The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

In January 1934, $1,165,000 was made available for the construction of both a new chemistry building and Vol Walker Library.

These funds came from the Public Works Administration, and not the Arkansas legislature.

Opened in December 1935, the building housed the chemistry, zoology, geology, philosophy, and psychology departments.

In 1992, the University added another chemistry building adjacent to this one, connected with a skywalk.