Robertson Hall
1959 - Present
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Robertson is the newest and largest hall. It is the only hall with air
conditioning or an elevator. Its lobby might not be as
elegant as those the other halls, but it does contain an original
wooden phone booth. Raney Dining Room, the Centennial Room,
and the kitchen are in Robbie's
basement, which means a short walk to meals but a small rec
room (and squishy tornado warning sit-ins).
Planning & Construction
In March of 1944, Cottey president Dr. Marjorie Mitchell inquired about
purchasing a "cow pasture" west of Missouri Hall.4
Three years later, the land was bought, and the street separating the
two blocks was closed. In 1952, President Dr. Blanche Dow recommended that a new
residence hall be built with kitchen and dining facilities to serve 400
to 500 people. The President of the Supreme Chapter of
the P.E.O., Bessie R. Raney, gave $50,000 toward the new hall.
Another four years passed, and in 1956 the board of trustees proposed that a hall be built
immediately, suitable for housing 150 students and
feeding 500. In March of the following year, a Mrs. Wright donated
$100,000 to the college in memory of her mother, former Nebraska State
Chapter President Elizabeth C. Robertson. When the hall was finished in 1959, it was named after Elizabeth Robertson
and its dining room was named after Bessie Raney.
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Raney Party Room, 1968.6 Later the Red Room; now known as the Centennial Dining Room. |
Iowa suitemates dressed for Red Room Dinner, 1976. (Courtesy Christine Renner.) |
Jocelyn, Anya, and Jen at Co-Thom's Centennial Dinner, 2005.
(The vague theme was "accessories.") |
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Centennial Dining Room
The private dining room adjacent to the kitchen was converted into
the "Raney Party Room" in 1967, which students and faculty could reserve
for special lunches and dinners.6 It was in use most days of the week,
particularly for suite birthday celebrations. The room was decorated
with crystal chandeliers, red carpet, walnut paneling, and furniture
formerly owned by Bessie Raney herself. Gladys McCue Thompson (who was the very first to be honored with a suite)
later donated a
set of solid mahogany chairs for the private dining room.7
In 1969 its name changed to "The Red Room," and suites began
enjoying formal dinners there twice a year. The name reflected the
new décor, which included "deep red carpet, goblets, china and curtains."11
Advance reservations and a special menu were part of the experience, the
same as today. In 1984 the room was again
remodeled and christened the "Centennial Dining Room" in honor of Cottey's centennial year.
Since then, each suite has had a Centennial Dinner once per year,
during which they are served a lavish five-course meal of their
choosing. However, in spring of 2009 Cottey President
Dr. Rogers announced that Centennial
Dinners would be reduced to once every two years per suite. This was
largely due to the recession and budget constraints.
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Photos
Seniors leave Raney Dining Room at the end of a Saturday dinner, c. 1964.2 |
"Virginia Jacobi and Brooks Perryman relax in Robbie Rec after finals," c. 1965.2 |
Robbie exec officers Lynn Dupree and Betty Halvorsen, c. 1965.2 |
Robbie student assistants, c. 1965.2 |
The Centennial Dinner menu of the day is on display for other diners to see, 2005. (This is Co-Thom's.) |
Members of Wallace Suite on Omelet Bar night in Raney, 2005. |
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Robbie shortly after it was built, c. 1960.4 |
Robbie, c. 1976.5 |
Seniors line up for Fun Dinner, c. 1981. |
Robbie, 2005. |
Another view of Robbie, 2005. |
Front of Robbie, 2005. |
North side of Robbie, 2005. (Wallace, Santa Barbara, and Co-Thom suites.) |
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Robbie Hall entrance, 2005. |
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Bev Larson plays Santa Claus at the Robbie Christmas party, 1964.2 |
Betty Halvorsen and Lynn Dupree perform the tearing of the Squares in Robbie lobby, 1964.2 |
Kristi Bard serves coffee to Chris Vance during Hanging of the Greens buffet in Raney Dining Room, 1964.2 |
Dorm President Dana Pugh helps decorate Robbie's parlor, 1975.9 |
Swan suitemate, Cooley, "gets a surprise" from Santa in Robbie parlor, 1975.9 |
"Nancy finally makes TV" in Robbie's parlor with Santa Claus, 1975.9 |
"Robbie Rec Rats help make holidays a little merrier," 1975.9 |
Robbie Rec Rats perform a Christmas skit, 1976.10 |
Susprise in Robbie Hall, 1976.10 |
Holiday decorations on the Raney Dining Room stage, 2004. |
"The deer is sniffing my glass!" Susie Klein exclaims, 2004. |
Robby lobby during Hanging of the Greens dinner, 2005. |
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Raney during Hanging of the Greens dinner, 2005. |
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Bessie Rodrick Raney, Cottey College donor and past Supreme Chapter president of the P.E.O.8 |
Robbie Hall yearbook page, 2006.3 |
Robbie Hall map, 2005. |
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Works Cited:
- Sphinx, The. Yearbook. Nevada, MO: Cottey College, 1947. Print.
- Sphinx, The. Yearbook. Nevada, MO: Cottey College, 1965. Print.
- Sphinx, The. Yearbook. Nevada, MO: Cottey College, 2006. Print.
- Stockard, Orpha. Cottey College: The First 75 Years. Joplin, MO: Joplin Printing Co., 1961. Print.
- "Cottey-P.E.O. Partnership ... Story of Campus Expansion." The P.E.O. Record Mar. 1976: 2-5. Print.
- "Cottey Comments." The P.E.O. Record Mar. 1968: 6-7. Print.
- "Gladys McCune [sic] Thompson." The P.E.O. Record Jan. 1975: 23. Print.
- "Who's Who on the Supreme Chapter Board." The P.E.O. Record Dec. 1937: 3-5. Print.
- Sphinx, The. Yearbook. Nevada, MO: Cottey College, 1976. Print.
- Sphinx, The. Yearbook. Nevada, MO: Cottey College, 1977. Print.
- O'Quinn, Tanya. "Cottey Comments." The Nevada Herald
2 Nov. 1969: 6. Print.
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