Austin E. Lathrop Residence Hall opened in 1962 as on-campus housing for 134 male students. For a number of years Lathrop Hall was coed by floor.  In 2007, Conference Services converted Lathrop Hall into accommodations for campus visitors who pay for their lodging. Funds generated were used to keep costs down for students living on campus. In 2009 Lathrop was once again designated as a residence hall and as a result there are presently no accommodations on campus for visitors.

Austin E. "Cap" Lathrop was born in 1865 in Michigan. Lathrop was, for a time, Alaska’s wealthiest resident. In 1924, his Alaska Moving Picture Corp. produced The Chechahcos, the first feature-length film shot entirely in Alaska.

He served on the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines Board of Trustees in 1933 – 1935 and on the University of Alaska Board of Regents from 1935 until his death in 1950. He served as vice president of the board from 1933 – 1950.