Built in 1940, this building was originally named "South Hall", but in 1952 a new wing was added to honor a former faculty member of the School of Education, Frances Gibson Richard.

In March 1909, she was the author of the monograph, English for the Grades, which was published in the Miami Teacher's Bulletin.

Those who knew and worked with Ms. Richard expressed her well-cultivated personality with characteristics such as her able intellect, ability to deal with facts, quiet in manner and her sense of humor.

Frances was eighty-six years old when she died at Hamot Hospital in Erie, PA on April 1, 1952, after celebrating her birthday two days before.

After leaving a phenomenal mark at Miami University, a conference was held in her honor, including sixty-three fellow faculty members who urged to have the building be named after her.