Ruby Cora Webster

Ruby Cora Webster, 1909

Architect's rendering of the School of Business building [Webster Hall], 1967

School of Business building [Webster Hall], 1970s

Webster Hall dedication, October 2018

Biography

Ruby Cora Webster was born on December 27, 1889 to John W. Webster and Lizzie Webster in Delphos, Ohio. The family moved to St. Cloud, Minnesota sometime between 1890 and 1893.

In 1908, Webster was one of the first African American students to graduate from a St. Cloud High School. After graduation, she enrolled Normal School at St. Cloud. In June 1909, Webster graduated from the school’s one year teaching program. She was the St. Cloud State’s first documented African American student - and graduate. It is unknown if Webster taught in Minnesota after graduation. By 1910, Webster moved to Kansas City, Missouri and over the next 15 years teach at the city's Phillips and Yates Schools.

In 1929, Webster, her second husband, and children moved to Winnipeg, Canada. Here, she held a variety of jobs and raised her children and grandchildren. Webster passed away on December 20, 1974.

Webster Hall (1968)

As the 1960s came to close, so did St. Cloud State’s rapid physical expansion of campus. The School of Business building, constructed to house the fast-growing School of Business, opened in 1968.

Designed by architects Traynor and Hermanson, the building opened in September 1968. The 48,174 square foot building contained 39 faculty offices, offices for the Business dean, and space for the Bureau of Business Research. It’s official name was “School of Business.” A 5,000 square foot addition opened in the spring of 1995.

In 2007, Business moved into the newly renovated Centennial Hall and the building became the home for the departments of English, Political Science, and Ethnic and Women's Studies. It was dubbed the 51 Building.

In 2018, the building was named in honor of Ruby Cora Webster.

For more information, see the individual profiles for Webster Hall on the University Archives’ website.