Jarvis was constructed in 1911 to serve as TCU’s female residence hall. Originally named the “Girl’s Home” and then later changed to Jarvis Hall, the building is the second-oldest building on campus and is among the few pre-World War I buildings remaining.

The building remained unchanged until 1955. Then, during a major renovation, the second and third story wooden galleries, which had been suspended between the central columns, were removed. In addition, the wooden window frames were replaced with aluminum ones. The upgrade also brought air conditioning, which was uncommon in the mid-1950s. 

There were two brief periods when Jarvis housed men. During World War II, flight instruction programs were located on the campus. From September 1942 to January 1944, the male participants lived in Jarvis. Then, because of campus overcrowding between 1950 and 1953, Jarvis was temporarily the home of male students.

The building remained a female residence hall until 2007 when it was renovated to house administrative offices and to provide space for the School of Music.