Southern Illinois University - Obelisk Yearbook (Carbondale, IL)

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t 2,15 ijgffr -gg, .. A A ' .- V Q rv- H L -N I, M., 11 .lm,,.Wwm.3y .:....,l 2' 1- ' .J - 1. it 2 This was the view from the center of campus in 1976 as construction progressed on the dome of Shryoclr Auditorium, Student enrollment, which topped 300 for the first time in 1913-14 was less than one third of the great hall's seating capacity at that time. Slightly more than a decade later the student body filled it. Today Shryock cannot seat the freshman class at one time. 7974-7920 ln 7974 Carbondale, Illinois, was a slow moving farm com- munity. Change was seldom and progress was a word used with practiced restraint. The only industry was in the land or railroad and there was not enough of either to go far. Horses trod dirt streets and open flames lit the homes. And south of town on a hill there was a college. President William Henry Shryock began his administration the summer term of 7973. Southern Illinois Normal School consisted of academic and Professional schools. The normal school proper offered four year courses in English, German, Latin, art, manual training, household arts, agriculture, and business. The Teachers College offered three courses leading to Ed.B., Ph.B., and A.B. degrees. Forty-six faculty members instructed a student body of 825. The 7974 graduating class numbered 62 and following graduation in 7975 the alumni roll passed the 800 mark. Anthony Hall, the fifth major building on campus, was completed in 7973. Dedication of the 575,000 girls dormitory was the biggest social event in the school's history to date. For many years it was the site of all formal town-and-gown parties and receptions. Construction was begun on Shryock Auditorium in 7977. Presi- dent Shryock was called a visionary when he proposed the then enormous and decorative auditorium. It was, he said, his dream some day to see it filled. A dream which, due largely to his efforts, would soon come to pass. Enrollment dropped drastically in 7977-79 as the war which raged in Europe took its toll from among Southern's numbers. Publication of the OBELISK as well as the EGYPTIAN, the news- paper which was also founded in 7974, was suspended in 7979 due to the trying times. l 7'-c ' Cheerleaders during the early '2O's dressed like the girl pictured below. There was little dating on campus and girls were considered im- proper if they appeared in public without stoclcings. Dates were chaperoned

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V, ,cc 1 , i s ' FV-u. 5 V l .- g' . 1 9 ' 5, .. w . ' E I .ffrfw Q f it A we ly 'A ' . f' 1- -, V Q--,-. xfi , ,, -,fc ,.,,-Nm, , .'l , sri- , 'rr U- - - ,c . ., N -. Wm, W ., . mgu,.,,gmy,-V-AY V w , , LV, , V -1 ., X-. ' J-'S 1' 'ff'-v ,fr'.y.r M, '15 ' V e 4. f ' ' 1, 115. -if , -s - 1 f-Y -f -' -'-1,-V. TZ' 1 1 fir--X su.:+r2f1ff ffw , iw- .ew A if - 7 - sq.. h r - ' r- M ' ' - - new N514 lf 7 fi i I 9 , like 7 X 3- 5. . - 1 L. 'H f K Q ,,4w' , 1 - , -Q r - -1 A .,.',g1 f?' ff '91 4 ' 4 , -' V .ffm ' ,. , - 'W' A A Q . ifmwf s x Fhis 7976 view of the center of campus featured intramural tennis matches on the mud courts ofthe day. Upon completion of Anthony Hall in 7973, the campus consisted of Old Main, left, constructed in 7887 for Sl52,000, the Altgeld castle, center above, completed in 7895 for S40,000, Wheeler Hall l7904, S40,0007 and the Allyn Building H909, s5o,oooJ, Chemistry students in 7975 conducted their experiments in Altgeld Hall. The gymnasium was also in Altgeld which today houses facilities For the music department and the University museum. TT Sewing was part ol a very practical curriculum and occupied quarters in Old Main. The OBELISK staff maintained o small room in the huge building also. Old Main as it stands today was built 778877 to replace the campuu s original Main destroyed by fire in 7883. in s, I

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Lunchtime in Anthony Hall, the only women's dorm on campus, looked like the scene above in 1923. Anthony, constructed for 575,000 in 1913, was the only major building completed at SINU from that time until 1926. The old hall was remodeled in 1962 and now serves as an office building. The ancient gymnasium in Altgeld Hall was the site of the senior vs. faculty basketball game in 1921. The event, the OBELISK said, was greeted with great enthusiasm by the 1,800 students and teachers. Members of Southern's first official football team are pictured below as they scrimmaged in the fall of 1921. Early athletic squads were called the Maroons after the schaol's colors, maroon and white 1921-1927 Raccoon coats and ukuleles were the rage during the 1920's. Many song fests were held around the fountain east of Old Main. The men would start singing and the girls would join in the strains of the song of the day Oh, Lydia Pinkham. Southern's first football team was organized in 1921. Over- coming a previous inability to raise funds for travel and equip- ment, the first grid eleven took the field in the fall. In 1926 the Maroons did not win a game and did not score a point. The basketball team had a 120 pound forward and lost one game to McKendree College, 13-5. Work was begun on the present men's gymnasium in 1925. According to the 1925 OBELISK it provided the best floor in the state. The nearest rafters were to be 27 feet from the floor allowing ample room for arching of shots. Growth of the University proceeded steadily during the 1920's. In 1926 SINU was promoted from a class C to a class B college, an event the OBELISK recorded as the greatest achievement which our alma mater has experienced. Also in 1926 sixty faculty members taught at SINU and enrollment was 1712, more than double the number ten years previously. The average salaries of students graduated with two-year college degrees in 1921 was S1800 for men and S1200 for women. As different as these years were from Southern today, many parallels are nonetheless obvious. The University was, as always, growing. Students studied much the same curriculum, faced many similar problems, and like those of us here today were concerned about their prospects in an ever changing world. Consider the topic of the Forum Debate Society in 1921: Resolved: That all nations should disarm.