Norman in Cleveland County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Pete Kyle McCarter Hall

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 19, 2025

1. Pete Kyle McCarter Hall Marker

Inscription.

Pete Kyle McCarter Hall. . McCarter Hall is named in honor of Pete Kyle McCarter (1910-1988), who served as the university's first provost from 1970 to 1973. Born and raised in Mississippi, McCarter attended the University of Mississippi for his bachelor's degree and completed his PhD in American literature from the University of Wisconsin in 1939. He returned to Ole Miss as a faculty member and served in several administrative roles there, including director of the news bureau, chair of the English department, and dean of the faculty. , McCarter joined the University of Oklahoma in 1953 as Executive Vice President under President George Lynn Cross. In 1968, he became Vice President for Academic Affairs under President J. Herbert Hollomon and was named Provost in January 1970. Following Hollomon's resignation in September 1970, McCarter served as Interim President of the university, calling for unity of purpose during a period of social and political unrest in the United States and, particularly, on college campuses. He resumed his role as provost under President Paul Sharp from August 1971 until 1973, when he returned to teaching as a Regents Professor in the English Department. McCarter received the University of Oklahoma's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Citation, in 1974 before retiring in 1981. , Constructed in 1961, McCarter Hall is one of several buildings that comprise the Oklahoma Center for Continuing Education (OCCE), a university-based residential center for adult learners partially funded with a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. The six-floor McCarter Hall originally served as a residence and classroom building where adult students could live and study together in an integrated social and learning environment. By the early 1980s, the building was repurposed to provide office space for administrative units of Continuing Education and Public Service (later, University Outreach) and in 2005, the College of Liberal Studies was relocated to McCarter Hall. McCarter Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the OCCE Historic District, which is considered a significant local example of the Modern architectural style recognized for its variety of polygonal building shapes and cohesive, minimalist design. the

McCarter Hall is named in honor of Pete Kyle McCarter (1910-1988), who served as the university's first provost from 1970 to 1973. Born and raised in Mississippi, McCarter attended the University of Mississippi for his bachelor's degree and completed his PhD in American literature from the University of Wisconsin in 1939. He returned to Ole Miss as a faculty member and served in several administrative roles there, including director of the news bureau, chair of the English department, and dean of the faculty.

McCarter joined the University of Oklahoma in 1953 as Executive Vice President under President George Lynn Cross. In 1968, he became Vice President for Academic Affairs under President J. Herbert Hollomon and was named Provost in January 1970. Following Hollomon's resignation in September 1970, McCarter served as Interim President of the university, calling for unity of purpose during a period of social and political unrest in the United States and, particularly, on college campuses. He resumed his role as provost under President Paul Sharp from August 1971 until 1973, when he returned to teaching as a Regents Professor

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in the English Department. McCarter received the University of Oklahoma's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Citation, in 1974 before retiring in 1981.

Constructed in 1961, McCarter Hall is one of several buildings that comprise the Oklahoma Center for Continuing Education (OCCE), a university-based residential center for adult learners partially funded with a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. The six-floor McCarter Hall originally served as a residence and classroom building where adult students could live and study together in an integrated social and learning environment. By the early 1980s, the building was repurposed to provide office space for administrative units of Continuing Education and Public Service (later, University Outreach) and in 2005, the College of Liberal Studies was relocated to McCarter Hall. McCarter Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the OCCE Historic District, which is considered a significant local example of the Modern architectural style recognized for its variety of polygonal building shapes and cohesive, minimalist design. the

Erected by The University

Pete Kyle McCarter Hall Marker, Side Two image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 19, 2025

2. Pete Kyle McCarter Hall Marker, Side Two

of Oklahoma.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and the University of Oklahoma series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1961.

Location. 35° 11.92′ N, 97° 26.689′ W. Marker is in Norman, Oklahoma, in Cleveland County. It can be reached from Asp Avenue south of 4th Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1610 Asp Ave, Norman OK 73019, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Oklahoma — Frontier Country

and in Greater Oklahoma City.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Couch Center (about 700

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 19, 2025

3. Pete Kyle McCarter Hall Marker

feet away); David Burr Park (about 800 feet away); R. Boyd Gunning Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Walker Tower (approx. 0.2 miles away); The William J. Ross Courtyard (approx. ¼ mile away); The University of Oklahoma College of Law (approx. ¼ mile away); The S.J. Sarkeys Complex (approx. ¼ mile away); The Frank & Edna Asper Elkouri Oval (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Norman.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Jim Thorpe Multicultural Center (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Oklahoma Center for Continuing Education Historic District (PDF). National Register nomination for the district, which was listed in 2011. (Prepared by Lynda B. Schwan; via State Historic Preservation Office of Oklahoma) (Submitted on June 28, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Pete Kyle McCarter image. Click for full size.

Courtesy Western History Collections, University of Oklahoma Libraries, Norman, OK

4. Pete Kyle McCarter

Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 28, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 220 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 28, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 4. submitted on July 11, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.