Davidson College - Quips and Cranks Yearbook (Davidson, NC)

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Davidson College History In IS35 the nu ' inlxTs ol llu ' C ' oncorcl .iiul IIliIkI Prcs Inicrk ' s. cmbratini; western i . C and noitlieni S. C. re s|x-eti ely. decidetl to be in a moxement to found a eolleye lor the baekwoods area of tlie two states. I his mi) ement led to the laying ol the lirst cornerstone, in April. 1S36, oC l)a ids )n Colles je. Named lor a Presby terian Revolutionary War hero. Daxidson opened its d(K)rs as an educational institution on March 1. IH. 7. with a student body of 65. . fter twenty years of economic struK,t;lc. the sciiool found a benefactor in Mav ' ell Chambers of Salisbury. . C Chambers ' endowment of $200,000. making !)a id son the richest college in the South, permitteil the construction of a new c|uadrani;le. dominated by the most elab.irate structure of its kind, the Ma.xwel! Chamlx-rs Building, containing classr(x)ms, dormitory space, and an auditorium. With the outbreak of the War Between the States, Davidson invested her funds in Confederate war bonds, resulting in subsei|uent losses: and it was not until the turn of the century that the college again mo cd on the upswing. In the early 1900 ' s. howexer. under energetic anil efficient leailershiii, particularly Irom business man- ager Trank Lee Jackson. Da idson College increased its physical facilities, added to its faculty, and tripled its enrollment. Da ids)n was now strong enough to withstand even the blow of the loss of the Chambers Building in 1 21 by fire, as by 19. 0 replacement tunds had prox idixl ffir the completion of the present Chambers Building. Dur- ing the Depression of the Thirties Da idson s progress was only slowed: endowment funds increased slowly but steadily and there was no annual deficit. lo the leadership of Dr. John R. Cunningham. President of the College from 1941 1957, does Da ids in College largely owe its present status: for under Dr. Cun- ningham most of the present plant was constructed and the endowment almost tripled to S9.000.000. loday. under the college ' s thirteenth President, Dr. D. Crier Martin, this expansion is continuing. Presently the endowment stands at just under S9. 500.000: the len Year Plan is in full swing: and the enrollment is expected to reach 1000 within two years. In this situation Da idson College looks to the future with confidence.

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In this era when the human attempt to dominate the physical universe has accentuated the attempt to subdue men ' s minds, the word education often has been prostituted to mean indoctrination. ' Not only has international communism sought to dominate man ' s entelechy to a degree unknown by previous generations, but also unusual domestic conditions have created a more impcrsonalized society. Loyalty and devotion to organization are the prime requisites in a world where the state I requires additional allegiance. Yet, not only has political thought expanded its organic scope, but also in areas of business, religion, and e en social and family affairs, one finds intensification, stratification and centralization. Increasingly individuality, spontaneity, creativity, and abstract contemplation have succumbed to, and been supplanted by, regimented, planned ideals. Individual goals become those of the state, the organization, and the group. One is exposed to more persons, more books, more countries; but to fewer people, fewer ideas, and fewer nations. Quantity and advancement have dominated o er quality and achievement. With the increasing technological problems and their social implications, the college student is confronted with inquiries demanding rational solution. Yet, his tools for individual thought have diminished while the complexity of the problems has increased. The American liberal-arts college represents a bastion where indi idual growth and personal development may still be attained. The challenge is a formidable one because in no other period of civilized history has the world needed clearer, more concise individual thought. Daxidson College, with the growth of its physical plant, the broadening of its student body, and the liberalization of its policy, has the potential to promote individual endeavor and enlightenment. It must ha ' e the vision to permit freedom of thought, intellectual curiosity and creative talent. Without such vision it, as an institution, and its student body, as indi iduals, will have lost their worth to a democratic society. With these thoughts in mind, we, the sons of Da idson College, watch with confidence as she continues to meet these challenges. i..i . y P - ' ' ■ • - 1 . %

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