Deady Hall is the first building to be ever constructed for the University of Oregon. It functioned as the only building of the university for the first couple of years of its existence, from 1873 to 1886 when the Villard Hall was constructed.

Initially called as the Old Building, it was renamed to ?Deady Hall? in 1893 after Matthew Deady, who was the State of Oregon?s first federal judge. It sported a delicate Italianate architectural style with touches of Second Empire motifs here and there.

Together with the University of Oregon?s second oldest building, the Villard Hall, the Deady Hall is declared as a National Historic Landmark in Eugene, Oregon in 1977. It is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places independently.