» Campus Buildings and History

Wilkinson Hall constructed in 1905 is the oldest building on the Chapman University campus. It was designed by local architect, C.B. Bradshaw. Wilkinson Hall was originally built facing Glassell Street in what is now the Bert Williams Mall in between Smith Hall (1913) and Reeves Hall (1913). It was moved to its present location prior to 1921. Wilkinson Hall is named to honor J.E. Wilkinson, a former trustee, chairman of the board, and acting president.

Reeves Hall was completed in 1913. It is named in honor of George N. Reeves, president of the university from 1942 to 1956. It is listed in the National Register of Historical Places. It was designed by Santa Ana architect Frederick Eley.

Smith Hall was completed in 1913. It was designed by Santa Ana architect Frederick Eley. Originally Smith Hall was the Science Building for Orange Union High School. In 1988 it was named in honor of former president G.T. "Buck" Smith and his wife, Joni. Buck Smith served as president of the university from 1977 to 1988. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The building served as the Orange Intermediate School from when it was built in 1914 until 1958. The building was reused as the Orange Unified School District administrative headquarters from 1958 until 1992 and could be architecturally distinguished by a decorative entrance, styled after a 4th century Northern Italian church. Kennedy Hall was purchased by Chapman University in 1996, and it was built to incorporate the iconic facade (architect J. Flood Walker of Santa Ana). The facade is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Old Towne Orange National Register Historic District.

The Santiago Orange Growers Association Packing House is one of the earliest surviving industrial facilities in the Old Towne Orange Historic District. It was used for the receipt, packing, and shipping of locally raised agricultural products. In 1967, the Villa Park Orchards Association took over the building to accommodate its expanding operations. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Old Towne Orange National Register Historic District.

Memorial Hall was built in 1921 with a small addition built in 1926. The Chapman auditorium within Memorial Hall at 1,000 seats was the largest auditorium in Orange County from the time of its construction to at least 1975 when the building was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places. When Chapman College (now Chapman University) moved to occupy the former Orange Union High School site in 1954, it became the first four-year university in Orange County.

Life trustee James Roosevelt’s name graces this historical building, which was originally named Founders’ Hall, until its rededication in 1994. This building completed in 1928 (2 floors, 12,280 sq.ft.) is listed in the National Registry for Historical Buildings and houses the Center for Academic Success, Department of Languages, Division of Social Sciences and the Writing Center. Originally constructed to serve as the Art & Cafeteria Building for Orange Union High School, it was acquired by Chapman in 1954.

In 1921, the California Wire Company began to manufacture weather-proof wire for electric and power companies at this site. Demand grew so quickly that after only four months, the company needed to expand its manufacturing space.  The Austin Company of Los Angles was contracted to construct the existing building that was completed in 1922. The California Wire Company then became Anaconda Wire Company in 1930. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Old Towne Orange National Register Historic District.

Killefer Grade School was constructed in the Cypress Barrio in 1931 as
a Mission Revival school for the white population. In that same year a
barrio school was constructed for the Hispanic children, just a block
away, from the remains of the orginal 60 year old white school that had
been torn down nearby. The school sits on a 1.7 acre plot of land.
The school is named for Lydia Killefer who came to Orange from the
local farming community of Bolsa and taught from 1895 to 1931 when she was made principal of the school.