American International College - Taper Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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STUDENTS AND FACULTY 1924 AIC, In vm GJ 4.1 6.1 040 rn O U-4 V7 V5 E rn 'U s.. G! .-C1 .2 an 5 2 J 2 S Q QC m 5 LL 55 oward, Mrs. Eld- DH cGown, DM oreaux, Am L, s.I m.I E G, O vm CI 15 o Q6 E 2 2 'U TE cd E an O cn C1 GJ C-'J rn 2 2 0. O0 'U GJ a-4 -I YU B H4 I-1 1. O o 3 .x U o P-I Q 2 G. .-1 .4.a x.4 68 2 Robinson, Mrs

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The famouf Jofcer team compared of men from eleven naliony f1922j from a curriculum which emphasized the French lan- guage to one which stressed courses in English and citizenship. It was Lee's philosophy that the ultimate glory of the city of Springfield lay not in the manufacturing of in- struments with which to kill man, as is personified by the Springheld Armory, but in the development from all races of men and women who shall go forth among their own to make alive. The administration of the next President, R. DeWitt Mallary, which Hlled the years 1908-1911, and which were brought to an end by his untimely death, further liberalized the religious atmosphere, and helped place the institution on a more stable hnancial basis. It was while President Mallary was head of the College that Chester Stowe McGown was added to the staff in the capacity of held secretary. Dr. Mallary's death resulted in Dr. McGown's being placed at the helm, and now truly began the expansion period of the College. To increase the number of students enrolled, Dr. McGown immediately set about contacting churches, missionary boards, and other Christian and patriotic Prefident McGown with the graduating flair of llae Arademy, 1925.

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. . ' l .,, . ,I 3 , 2 . A ,, . Q r , wr, 1 . r . r at 4 . ii .f ' X ' N ' J fr, f W ,,L, . viii ,,,.,1 organizations, seeking funds with which to enlarge the College. As his purpose became more and more widely known, these organizations began directing to the Col- lege young foreign men and women who showed lead- ership ability. The Daughters of the American Revolu- tion, particularly, took an active interest in the school, both in contributing funds and in directing students here. Through the interest of Mrs. Edith Scott Magna, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, now Vice-President of the College, a building fund for a second dormitory for girls was raised. Accordingly, D.A.R. Dormitory was erected in 1925 on the site where the old Cottage had formerly stood. A second notable instance of the sustained interest in the College had been shown the previous year, when, through the will of Mr. Frank Adams, there was erected and equipped the Frank Adams Memorial Library. Emphasis for the first fifteen years of Dr. McGown's administration had been placed mainly upon the work of the Academy and the Citzenship Departments, Be- tween 1911 and 1916, the number of degrees conferred from the College totalled only ten, and in the ten years that followed there were no graduates from the College division. Numerical limitations put upon immigration quotas in 1924 made necessary a drastic change in the purpose I 3 ,.,, .1 Laying of lhe cornerstone of the Adamf Memorial Library in 1924. of the college and Dr. McGown was a man equal to the challenge. He at once took steps to adapt the College to a new purpose, that of giving the College facilities over to American students. A new era opened at American International College, when, in 1926, fifty American students were enrolled. Low tuition rates and opportunities for self-help began gradually to attract a greater number of students from Springfield and its vicinity. The rapidity with which the change took place may be seen from the enrollment figures in 1933-34, which were 521, a number twice that of only the preceding year! A steady progress, under Dr. McGown's influence, now began. From the meager beginnings and these later limitations, the College expanded to include in 1948 over 1400 students in the regular sessions alone, with some 200 different courses in twenty-three departments. Added to this are the Evening Division, opened in 1940 to provide college opportunities to those employed dur- ing the day, and the Summer Sessions, started in 1942. All three divisions maintain the same high standards. With the addition of the summer and evening divi- sions came the opportunity for the regular students of the College to accelerate their programs in training for wartime service. Each summer, many persons other than the regular students have availed themselves of the courses offered, and, like the Evening Division, this program, in 1949, is considered one of the integral divi-