Historic Photos are courtesy of Special Collections and Archives of BYU-Idaho, 220 MCK
Modern photos are courtesy of Michael Lewis, Campus Photographer

George S. Romney Science Building

The Romney Building originally contained physics and biology laboratories, a herbarium, the Oswald Christensen 168-seat lecture hall, and a planetarium with an observatory dome on the roof.

Over the years the Romney has been expanded (1985), the life science classes moved to the Benson Life Sciences Building (1970s) and teaching facilities and labs were improved and updated.

1962, Architect's drawing of the Romney Building

1963, front of the Romney Science Building

2013, east side of the Romney Science Building

1963, view of the Romney looking north over the McKay Library annex, with the roof of the Old Gym behind the Romney observatory

1963, Oswald Christensen Lecture Room

2009, west view of the Romney Building 1985 addition

2002, inside the east entrance

2005, students in chemestry lab

George S. Romney

George S. Romney was born in St George, but his family soon moved to the Mormon Colonies in Old Mexico, where Romney spent his youth and married Artemesia Rudd in 1894. Even though he had a young, growing family, Romney served a two-year mission in the Northern States Mission in Chicago.

George and his family were expulsed from Mexico in 1912. In spite financial hardships, he graduated from University of Utah while working full time to support his family.

During Romney's administration Ricks became an accredited junior college in 1923. The first two years of high school were dropped when the college work was added.

He was called as the mission president of the Northern States in 1931. He died during his mission and is buried in Salt Lake City.

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