Namesake - Ivan Wilson, who was from Hazel, Kentucky, came to Western in 1920 and for 25 years was the first head for the Department of Art. He was employed by Western for four decades. Some of his works have been shown in New York, New Orleans, Kansas City, and even Paris. He retired in 1958. He received his Bachelors from Western and got his Master’s from George Peabody College.

The theater was named for Russell Miller, born in Water Valley, Mississippi and died at the age of 63 in 1968. He was a professor for speech and dramatic arts. He received his Bachelor’s and Masters from the University of Mississippi. He came to Western in 1947 after being employed by the Bowling Green College of Commerce and Business University.

History - The Fine Arts Center has provided housing for the Departments of Art, Foreign Language, Music, History, English and Speech and Theatre. The 174,000 square feet building includes a 4 story central portion, 41 class and lecture rooms, an art gallery, 85 faculty offices, 30 studio offices, 5 seminar rooms, art studios, language and music labs, and music practice rooms. The 2-story east wing contains a 320 seat Russell Miller Theatre. The 1 story west wing contains includes a 230 seat recital hall and a band rehearsal room. FAC was built on the site of the old stadium. The building was dedicated on Oct. 13, 1973.

A fire in 1978 caused an estimated $30,000 in damage to a room on the fourth floor. The cause of the fire was undetermined. In 1984 an arsonist set fires on the third and fourth floors of Ivan Wilson Hall. The two fires caused an estimated $325,000 in damages.

Additions -

Sources -

College Heights Herald - 1970 September 1, p. 5
1971 September 14, p. 11
1972 February 29, p. 6; June 29, p. 3
1973 January 16, p. 1; February 20, p. 6; March 2, p. 1; May 1, p. 19; September 11, p. 8; October 9, p. 2; October 12, p. 8
1978 January 12
1984 September 11, p. 5

Louisville Courier-Journal - 1970 July 18
1973 September 23; October 14

Park City Daily News - 1970 July 1
1972 September 24
1973 February 15; September 10; October 10, 12, 14
1984 March 25, 27, 28, 29, 30; April 6, 15, 16; May 24, 30; July 25, 26, 28, 30; September 6
2003 July 7
2005 February 6

University Archives RG 1G Building File - Dedication Ceremony Program

Researched and written by Jenna Hawkins, 2008.