University of Central Oklahoma - Bronze Book Yearbook (Edmond, OK)

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r BRONZE ' BQO n u L Eighl m ' in u in 3S o 1920 c J

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r BRON7E D3EQK] 1 CENTRAL ' S SCHOOL COLORS Sometime early in the fall of 1 895 former President Murdaugh called the attention of the Faculty and the student body to the advisability of select- ing colors for the school — the first ever adopted in Oklahoma, the writer be- lieves. A careful investigation was made of those then in use among the various prominent institutions in the United States that we might avoid copying. With the thought in mind that the colors should be significant, stand for something, be suggestive, the choice fell upon BRONZE and BLUE: Bronze, The sha- dowed livery of the burnished sun — the gentle light of intelligence; Blue, the color of the heavens — broad, expansive, suggestive of depth, aspiration, hope, ideals. Their first public, statewide display was at Guthrie when the Hon. John Adams, a prominent lawyer now of Guthrie, then a member of the first class ever graduated from an Oklahoma Educational Institution, represented the school in the first oratorical contest ever held in Oklahoma — the schools taking part being the University, the A. S M. College and The Normal School for Oklahoma — now Central. I he worthy wearer of the BRONZE and BLUE must be enthusiastic in intelligent service and inspired by noble thought, lofty aspirations and unselfish ideals. EDM1 l ) DANDRIDGE MURDAUGH. J

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r lBHQHZEI book: 1 L Central tate jSormal cijool asit==|3rcsrnt The Legislature of Oklahoma has twice enacted hills with special refer- ence to the institution, organization and course of stud} of Central — origin- ally, in the first act, that oi 1891, The Normal School for Oklahoma. f o- day, that is its legal and proper name. The first bill, among other items, em- phasized teaching the rights and duties of citizens. The first catalog ever printed, in IN95, fur the school, called particular attention to that and soughl to show it to be a fundamental in the curriculum. That catalog was printed in 1895, in the presidency of Edmund Dandridge Murdaugh. Today, under the presidency of John (j. Mitchell, the same is true. The second act, that of [893, enlarged the curriculum and gave the Board of Regents the power to place the school virtually upon a college basis, specifically granting the right to teach any and every branch of Science oi- Literature that may seem advisable. Twenty-seven years ago the school opened its d s with Professor Thatcher as president and sole teacher and just twenty-seven young ladies and gentlemen as students. Today the twenty-seven are nearly all living and among the most prominent and prosperous citizens of our state. The school the first session met on the second floor of a frame build- ing standing on the west side of Broadwa) Avenue and about a block and a half south of the present site of the church. This fact was given to the writer b Professor Thatcher himself and he often pointed out to him the verj building while recounting many of his earl} experiences therein. The school remained in the building mentioned for about two months until the middle oi November, then was moved to the church building in order to obtain better quarters. But again removal became necessary. People at that time were not quite so liberal a they are today. Some oi the members of the congregation objected to the teaching oi calisthenics, which they described as dancing and thought led directl) to the infernal regions. President Thacher, an old Grand Army man, had learned the necessity of educating the physical man and therefore refused to permit interference with his curricula. Consequently, removal was again made to a building opposite what is now known as The Central Hotel, about half a block west oi the present Mate Lank. I he building — now called Old North and fronting the campus looking west — was begun in the summer of 18 2 and in September, 1893, was suf- ficiently advanced tow aid completion to be occupied by teachers and students. 1920 J