This building was dedicated in 1960 as the Kenneth T. Norris Hall of Science, but after opening the Bioscience Building in 1988 for biology and biochemistry the original name was changed to Hall of Chemistry. The 1960 building name represents the generosity of three members of the Occidental College Board of Trustees and their wives.

Kenneth T. Norris was elected to the Board in 1951 and served until his death in 1972, including terms as vice chairman and chairman of the Board. He was born in East St. Louis, Illinois, in 1899, attended Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles, and from thereon prided himself as a self-made man. From a modest start in industry he advanced to president and chairman of the Board of Directors of Norris Industries in Los Angeles and at the same time held important positions in civic, business, and educational associations, including the presidency of the California Manufacturers Association and chairmanship of the Board ofTrustees of the University of Southern California. Many awards came to Mr. Norris, including the honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Occidental. The generosity of him and his wife was recognized on the campus in the naming of the Eileen Norris Residence Hall.

Earle M. Jorgensen was an Occidental trustee from 1954 until his resignation in 1965. Of Danish heritage, he was born in San Francisco in 1898 and died in 1999. From a modest beginning as a wage-earner, he founded a steel distributing company in Los Angeles, rising to chief executive officer and on to chairman of the board. In addition to his own firm, he became a director of other companies and entered widely into charitable and educational work, including trusteeship of the California Institute of Technology. His wife Marion joined him in the interest and generosity displayed toward Occidental.

Samuel B. Mosher became a trustee of Occidental in 1954 and continued his affiliation until his death in 1970. He was born in New York State in 1892 and received the Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California in 1918. He served his alma mater as a regent from 1956 to 1968. He founded Signal Oil and Gas Company in 1928, rising to board chairmanship. He also became president of Goleta Savings and Loan Association, was a member of the National Petroleum War Council in World War II and was chairman of the board of The Flying Tiger Line, Inc., 1945-67. He was a director of the American Petroleum Institute. In retirement his gardening hobby led him to tum his Rancho Dos Pueblos near Santa Barbara into a world-renowned orchid enterprise.

By Jean Paule