced to form Rocket Hall. Completed in 1998, a necessary North-South road through campus was complete. A new residential hall expected to open this year can be seen in the construction phase, in an "X" Shape.
2003 (image: 2.92 Mb)
 Construction of the Crossings residence hall (the "X" Shaped building on the south end of campus) was completed in 2002. A second residence Hall (The Ottawa House) is planned to be built between the Crossings and the railroad tracks, where a parking lot is located. Renovation of Libbey Hall, originally built in 1935
Photographs courtesy of the Lucas County Auditor's Office and the Carlson Library's Ward M. Canaday Center.
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As shown, the buildings on campus including University Hall (1931) and the Field House (1931) are located near Bancroft St. South of these two buildings, tennis courts and the main parking lot on campus can be found. A baseball diamond and a running track also are located nearby. The football field (1937), found in the same location as it is today, is accessible by a crosswalk across campus and held 11,000 fans. The other buildings present at the time include: Scott Hall (1935), Tucker Hall (1935, home to faculty apartments, Libby Hall (1935), the former student union location and MacKinnon Hall (1939). The rest of campus is either forested or grassed over. The blurry bright spot on the northern edge is newly turned up dirt in anticipation of a new farm field shown in subsequent images. The area where Rocket Hall was to be located was used for farming purposes at the time. 
Dowd, Nash, and White Halls (1952) were constructed to accommodate the growing student population. Gilliam Hall (1953) was built to house a new library. Compared with the 1940 photograph there was an increase of forest cover on campus but with the growing size of the University, the natural beauty along the Ottawa River would soon be gone. 
By 1972, more buildings were constructed or modified. Parks Tower completed in 1971 while initially controversial, helped recruit out-of-town students to the University and added more housing space on campus. Carleson Library (1973) although not yet dedicated is near completion by 1972. The Law Center Building (1972) initiates development into the Southern and Western sides of campus. More seats were added to the Glass Bowl in 1972 following UT's undefeated season in 1971. 
