Completed in 1960 and designed by university architect Anson Boyd, Merced Hall originally served as San Francisco State’s men’s residence hall. As student life evolved, so did the building: in 1968, Merced Hall became the first dormitory on campus to go co-ed, reflecting shifting attitudes toward community and campus living. By 1981—when this photograph was taken—the hall was renamed Mary Park Hall, honoring the cherished custodian known as “Mother Mary,” whose steady care and compassion shaped the daily life of its residents for decades. Today, Mary Park Hall remains the only building in the California State University system named after a staff member, continuing its long legacy as a home for students.
