Ball Legacy at Ball State University, Part One
Administration Building
Have you ever wondered about the names of the buildings on the Ball State University Campus and the people for which they were named? Many bear the names of former presidents of the university, college deans, and other prominent faculty, however, a large percentage of the buildings are named after Ball family members who supported the ideals of higher education and wished to contribute to the advancement of the East Central Indiana region.
First a little background: After four failed attempts by various entities to establish and successfully run higher education institutions in Muncie, two of the Ball brothers, Frank C. and Edmund B., purchased the site and buildings in a court auction in 1917. The brothers then donated the school to the state in 1918 to establish a local branch of the Indiana State Normal School. As part of the agreement with the state, Frank C. was appointed to the board of trustees. From 1918-1921 the college was named the Eastern Division, Indiana State Normal School, then in 1922 the state added Ball Teachers College to the front of that name. In 1929 the state separated the two schools and the Muncie branch became Ball State Teachers College.
The first of the college’s buildings to be named for the Ball family itself was the Ball Gymnasium which opened in 1925. This building served both men and women students and included a swimming pool, and classrooms.
Ball Gymnasium
Lucina Amelia Ball
A gift from the family, Lucina Hall dormitory for women was constructed in 1927 and includes the Lucina Tennis Courts. The structures were named for the brothers’ sister, Lucina Amelia Ball, who spent most of her professional career working in education. Graduating from Buffalo Central School, she initially worked as a teacher, then became an editor for the Baptist Union, and later worked for Charles Scribner and Company. Lucina then served as the secretary at Pratt Institute. While there, Anthony J. Drexel, who was organizing a vocational training school, learned of Lucina’s thoughts and ideas about vocational education and asked her to go to Philadelphia to help him establish the school. She became the first secretary and registrar at Drexel Institute and also assumed the responsibilities of overseeing campus construction, developing curriculum, and selecting the faculty. She resigned from Drexel ten years later due to ill health and died in 1901 of tuberculosis.
Fine Arts Building
The Fine Arts Building, while not initially incorporating a Ball name, has many family connections. Completed in 1935 with funds from the state and WPA, a gift from the family provided for the construction of the art gallery and additional décor trim elements. In 1936 many art pieces collected by Frank C. Ball were moved to the gallery and became the core of the permanent collection. Over the years family members have continued to support the museum and donate works of art, particularly Frank C.’s grandson, David Owsley, for whom the museum is now named. The Edmund F. Petty Gallery of Native American and Pre-Columbian Art is named for another grandson.
Maria Bingham Ball
Part of Ball Memorial Hospital and affiliated with Ball State Teachers College, Maria Bingham Hall [Medical Education Center] was completed in 1930 to house nursing students. The building was named after the brothers’ mother, Maria Bingham Ball. Educated in a public school in Canada, she taught school and saw to her younger sister Martha’s education before becoming a wife and mother. She instilled her children with Christian principles, encouraged their education, urged them to help each other and work together, and set a good example in all of their endeavors. The brothers credited their success to her advice about sticking together in business and family matters.
The Woodworth Complex of residence halls opened in 1956 and is named after each of the five Ball brothers’ wives:
Woodworth Complex is named for Frances Woodworth Ball, wife of George A. Ball. She was from Buffalo, New York, and graduated from Vassar College. In addition to raising their only child, Elisabeth Ball, Frances was active in many local organizations.
Rogers Hall is named for Sarah Rogers Ball, wife of Lucius L. Ball. She was from Lockport, New York, and was a graduate of Buffalo General Hospital’s Nursing School. They also had one daughter, Helen Ball, and Sarah was involved in a variety of local organizations including the Delaware-Blackford Medical Society Auxiliary and the Visiting Nursing Association of Muncie.
Wood Hall is named for Emma Wood Ball, wife of William C. Ball. Originally from Massachusetts and educated at the Concord Ladies Seminary, her family moved to Buffalo prior to her marriage. She was very interested in animal welfare and was involved with the county’s humane society and contributed funds to build Muncie’s animal shelter in 1930.
Brady Hall is named for Elizabeth Brady Ball, wife of Frank C. Ball. Elizabeth was born and raised in Muncie, the granddaughter of the first Muncie mayor. A mother of five children, she was involved in numerous local civic and philanthropic organizations.
Crosley Hall is named for Bertha Crosley Ball, wife of Edmund B. Ball. Daughter of a minister, Bertha was a graduate of Vassar College and with her parents led tours in several foreign countries. She was involved locally and nationally with numerous organizations and contributed to several historic preservation projects.
Frances Woodworth Ball, Sarah Rogers Ball, Emma Wood Ball, Elizabeth Brady Ball, and Bertha Crosley Ball
Although not a building, the Beneficence statue, known as “Benny”, is dedicated in honor of the five Ball brothers and their generosity to the Muncie community. Completed in 1930, it is the last commissioned work of sculptor Daniel Chester French. It was kept in storage for seven years during the depression until enough funds were raised by the community to complete the project. The statue was placed and dedicated in September 1937.
Beneficence Statue
Over the years, most of these buildings have been renovated and/or repurposed in some way but are still a lasting tribute to the family who helped make the university a lasting reality.
Part Two: Watch for the next blog by Diane Barts.
