Gilmore Hall

In 1912, a small group gathered on the lawn in front of Hawaiʻi Hall. Among them stood John Washington Gilmore, the first president of the College of Hawaii, the institution that would later blossom into the University of Hawaiʻi. This, my friends, is the legacy that echoes within the walls of Gilmore Hall, a building named in his honor. Gilmore Hall, a name synonymous with the university’s agricultural beginnings, no longer stands in its original form. The original Gilmore Hall, completed in 1935 with support from the Public Works Administration, was a distinctive structure. Its green and blue roof tiles, handcrafted by pressing clay, were a unique feature. The building stood proudly, angled to face both Hawaiʻi Hall and Farrington Hall, a bridge between the main campus and the campus farms. John Gilmore’s journey to Hawaiʻi was a winding one. Born in Arkansas, he honed his academic prowess at Cornell University, earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. His passion for education took him across the globe. He helped establish an agricultural school in China and contributed to the development of the Philippine school system. Before accepting the presidency of the fledgling College of Hawaii, he returned to the US to teach at both Cornell and Pennsylvania. Gilmore’s early years as president were fraught with challenges. The college faced financial hardship and skepticism from the community. Despite these difficulties, he hand-picked thirteen faculty members who shared his vision of a public, accessible institution. This commitment to education, even when the number of professors initially outnumbered students three to one, laid the groundwork for the thriving university we see today. Though he resigned in 1913, his legacy continues to inspire. Gilmore’s dedication to agricultural education and his belief in serving the public shaped the very essence of what Gilmore Hall represented. So, as you imagine the original Gilmore Hall, with its distinctive roof tiles and strategic placement, remember John Washington Gilmore. Remember the educator, the innovator, and the man who helped cultivate the seeds of knowledge here at the University of Hawaiʻi.