Built in 1892 as a dormitory for men, Kidder Hall - not to be confused with modern-day Kidder Hall, which sits on the Library quad - was originally known as Cauthorn Hall, named for state Senator and OAC Regent Thomas Cauthorn. Designed by W.D. Pugh, the dorm could accommodate more than 100 students, with amenities including water, steam heat, electric lights, dining room, and a kitchen.

In the 1927, it was renamed Kidder Hall after Ida Kidder, the university’s first professional librarian, and was converted into a classroom building. In 1964, the building was renamed Fairbanks Hall in honor of J. Leo Fairbanks, former head of the Art Department. 

SCARC: The Special Collections and Archives Research Center's holdings include a wide variety of collections documenting the history of Kidder Hall, including film and video, maps, personal papers, photographs, and university records.

Oregon Digital: Contains both photographic and textual materials documenting the history of Kidder Hall, from its origins as Cauthorn Hall, to its multiple renamings.