Student Union records

The present Stamp Student Union is the center of student activities and the focal point for social and cultural events. The Union has rooms which are used by various campus and non-campus organizations for meetings, dances and conventions. In addition, the Union contains the University Book Center, the Record Coop, a Recreation Center with 16 bowling lanes, a Craft Center, the Hoff Theater and the Parents Association Gallery. There are also a number of eating establishments in the Union: the Eateries, run by Dining Services; Roy Rogers; the Food Coop; and vending machines. The following University of Maryland offices are also located in the Union: the Adele Stamp Union Advisory Board, the Legal Aid Office, the Office of Campus Activies, the Office of Commuter Affairs, the STAR Center, the Student Government Association offices and the offices of various student groups on campus.

Prior to the opening of the Student Union, there was no central location for student activities. Instead recreation rooms and basements of various buildings throughout campus were used for student functions; however, the Agricultural Publications Annex was referred to as the Student Center around 1920. The current Student Union building was completed in 1954. The first addition was opened in 1963 and the second addition was completed ten years later. On September 24, 1983, the name of the Student Union was officially changed to the Adele H. Stamp Union in honor of Adele H. Stamp, the Dean of Women from 1922 to 1960. In 1988, the Union was renamed the Stamp Student Union, in order to make the name more representative of the building's function.

The director of the Union until he retired in 1974 was William L. Hoff. Mr. Hoff was replaced by David R. Hubler. The present director, Dr. James M. Osteen, became first acting and then permanent director in 1985.