Mansfield University - Carontawan Yearbook (Mansfield, PA)

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headed the institution during twenty-four of its most momentous years. The man, under whose administration Mansfield became a college, is still remembered as a truly outstanding and inspiring individual. On September 2, 1936, Dr. Arthur T. Belknap, Dean of Instruction, was named acting president. The following year, on March 13, the Board of Trustees elected Dr. Joseph F. Noonan to the presidency. He assumed his new duties on May 1, 1937. The most important step forward under Dr. Noonan was an extensive building program that took place in 1938. In this year three of the most outstanding buildings on the campus were erected: the Arts Building (to house the Music and Home Economics Department, art and health classrooms, and the Home Management Apartment), the new Gymnasium, and the new Elementary School building. Construction began on February 8, 1938. A year later these three buildings were substantially completed, and they soon began to play the important roles that they continue to fill today. The Home Management Cottage had been torn down to make way for the new Gymnasium. The old Gymnasium, meanwhile, became the Student Center. The old Model School Building was turned into a classroom building and renamed the Education Center. On August 1, 1939, Dr. Lester K. Ade succeeded Dr. Noonan as president of the college. For the previous four years Dr. Ade had headed the state school system as Superintendent of Public Instruction. Dr. Ade. president for two years, was succeeded by Dr. Willis E. Pratt in 1941. During Dr. Pratt ' s administration, the United States entered World War II. During the war years, the college enrollment was greatly depleted, and many campus organizations were discontinued. The college itself, however, con- tinued without faltering. Indeed, it was during this time that Mansfield became recognized by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. In June, 1943, President Pratt accepted a commission in the Military Government Division of the United States Army. James G. Morgan, Dean of Instruction, was named acting president as he had also been after the resigna- tions of Presidents Noonan and Ade. Later that same summer, Mr. Morgan was elected president of the college. He had been Dean of Instruction since 1941 and he continued to hold this position until 1946. Mr. Morgan had been at Mansfield since 1921 during which time he had taught education and psychology. President Morgan, head of the college for nearly a decade and a half, has made it possible for Mansfield to advance. He has initiated plans for the future improvement and recogni- tion of the school. In 1946, Herbert E. Manser was named Dean of Inslruction. He had joined the faculty in 1922 as instructor in French, a position which he still held at the time of his appointment as dean. All through the war, enrollment at Mansfield had continued to be very low. At the war ' s end, however, the situa- tion was sharply reversed. Scores of veterans enrolled in order to receive the education that they had missed during the war. Enrollment shot up to the record level of approximately nine hundred. The college facilities were sorely taxed. Men students not only occupied the floors of old South Hall, but overflowed into Alumni Hall which was made into a temporary men ' s dor- mitory. 1950 was a memorable year in the history of Mansfield State Teachers College. In August, it was announced that Old South Hall and the temporary Science Building were to be replaced by two modern brick structures de- signed by Thomas Hendryx. From the 1890 ' s until the summer of 1950, the Col- lege Library occupied these spacious quarters on the first floor of old South Hall.

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Dr. William R. Straughn came to the Normal School as principal in 1914. It was during his administration that Mansfield became the first state teachers college in Penn- sylvania. Here is Dr. Straughn (first row. sixth from left I in one of his early pictures with the Normal School faculty. 18 The following year on May 13, 1927, an event occurred that was historic not only for Mansfield but for the entire system of public education in Pennsylvania. On that day Mansfield became the first institution in the state to be designated as a state teachers college. Thus began the transformation that was soon to raise all of Pennsvl- vania ' s fourteen state-owned teacher-training institutions to college rank. Mansfield, whose Music Department was the oldest of its type in the state, was the first state teachers college in Pennsylvania to grant a degree in music education . In the fall of 1928, the three-year course of study was replaced by a new four-year course. The Home Economics Department also continued to develop. In 1933, the Federal Board of Vocational Educa- tion approved the college as a vocational home economics training center and granted financial aid. Dr. Straughn, as it turned out, was the last principal Mansfield was to have. Soon after the Normal School be- came a college, he became known as the president. In 1927. after six years on one floor of Alumni Hall, the junior high school had moved into a new building. This large brick structure remains as today ' s Campus Junior High School. About that time, a temporary wooden Science Building (the Lab ) was erected on the site of the present brick building. It remained for nearly a quarter of a century. In 1929, the Alumni Hall auditorium was abandoned. College programs were held in the old gymnasium for the next year. Plans were soon made for a fine modern auditorium and work got underway. The new building was completed by the late summer of 1930. More than one thousand students, teachers, parents, and guests attended the dedicatory- exercises in October. On December 18, 1930, a special program was presented in the auditorium. W. W. Allen, chairman of the Board of Trustees, spoke during the course of the program and revealed to President Straughn that as a lasting tribute to him the auditorium would henceforth be known as Straughn Hall. Improvements in the physical property of Mansfield under Dr. Straughn were not confined to the large buildings. Also constructed since 1914 were the heating plant, infirmary, Y Hut and president ' s home. The old gymnasium was enlarged and the tennis courts and bowling alleys were provided. During William R. Straughn ' s administration, a large number of men and women joined the faculty at Mans- field and remained for many years to become familiar and well-loved figures on the campus and in the community. Some, indeed, were here until a short time ago, while a few are still on the faculty today. Those whose names can no longer be found on the faculty rolls at Mansfield include Arthur T. Belknap. John W. Cure, Miss Stella Doane, Isaac Doughton. Herbert E. Manser, Herbert Grant, Edward C. Russell, George B. Strait, Irving T. Chatterton. Will George Butler, Mrs. Grace Steadman, Miss Cora Atwater. and Miss Margaret O ' Brien. There are others whose as- sociation with the college stems from their positions in the campus schools. These include George A. Retan. Myron E. Webster. Hugh W. Alger. Miss Dorthy Hutchinson, and Miss Jessie Grigsby. Two teachers who were on the faculty before, during, and after Dr. Straughn ' s administration were Miss Alice Doane and George W. Cass. In the middle 1930 ' s, Dr. Straughn ' s health began to fail. Nevertheless, he continued to take part in the regular activities of the college. As a matter of fact, Dr. Straughn participated as usual in the spring commencement exer- cises of 1936. That summer, however, his condition grew worse. On August 21, before the fall reopening of the college, he died. Mansfield was shocked and saddened by William R. Straughn ' s untimely death at the age of fifty-four. He had

