By Jodi Hausen,Staff Writer

FARMINGTON – A 1933 alumna of the University of Maine at Farmington bequeathed in her will almost $1.5 million to be used for scholarships for out-of-state students.

At their meeting Monday, University of Maine trustees approved naming a new 100-bed residence hall for the donor, Frances Allen Black. Although the university system’s facility-naming policy suggests that donors be honored for gifts to specific facilities, trustees made an exception for Black “due to the unusual and generous nature of her gift,” according to Mary Sylvester, director of development and alumni services for the school.

“Although the donation was not made directly to the residence hall, the incredible generosity of Frances Allen Black’s gift to the University of Farmington warranted an exception to the policy in this case,” stated Rita E. Sullivan, communications coordinator for the University of Maine System, in an e-mail.

Black, born in Boston, died in Weston, Mass., at the age of 90 in August 2003, leaving the university $1,470,826 for the scholarship fund. A teacher during her working life, she believed in education and the university, Sylvester said Thursday.

“Education meant everything to her,” she said. “She had no children but wished to create a legacy.”

Black made the bequest in memory of her older sister, E. Irene Allen, a 1928 graduate of the university. Black’s aunt was also an alumna.

The origin of Black’s wealth is unclear. She was widowed and her unmarried sister, also an educator, left her estate to Black when she died. The money is actually the combination of two estates, said Sylvester.

Though Black died nearly two years ago, her will was probated over a period of time. The university learned at the end of December the total value of the donation. Sylvester said the school knew it was receiving a percentage of Black’s estate but had no way of knowing its value.

Construction on the new dormitory, located between Lincoln and Perkins streets, began in December. The $4.46 million building is scheduled to open in January for the start of the school’s second semester.