Kent State University - Chestnut Burr Yearbook (Kent, OH)

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The teaching faculty will increase from 21 in 1913 to 361 in 1960 ered to build another dormitory and a heating and power plant. It ' s an exciting month, too, because now McGilvrey is making plans to pro- vide a four-year course leading to the degree of bachelor of education (B.Ed.). Kent State Normal School, in a very real sense, is McGilvrey ' s school. He cares for it — loves it as if it were his own. He and Dean John- son plant grass seed about the buildings. They set out young trees and shrubs. McGilvrey plants every sprig of ivy; he prunes trees, he trims bushes and he chops deadwood. Also, the students, in a very real sense, are the Presi- dent ' s students. The numbers are few, and he prides himself on his ability to call most of them by name. By 1915, however, McGilvrey ' s ability to recall names is becoming increasingly difficult. There are more and more students arriving each quarter. Already the need has been felt to es- tablish a four-year program. The faculty is growing fast: there are Margaret Dunbar, li- brary science; David Olson, geography; Nina S. Humphrey, public school art; Clinton S. Van Deusen, manual training; May H. Prentice, director of training; and Emmet C. Stopher, training school, plus 15 others. It ' s July again and old faces are back. Alumni Day is being held. About 200 graduates have elected Albert S. Gregg the first associa- tion president. Alumni are talking over old times and someone mentions the Walden Dramatic club, the first Kent student society. It was organized in 1913 soon after class work began. The Walden club, in addition to its prim- ary purpose, publishes the first yearbook: a 91- page, 65-picture edition with 25 pages devoted to advertisements. The chestnut trees on cam- pus suggested its name — The Chestnut Burr. Thirty-four students hear Governor James Cox deliver the first commencement address. The Walden Dramatic club starts in December, 1913 and publishes the first Burr.

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John E. McGilvrey President, 1911-1926 Buildi ins: a School Trained teachers are needed immediately, Laird, President Bowman continues his story. Thousands of them! Things begin to roll. The first extension program in Ohio is started by Kent State Normal School. Instructors are hired, classes organized, centers established. Full credit given! That ' s how President McGil- vrey is bridging the gap of time from founding until campus classes start. McGilvrey ' s purpose, explains President Bowman, is to bring the school to the students since the students cannot come to the unfinished school. There are a total of 29 classes at 20 cen- ters, enrolling 849 students. Four instructors, John T. Johnson, George E. Marker, May H. Prentice and Helen M. Atkinson, teach the ex- tension students. By 1913, the $150,000 state appropriated institution on Normal hill is open to classes, of- fering a two-year program. There is no road extending across the college campus. There are no sidewalks of any kind and few outside lights. Early board of trustees, l.-r.: John A. McDowell, Mrs. William S. Kent, James P. Seward, Edwin F. Moulton, Frank A. Merrill, Peter W. Doyle, John E. McGilvrey, Geor,[io F. Hammond, William S. Kent. The brush and trees are so thick that Main street cannot be seen from the hilltop. First roll call! Forty-seven students and 20 teachers answer. Their cost for instruction? Why — it ' s absolutely free! And board? Room? Laundry? Books? Stationery? Why — all for as little as $60 total for a 12-week term! McGilvrey by this time is thinking of in- augurating a four-year course for high school teachers, principals and superintendents, lead- ing to the degree of B.Ped. (bachelor of ped- agogy ) if there should develop a demand in this field of work. Meanwhile, the United States is thinking of inaugurating a president. Kent carries Wood- row Wilson in November with 524 votes to Roosevelt ' s 308, Debs ' 213, and Taft ' s 199. Wil- son wins, and, later, the Federal Reserve Sys- tem is born. Then, other firsts are scored. First Federal income tax law; first ship through the Panama Canal; first transcontinental tele- phone call. And, at Kent State Normal, a first of another kind is taking place — the first graduat- ing class. Ohio Governor James M. Cox is de- livering the commencement address. It ' s July 29, 1914, and 34 students will be graduated to- day before a crowd of 3,000 persons. July. It ' s an exciting month for K. S. N. in many ways. Besides graduating its first class, Kent ' s extension-class enrollment has passed the 1,600 mark. On-campus enrollment has jumped from 47 a year ago, to 537; there now are 96 men and 441 women. A contract was awarded last November to construct the audi- torium, library, gymnasium and office building (later the present Administration building), and this month a second contract was awarded to build an agriculture and science building (later Kent hall). Plans also are being consid-

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Kent hall beconics (he third sli-uetiu ' e to stand on Normal hill in 1914. In 1915, the state legislature appropriates $120,000 for a dormitory, Moulton hall. Later, the trees will succumb to the dread blight, Laird is told, but the name of the annual will remain. Concerning the Alumni organization. President Bowman adds: The association will continue to function. By 1960, Laird, there ' ll be about 19,000 grad- uates of Kent and close to 100,000 former stu- dents. Alumni will be iound in every state in the union and in 27 foreign countries. George A. Bowman ( whose teaching experi- ence began in a tiny one-room schoolhouse in Morrow County, Ohio) and his young compan- ion are strolling away from the giant oak near the Hub and are moving slowly across the front campus. Late model automobiles with swept- back fenders can be seen sailing down Main street. The President turns to Laird. Remember, I said a contract was awarded to construct several new buildings? Well, these buildings are now complete. Two stand side by side, right over there, you see, next to Merrill hall. When they were being built, four circus tents had been raised on Normal hill to house the overflow of large summer registrations. Classroom work, assemblies, even graduations were held in these tents. KSN Turns To Sports Even as the new buildings were bei ng occu- pied. Bowman continues, the school fielded its Also in 1915, an appropriation of $100,000 is made for a heating and power plant.