Dorm Life through the Years

We often forget how much students have always personalized their rooms – even over a century ago.

A centennial celebration book of Michigan State College, released in 1955 (the year it became Michigan State University), described what Saints’ Rest was like on the inside. “The basement, where students would spend many leisure hours, contained the kitchen, washrooms, students' dressing room, storeroom and cellar, with a cooking range and cold and hot water tanks and washing equipment. The dining room, sitting room, reading room and steward's apartment occupied the first floor. The second and third floors were well-ventilated dormitories, in which the students slept four to a room. The capacity of Saints’ Rest was the limit of College enrollment.”

While we do not have photos of a dorm room from Saints’ Rest, we do have archaeological data collected at the excavation site of Saints’ Rest that can be viewed here. We also have pictures of what some very old rooms looked like.

Even in the early years, there were strict regulations at the University, many of which applied to dorm life. By 1857 these had been formalized into the following list:

Rules and Regulations of the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan.
(Evidence for their enforcement is displayed below each rule.)

1. Students shall not absent themselves from the College premises without permission.
   

   “A week ago yesterday a good many of the Freshmen went to town and got drunk; two freshmen have been suspended and one Sophomore expelled last week.” – Ruddy Hayes

2. They are required promptly to attend all Chapel exercises, recitations, lectures, and field operations, and to discharge every duty imposed upon them.
   

   “Tonight the boys went into supper late, just to make Prof. mad. He staid long after he had got through to watch the boys. Preston and I staid to see if we could not out-eat-him. We had to give up, though, as we went out Prof. stpped me and gave me a lecture on being absent from Chape.” – E. W. Granger

3. They shall faithfully observe all study hours, and remain quietly in their rooms during the same, except on leave of absence.
   

   “We had pretty boisterous antics in the Hall last night – they were fiddling and dancing in No 5 till a late hour; they made the whole house shake with their racket…Mrs. Tibbits did not get much rest during the night and is down sick this morning in consequence.” – J.S. Tibbits – Steward of Saints’ Rest

4. They shall neither bring nor use upon the premises any spirituous or intoxicating liquors.
   

   During the excavations we found the tops to at least two wine bottles in the remains of Saints’ Rest

5. The use of tobacco and other narcotics, being disapproved of under all circumstances, is forbidden in any of the College buildings.
   

   “For weeks and months I have run the gauntlet of smoke in passing to and from my room.” – The Bubble

6. No student will be permitted to use obscene or profane language
   

   “He asked me what profane language Wisner had used in No 2 this morning. I told them that I did not know as Wisned had been in our room this morning, and if he had been there, I did not remember of having heard him use profane language. Lane said that Wisner called Bush a d---d liar, and then proceeded to inform me, in different language, that such an appellation would be very applicable to me.” – E. W. Granger

7. Card-playing, and other games of chance, are wholly prohibited.
   

   “The boys say that there are some boys before the faculty to night for playing cards. Lane caught some boys at it in No. 9 a few nights ago” – E. W. Granger

8. No student will be permitted to interrupt or interfere with the labor of fellow-students and other persons employed on the premises, or visit them while at their labor.
   

   “After Supper I studied my Geometry a while, and then went over to the College to hold a candle while Bush painted the black boards.” – E. W. Granger

9. The mutilation or defacement of any part of the college premises, is regarded as a great misdemeanor, both in principals and accessories. All damages shall be assessed upon the offenders.
10. On Sabbath, students shall attend the public Religious Services held at the College; and during hours not necessarily otherwise occupied, shall remain quietly in their rooms, and engage in nothing inconsistent with the proper observance of the day.
    

    ’Bush and Fredrick went to prayer meeting while Charley and I staid at home.”

11. Upright and gentlemanly deportment will on all occasions be required.
    

    “However, in the case of Frank, for the perfume arising like a thick cloud of fog from his feet after work is much more delirious than pain, and you know he can get up quite an odor when he cuts his toenails monthly.” – letter from Charlie Jewell to his brother

12. As no person can be received into the Institution under the law creating it, for less than one term, any student leaving during term time, without permission of the Faculty, is liable to expulsion and a forfeiture of further privileges in the Institution.
13. Violations and disregard of the rules of the College, or countenancing the same on the part of others, will subject the offender to reprimand, suspension, or expulsion as the Faculty may determine.
    

    “As it was faculty meeting night the boys did just as they pleased. They made all sorts of noise around the hall. Threw the ash pail down stairs twice and put Lane's buggy on top of the old shed. Ingersoll was suspended and went home this morning.” – E. W. Granger

14. Students are expected fully to co-operate with the Faculty, to secure the objects for which the Institution was established.
    

    “The President tried to have an amendment made to the constitution of our Lyceum but we voted it down. It was that there should be nothing said in the Lyceum or in the Paper disrespectful to the Faculty or ridiculing any of their sayings or doings. Free Country.” – E. W. Granger

15. Fire-arms will not be permitted to be kept or used upon the premises.
    

    Shells from bullets were found during excavations at Saints’ Rest, in addition to numerous diary entries about hunting

Pictured here is Holmes Hall, one of the newer dormitory buildings on MSU's campus.

In 1870, women were formally admitted into the university. Abbot Hall was converted into a women's dormitory until Morrill Hall was built. Morrill Hall was the first building specifically built for women on campus.

Today, there are 27 dorms on campus, each with the capacity to hold hundreds of students. Living in the dorms today offers students fast and easy meals, access to transportation, the convenience of living near classes, and the opportunity to make new friends.