Memorial Structure

Named Building

Jim Crow

Potter, Jerome Whitfield

Potter Hall; an administrative building named after Jerome Whitfield Potter

Potter Hall was dedicated in 1921 and named after Jerome Whitfield Potter. The construction cost for Potter Hall was $233, 407.08. Potter came from an enslaver's family and helped to raise funds for Southern Normal School and Bowling Green Business University, both of which later became part of Western Kentucky State Normal School. J. W. Potter also served as regent for sixteen years. From 1921-1949 Potter Hall was a women's dormitory and from 1949-1957 it was the men's residence hall. It 1957 it was again used as a women's dormitory until 1991. It underwent renovation in 1923 when a concrete addition was made to hide garbage disposal. Later renovations occurred in 1950, 1955, 1957, and 1958 resulting in an additional 35 new rooms. Other improvements included new lighting, new wood facings, new flooring, new furniture for the rooms, rooms were redecorated, bathrooms were retiled, lobby was rebuilt, and new entrance. In 1962 a fire damaged a room, and the building was repaired again with further renovations also taking place the following year in 1963. In 1994 it was reconstructed for use as an administrative building at a cost of 3.5 million dollars.

A 3-story, brick exterior, reinforced concrete interior, and steel structure. At 47, 439 sq. ft., it was one of the largest buildings in this region during the time of its construction.

1920

21 June 1921

1923

1949

1957

1955

1958

1963

1962

1994

1820-1865: Slavery, Anti-Slavery, and Civil War

1890-1945: Era of the Lost Cause, Jim Crow legal segregation and discrimination, and organized anti-Black racism

1945-1976: Era of Civil Rights Movement and resistance to Civil Rights Movement

1976-2000: The Conservative Ascendancy and Retrenchment from Civil Rights Movement

Kentucky State Legislature

Western Kentucky University; Bowling Green, Kentucky