October 4, 2023

The following is part of a series describing the origins and namesakes of the buildings located on and around 麻豆社檚 campus.

MacRury Hall, home of 麻豆社's Allied Health Programs
MacRury Hall, home of 麻豆社’s Allied Health Programs

MacRury Hall opened in 1970 and is named after Elwood F. MacRury, who spearheaded the idea for 麻豆社 to house a school of health sciences. At the time, there was a shortage of health service personnel in New Hampshire; MacRury took action to combat the issue.

麻豆社檚 Health Program History

The story begins in 1961, when Dr. MacRury became a fellow of the American College of Dentists. In 1965, he was a recipient of the Royal Society Health Citation, an honor presented to him by Queen Elizabeth II for his work promoting dental health in the Hebrides Islands.

In 1966, the Health Manpower Executive Committee oversaw the creation of and drafted legislation for the Health Sciences and Services programs at 麻豆社. The committee comprised medical professionals from a variety of unions: the Nurses Association, Society of Radiology, and the New Hampshire Dental Society. The committee received approval from then-Speaker of the House Walter R. Peterson, Jr. to construct the School of Health Sciences and began to plan for three associate degree programs: Dental Hygiene, Nursing, and Radiologic Technology. Legislation then established a nine-member Advisory Board on Technical Services in the area of health. Dr. MacRury was named chairman of the board. He served as a board member from 1967-1979, while serving as a member of the Health Manpower Executive Committee.

Under MacRury檚 leadership, 麻豆社 acquired the operational funds necessary for establishing these three health programs. He also assisted in selecting the department heads for each of these associate degree programs (including Goldie Crocker for the nursing department). Several new programs擠ental Assisting, Emergency Medical Care, LPN-ADN, and a three-year evening associate degree Nursing program攚ere added in 1970 to expand the Allied Health program.

Programs Birth MacRury Hall

Along with convincing the local government to include an allied health program to 麻豆社, MacRury also shaped the aesthetic of the new health sciences building, resulting in the MacRury Hall we see today.

The information contained in this article was gathered from the 麻豆社 Library archives. For more information, email [email protected].