Chancellors Hall (formerly Tyler Hall)

Chancellors Hall is located at 300 James Blair Drive between James Blair Hall and Tucker Hall. Formerly known as Rogers Hall, Old Rogers Hall, and Chancellors Hall, it was renamed Tyler Hall in 1988 after U.S. President John Tyler and his son, William & Mary President Lyon Gardiner Tyler Sr. The first Tyler Hall was built in 1916 and is today the Reves Center. In 2021, the Board of Visitors approved reverting Tyler Hall back to its previous name of Chancellors Hall. 

Chancellors Hall hosts the Departments of Government and Economics and the International Relations and Public Policy Programs. During its lifetime, it has been the academic hub for famous alumnae, such as White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki ('00), Ambassadors Shari Villarosa ('78) and Janet Sanderson ('77), Council of Economic Advisors Chair Christina Romer ('81), Securities and Exchanges Chair Mary Jo White ('70), and US Representative Dina Titus of Nevada ('77). 

The building was planned as a science hall in memory of William Barton Rogers. In 1923, an application was made to the General Education Board for a donation of $150,000 to begin a campaign to raise $300,000 - $200,000 for building and $100,000 for equipment. In June 1924, the Board donated $100,000 contingent on the College providing the remaining $200,000. 

"The Romance and Renaissance of the College of William & Mary in Virginia" (1924) includes a proposal for the construction of the William Barton Rogers Science Hall to replace the Penniman Building. A 1921 sketch of the proposed building by architect Charles M. Robinson is included.

In March 1926, plans were approved by the Board of Visitors for the building committee. The contract was awarded to Harwood Construction Company for $202,000. The cornerstone was laid August 28 by the Williamsburg Lodge of Masons (Flat Hat).

The building opened in Fall 1927, housing the chemistry, physics, and psychology departments.

A fire burned the roof, dormer story, and third floor of the building in 1930, causing $70,142 worth of damage. Temporary roofing was set up on the west end of the hall until June, ensuring classes could be held while construction continued on a permanent roof for the east side. A 1972 basement fire caused $30,000 in damage.

Chancellors Hall was used in 1975 to house the Development Office, the Metropolitan Criminal Justice Center, the National Center for State Courts, the Anthropology Department, the Adult Skills Program, and the Publication Office. It was renovated in Summer 1980 for the School of Business.

From 1975 - with the completion of the new Rogers Hall - until 1982, this building was known as Old Rogers Hall. The building was renamed Chancellors Hall in 1982 and dedicated as the business school on President's Day - February 5, 1982. Three years later, the basement was renovated to house the Professional Resources Facility, a research library, and office space. On June 24, 1988, the building was rededicated as Tyler Hall, with the former Tyler Hall becoming the Wendy and Emery Reves Center for International Studies. The Departments of History and Philosophy were previously housed in Chancellors Hall, while the English Department was in Chancellors before moving into the Wren Building and eventually into Tucker Hall. The School of Business left Chancellors Hall in July 2009, moving into its new home, Alan B. Miller Hall.

Timeline

• 1927--constructed; Housed Chemistry, Physics, Psychology Departments (1928--29 Handbook, p. 17); open in Fall. Ground floor physics department, 2nd and 3rd floors chemistry. Lecture rooms, reading rooms, private laboratories for research work (WM Catalog, April 1928, p. 34)
• 1930--fire burned the roof, dormer story and third floor causing $70,142 worth of damage (March 15, 1930); temporary roofing on west end until June so classes could be held, construction on permanent roof on east side begun. $72,000 insurance claim (FH, 3/28/1930, 5)
• 1930--housed the chemistry and physics departments (1930/31 Handbook, p. 21)
• 1972--fire in basement, $30,000 damages, June 25, 1972 (FH, 9/17/1972,p.1)
• 1975--to be used by Development Office, Metropolitan Criminal Justice Center, National Center for State Courts, Anthropology Department, Adult Skills Program, Publication Office (WMN, 9/23/1975, 5)
• 1980--renovation for School of Business begun (WMN, 8/26/1980, p.7) over summer.
  • Interior walls torn down on lower floors (WMN, 9/9/1980, 3)
  • renovation just begun (FH, 8/29/1980, 2)
• 1982--Renamed Chancellors Hall and dedicated as the business school on President's Day

February 5, 1982. (WMN, 2/2/1952, 1; WMN, 2/9/1982, 1, 5)
*1985--renovation in basement for Professional Resources Facility, research library and office space, in former MBA lounge space (FH, 1/25/1985, p. 4)

• 2009--School of Business offices are moved to the new Miller Hall on July 6-7. Department of English moves into Chancellors Hall during renovation of Tucker Hall.

Photographs

• Colonial Echo: 1928 p. 16; 1942 p. 24; 1982 p. 136
• Photographs of it on fire in the Paul W. Norton Scrapbook, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.