East Hall: 1940-52

(Scroll down to read about East Hall's history as the first University of Iowa Hospital.)

UI Photo Service

Today we know it as Seashore Hall and some may remember it as East Hall, but from 1897-1929 it was the first University of Iowa Hospital.

In 1940, the School of Journalism was housed in the northwest wing of East Hall, at the corner of Jefferson and Linn streets, after fired destroyed much of Close Hall. What was supposed to be a temporary move lasted 12 years until the School relocated to the Communications Center in 1953.

Do you remember East Hall? Or have your parents or grandparents told you stories about taking classes in the building, teaching there, or working for The Daily Iowan or the UI Hospital?

If so, please send your Building Memories.

Visit a timeline of journalism and mass communication history at the UI. Read alumni news.

The first UI Hospital:

In the building's days as the University Hospital, the northwest wing (where the School of Journalism was housed) consisted mostly of patient rooms, but it also contained the autopsy room, which was located in the basement across from the elevator.

Rumors say the School’s resource center, formerly on the seventh floor, was once the tuberculosis ward, but in fact it was a sunroom with floor-to-ceiling windows. Stories also have said that the hospital morgue was on the first floor in the center wing, but that area was actually the dining room and kitchen.

The east wing of the building, home today to the UI psychology department, once contained several interesting rooms, including the X-ray room and the electrical treatment room. Operating rooms were located on the fourth floor. At the center of the floor was the operating amphitheater, which included balcony seats on what is now the fifth floor so medical and nursing students could observe operations. The only visible reminder of the room’s original use is a rusty floor drain.

The University Hospital originally housed 240 patients, but with the constantly growing population of the UI and Iowa City the building was soon too small. In 1929, the UI built a new hospital on the west side of the Iowa River and the old hospital was remodeled for classrooms, renamed East Hall, and reopened in 1930.

Starting in 1940, the School of Journalism held classes in East Hall and at locations scattered around campus until the Communications Center opened in 1953.

In 1981, East Hall was named after Carl Seashore, a former dean of the UI Graduate College and the person whose idea it was to remodel the old hospital into classrooms.