In 1920, a third floor was added to the Mechanical Hall constructed in 1899 (the original Mechanical Hall had been destroyed by fire in 1898). The added space was intended to create of Apperson Hall an exclusive home for electrical engineering (first and third floors), and civil engineering students and the department of physics (first and second floors).

As part of the renovations, this second Mechanical Hall was renamed Apperson Hall, after John T. Apperson (1834-1917) . Apperson served on the Oregon Agricultural College Board of Regents from 1888 to1917, and was president of the Board from 1894 to 1901. Apperson was also a steamboat captain in the 1850s, Clackamas County sheriff, and Oregon legislator who also served as first lieutenant of Company "E" of the Oregon Cavalry during the Civil War.

After a second major renovation in 2009, Apperson Hall was renamed Kearney Hall.

SCARC: SCARC's holdings include audio-visual materials, personal papers, photographs, and university records documenting the history of Apperson Hall.

Oregon Digital: Includes both photographic and textual materials documenting the history of Apperson Hall.