Keep your eye on the red line. Morrill Hall’s $9 million goal has received a large boost from private donations.

The Morrill Hall renovation campaign was kicked off in August 2002 by ISU President Gregory Geoffroy.

The private gift goal of $9 million was announced and the deadline for the campaign was set for the end of this fiscal year, or June of 2004, said Jason Menke, assistant communications director for the ISU Foundation.

The campaign has raised nearly $5.5 million out of the $9 million goal, Menke said.

Of the $5.5 million, $850,000 has been appropriated from the Iowa legislature and has been earmarked specifically for two general classrooms, Menke said.

The remainder of the $5.5 million came from private donations.

The Reinhardt family pledged $100,000 to the Morrill Hall project last month to be used specifically for the future Center for Visual Learning in Textiles and Clothing gallery.

William Reinhardt graduated in 1948 with a degree in civil engineering. Mary Alice Reinhardt graduated in 1949 in textiles and clothing.

Menke said William and Mary Alice are members of the Founder’s Club of the Order of the Knoll, and have given significantly to the university in the past.

The textiles and clothing center will house a historic textiles and costume collection, a conservation laboratory and a classroom, as well as a gallery space, said Mary Gregoire, professor and chairwoman of apparel education studies and hospitality management.

The gallery will be used as a multi-purpose space, she said.

Design students will be able to exhibit their work, merchandising students will be able to exhibit their displays and historic textiles and costumes will be displayed from their collection.

The textiles gallery space will be named in honor of Mary Alice Reinhardt, who died in March 2002.

The donation is from William Reinhardt and the couple’s four children: Ruth Ann Watkins, Curtis Reinhardt, Paul Reinhardt and Rebecca Waller.

Mary Alice Reinhardt was an alumna who had a great interest in helping prepare students, Gregoire said. “[The donation will] work to provide for those in the next generation and recognize her focus and help perpetuate her memory,” she said.

The gallery will benefit students because there is no space designated with display capabilities, she said. Students have had to set up displays for a one-day use.

The historic costumes require a controlled environment, Gregoire said. The new gallery will have lighting, temperature and humidity capabilities.

“This is a great opportunity for students because they will learn what it means to set up a display, as well as showcase their work,” she said. “This is very special coming from the family and is a great thing for our students.”

The ISU Foundation also received $500,000 Wednesday for the Morrill Hall project from an anonymous donor, Menke said.