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

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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

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r BRONTE President Thatcher — a gentleman of great energy, marked ability, more than average scholarship and high ideals — felt it his dut to resign at the close of that session because of poor health, and former State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Kansas, George W. Winans, was elected as his successor. Mr. Tatcher, however, remained as professor of mathematics. President Winans ' term only lasted one year and he was followed by Professor Wil- liams of Texas, who resigned at the close of the session of 1894-95. Naturally, such frequent changes operated to the serious disadvantage of the school. In July of that year Edmund Dandridge Murdaugh succeeded to the pres- idency, holding that office for seven years Upon his accession the faculty was enlarged, the Course of study re-or- ganized, the campus laid out, trees set, and the wings to the original building erected. Si ion the school was known far and wide for its high standards, strong faculty, thorough scholarship and excellent training. Naturally this redounded its advantage. Upon his resignation president after president came, the school gradually enlarging and extending its influence as the territory — later the state — de- veloped. The summer term, first opened in the territory, was extended both in time and in curriculum and thousands filled the halls where only a few years before hundreds had worked and studied. The Legislature abolished the original quarter-mill levy, always a varying amount, made larger and definite appropriations more nearly commensurate with the needs of the school, added new buildings, placed it under the charge of the newly instituted Board of Education instead of a small board of regents, and the name was changed to Central State Normal School — five other similar institutions having been created meanwhile. Edmond, the seat of the school, grew in the meantime from a prairie vil- lage of five hundred or six hundred to a city of the first class, and today embraces within its limits not les than four thousand inhabitants with palatial homes excellent public schools and beautiful churches. Today Central is known throughout the educational circles of the union for its high standards, splendid ideals, strong faculty, thousands of alumni, po- tent influence and tremendous enrollment, ranking in the last respect among the two or three largest Normal Schools ,,f our country. Its graduates by thousands have filled places o1 honor and trust as lawyers, physicians, min- isters of the gospel, members of the legislature, as business men and as state builders in every walk of life, especially as teachers in district schools, as city and county superintendents, principals and heads of departments in hign schools and even as professors in universities. L Ele ii I920 2 J