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South Hall, although remodeled in 1889, had been started in 1857 and was the oldest building on the campus. In fact, it is the story of this building ' s slow erection that forms so touching a part of the early history of the school. By 1950, however, only the lower floors of the old structure could be used, for the upper ones were too badh dilapidated. The wreckers went to work on old South Hall that same year, and soon it was gone. The new four-story men ' s dormitory, incorporating modern methods of construction and design, rose on the site of the old. The stark simplicity of the building makes an interesting contrast with the older architecture around it. The new Science Building, a one-story brick structure with a two-story section at the north end. added to the beauty of the campus, blending perfectly into the natural surroundings. Alumni Hall continued as a men ' s dormitory while the new dormitory was being built. By 1953, both new build- ings were completed and put into use. It was not long until the new men ' s dormitory had taken on a familiar name — South Hall. North Hall was by no means neglected. In 1950, a modern kitchen was built. In the summer of 1953, the building was given a new slate roof and the ten ornamental cupolas were removed. North Hall was made fireproof, and an enclosed fire escape was erected. To provide for the ever-growing number of automobiles on the campus, the college ' s parking facilities were im- proved in the summer of 1956. Beginning in September, 1951. a revised curriculum for all the Pennsylvania state teacher ' s colleges went into effect. Designed to place greater emphasis on general education, especially during the first two years, the revised curriculum takes advantage of recent developments in the field of professional teacher preparation. In 1955, the students of the college were provided with a Student Union, a place where they could go during the day for refreshments, recreation, and socializing. As a direct result of the forward-looking administration of Presi- dent Morgan, and the willingness of the members of the student body to help finance this project, a Student Union at Mansfield was opened in the fall of 1955. Today, The Hut, as the refurnished Y Hut is called, is a favorite gathering place for both students and faculty. The college was saddened on October 25, 1955, to learn of the sudden death of its dean of instruction, Herbert E. Manser. On June 1, 1956, he was succeeded by Dr. Harry W. Earlley who came to Mansfield from the Edinboro State Teachers College, Pennsylvania. Due to the policies of the administration and the encouragement of the faculty, many varied student organiza- tions on campus have formed an important part of life at Mansfield for many years. Through these clubs, associa- tions, honorary societies, professional fraternities, and music groups, students with like interests have had an op- portunity to work together and share their common interests. Special events, too, have highlighted each college year. Formal and semi-formal dances, week-end activities, musical concerts, football games, Homecoming Day, May Day — to name but a few — have added variety and excitement to college life. The Alumni Association of the college, of which Edwin S. Coles is president, has had as its purpose the preser- vation of a sense of identity among the alumni and the maintenance of continued contact between them and the college. Alumni Day, the last Saturday of the school year in May, is set aside specifically for the alumni, and it features many special activities, including a meeting of the association, class reunions, and an alumni exhibit. The vigor of the Alumni Association is also attested to by the existence of twelve alumni clubs in both Pennsylvania and New York. In one hundred years, Mansfield has graduated some eight thousand men and women. A large portion of these have entered the public school systems in Pennsylvania and other states putting to use the training that they re- ceived at Mansfield. Many have become elementary and high school teachers or principals, while others have served as superintendents of schools. Among Mansfield graduates, also, are the presidents of several teachers col- leges and the president of one of the nation ' s leading liberal arts colleges. Mansfield alumni have excelled in other fields, and include a former governor of Pennsylvania, members of gov- ernors ' cabinets, a justice of the State Supreme Court, ministers of various denominations, the president of a rail- road, hospital directors, and many others. The influence which Mansfield has exerted in many fields as a result of the achievements of its graduates is incalculable. 20