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UAF photos by Sierra Coley

Austin E. Lathrop Residence Hall opened in 1962 as on-campus housing for 134 male students. For a number of years, Lathrop Hall was coed by floor. In 2007, Conference Services converted Lathrop Hall into accommodations for campus visitors who pay for their lodging. Funds generated were used to keep costs down for students living on campus. In 2009, Lathrop was once again designated as a residence hall.  In fall 2019, the hall became home to a variety of administrative departments.

Austin E. "Cap" Lathrop was born in 1865 in Michigan. Lathrop, a businessman with interests in freighting, coal mining, banking, theaters, real estate, newspapers and radio, was for a time the territory’s wealthiest resident. In 1924, his Alaska Moving Picture Corp. produced "The Chechahcos," the first feature-length film shot entirely in Alaska.

He was named to the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines Board of Trustees in 1933. In 1935, when the college was renamed, the trustees board became the University of Alaska . Lathrop served until his death in 1950.