The buildings that comprise Brown's campus are named for a wide array of wealthy businessmen, alums and University administrators. Below is information about the names of several buildings on campus, based on information from Martha Mitchell's "Encyclopedia Brunoniana."
Champlin Hall - Named for Providence jewelry manufacturer George B. Champlin, whose family left the University $250,000 in his honor.
Littlefield Hall - Named for George L. Littlefield, whose foundation provided $150,000 for the dorms construction. One of 13 children, Littlefield began his career as a mill worker, went on to found a dry goods store, acquired a yarn-making business and later became president of the First National Bank of Providence.
Olney-Margolies Athletic Center - Named for the building's two principal donors, Joseph Olney '36 and Moe Price Margolies '36. According to the Encyclopedia Brunoniana, the building used to be called the "Joe-Moe."
Orwig Music Hall - Named for Benton B. Orwig '20, whose widow, Virginia, left the University a considerable donation after his death.
Poland House - Named for Professor of Classics and Art and 1868 graduate William Carey Poland. After his death in 1929, his family donated a collection of reproductions of famous artwork that used to be rented to students to hang in their dorms.
Rockefeller Library - Named for John D. Rockefeller, Jr., a member of the Class of 1897 and the fifth child and only son of Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller.
Salomon Center for Teaching - Named for Richard Salomon '32, a major benefactor and former chancellor of the University. Although he initially hoped for his donation to be anonymous, President Howard Swearer persuaded him to allow the $5 million building to bear his name.
Sayles Hall - Named for William Clark Sayles, who entered Brown in 1874 but died in 1876. Two years later his father, William F. Sayles, gave the University $50,000 for a building to be "exclusively and forever devoted to lectures and recitations."
Taubman Center for Public Policy - Named for shopping mall developer Alfred A. Taubman P'81, who provided the University with a $2 million gift for the center.
Watson Center for International Studies - Named for Thomas J. Watson Jr. '37, a former chairman of IBM and U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union who founded the Center for Policy Devel-opment, which was later incorporated into the Watson Institute for International Studies.
Wilbour Hall - Named for Charles E. Wilbour, a member of the Class of 1854 who went on to become America's first professionally trained Egyptologist and whose daughter, Theodora, endowed the chair of the Department of Egyptology, which now has its home in the building.
Wilson Hall - Named for George F. Wilson, co-owner of the Rumford Chemical Works in Seekonk, Mass. Upon his death in 1883, Wilson left the University $100,000 to construct a building for the physics department.
