Whose House? Building Names at Georgia Southern: Watson Hall

Georgia Brown Watson grew up in Newton County Georgia which happens to be near Atlanta. Before Georgia joined the armed forces in 1942 she worked as a teacher where one day she felt compelled to help the war effort in world war II. In the armed forces, she was one of the 450  women who was selected for the women auxiliary corps; she would serve a total of four years; two of them were overseas in London by the end of her time in the military she earned the rank of major. Watson got her bachelor's degree from Georgia Southern College in social science after receiving her bachelor's she went to Peabody college where she earned her master's and Ph.D. Dr. Watson after completing her degrees came back to Georgia Teachers College to work as a faculty member serving as director of alumni activities, guidance, and counseling, and as a professor of education. Doctor Watson became a professor of psychology before eventually being promoted to the chairman of social sciences Dr. Watson won the Emerita awards for both her work as a psychology professor and as the chair of social sciences. Part of the reason president John Edison felt Dr.  Watson deserved her promotion to the chair of social sciences was because of how important she was in establishing the psychology major at Georgia Southern College. Some of Dr. Watson's career accomplishments included being a member of the American psychological association and the southeastern psychological association. Watson also did postdoctoral work in 1961 at Yale University, not to mention all the extra activities she would help organize like the homecoming parades. Watson retired in 1976 and unfortunately she would pass away on July 2nd, 1993.

Photo credits to The George Anne January 10th, 1969

Source Georgia B Watson special collection

Watson hall finished construction in the spring of 1995 back then it wasn’t always called Watson hall it was originally referred to as Building G-56. That changed when the board of regents decided to name the building after the late Georgia B Watson in late December of 1995. The board of regents felt it was appropriate because of the contributions professor Watson had provided to the University of Georgia Southern. At the time when Watson Hall was completed, it cost the university 6 million dollars to build and held 240 beds for students.