It was known as the Social Sciences Building until 1972 when it was renamed Mervis Hall and designated as the home of the Graduate School of Business. In 1983, when the Graduate School of Business moved into a new building also named Mervis Hall, it was renamed Thackeray Hall.
The transition from Social Sciences Building to Mervis Hall in 1972 marked the beginning of the Graduate School of Business's presence on campus. The subsequent relocation to a new Mervis Hall facility in 1983 led to the school being re-designated as Thackeray Hall.