Elizabethtown College - Conestogan / Etonian Yearbook (Elizabethtown, PA)

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History of Elizabethtown College Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Only by faith can we explain how, amid a world of academies, normal schools, and colleges, the Eastern Brethren dared to vision an additional competitive institution. But, today, 1936, the alumni of Elizabethtown College rank with the first in the state. Public sentiment for a church college in the east crystallized in a series of public meetings beginning in the Reading Church in 1898. As a result Elizabethtown was chosen as the location and a board of trustees was appointed. In 1899 the board secured the charter for the new school and in 1900 Alpha Hall was erected. That same year six students enrolled for work in the college and because the first building was not yet com- pleted, attended classes in the Heisey Auditorium in Elizabethtown. One by one the buildings of our present lovely campus were completed. In 1921 the college was accredited by the Department of Public Instruction for the preparation of teachers in both elementary and secondary fields, and it is worthy of note that Elizabethtown College was one of the first colleges in the state to be accredited for the preparation of high school teachers in the commercial field. These recognitions were important factors in the growth of the institution, for about 75 per cent of its graduates enter the teaching field. The remainder of the graduates are to be found in business, in law, in medicine, or in the ministry. There are several interesting features which show the development of the college. One of these is the high percentage of Elizabethtown students who have gone on to further work in graduate schools. Among the schools which admit Elizabethtown alumn 1 for graduate work are: University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, New York University, Columbia University, Temple University, and Pennsylvania State College. Another feature indicative of the growth of the school is the development of the summer school by securing teachers, in addition to our own, from neighboring institu- tions. For the 1936 Intersession and Summer Session the men who have been secured are: Doctor Leroy A. King, Ph.D., professor of Education at the University of Pennsyl- vania and a member of the Pennsylvania State Council of Education: Doctor S. H. Zeigler, Ph.D., professor of Education at Cedar Crest College and an author of note in the field of Social Science: Doctor Charles E. Resser, Ph.D., Sc.D., curator of Paleonto- logy in both the United States National Museum and the Smithsonian Institute, and a nationally recognized authority on his subject : and Professor Tillman H. Ebersole, A.M., Supervising Principal of the Elizabethtown Public Schools. This plan of the college of securing teachers from other institutions has received much attention in state educational circles. This year, 1936, saw Elizabethtown College admitted to the Association of Ameri- can Colleges and now, as we look back on the small beginning of our school and on the odds it has overcome to attain the security that it now has in the educational world, we can only say that Elizabethtown is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen — a faith. ... . . , 20

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Accomplishments of the Board PHE Board of Trustees is interested in the personal welfare of every student on the Elizabethtown campus and has always responded heartily to any suggestions for improvement that might foster a home-like atmosphere on The Hill. The lack o c finances has been the only hindrance to the execution of a number of worthwhile plans which the board had been considering. Among the achievements of the past two years is the spacious social room, occupying the space formerly used for classrooms. This necessitated a considerable rearranging of class rooms. But the social room, product of the idealism of faculty, alumni, students, patrons, and friends, is fulfilling its purpose in encouraging proper decorum and promoting a healthy social life among students. The macadam drive bordered by rhododendrons, another result of the trustees ' action, has added materially to the beauty of the campus and to the convenience of students and visitors. In order to insure the safety of the student group, the board has authorized the installation of a fire-alarm box on the campus, which makes direct calls to the fire house possible. Among the items that are under consideration are the increase of the volume of water supply to the several buildings on the campus and a building to accommodatethe growing library. The latter plan is impossible to carry out now because of lack of funds, and the board is waiting for some friend or friends of the college to make it pos- sible for them to go on in this work. 19

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Administrative Advancement The college whose faculty is making no advancement is dead. With this as a criterion. Elizabethtown has been making rapid strides indeed. In the last two years almost all the members of the faculty who have not yet received their doctor ' s degrees took special work with that end in view. Professor Ezra Wenger, head of the Department of Sociology, and Dean A. C. Baugher, head of the Department of Chemistry, have both finished their residence work at New York University, and are now working on their theses for their doctors ' degrees. Professor Wenger has not yet definitely decided upon his subject, but it will pertain to the field of sociology. Dean Baugher is working on the subject Check Lists on Trends of Higher Education in Arts Colleges. This study grows out of an interest in American higher education, especially as its development affects the future of the private church- related college. Professor Guy Saylor, head of the Department of Romance Languages, is con- tinuing his work at the University of Pennsylvania for his doctor ' s degree. He started the work last year in the field of French Romantic Literature and Language. Miss Rebekah SheafFer, head of the English Department, has recently begun work toward a doctor ' s degree at the same university. Professor G. S. Shortess, head of the Depart- ment of Biology, is working for his doctor ' s degree at Johns Hopkins University. He is pursuing research laboratory work in the field of biology. Not all of the achievement, however, of the faculty is concerned with obtaining degrees. Dr. T. K. Musick, head of the Department of Commercial Education and Accountancy, has been working on a book, An Approach to Accountancy. It is now completed so far as the manuscript is concerned. He has already received several offers from publishers, but has accepted none as yet. Dr. E. S. Kiracofe, professor of Secondary Education, took part in a statewide study under the leadership of Harlan Updegraff in which an Inventory of Incoming Youth was made. The purpose of this study was to so differentiate the experiences, back- ground, capacities, interests, and present status of all Pennsylvania ' s youth as to furnish basic material for the determination of educational policies and plans that will, on the one hand, best contribute to their needs, and on the other hand, best promote the welfare of society. The study is to be made of 200,000 youth in Pennsylvania between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one. Dr. Kiracofe confined his study to ninety pupils in the Steelton School, Steelton, Pa. As yet nothing definite has been accomplished with the data gathered. Dr. Kiracofe has also accepted the recently-created position of Director of Student Activity. In this capacity he keeps an accurate list of the activities in which each student is engaged and regulates elections so that no one student is overburdened. This has been a very definite advancement. In the field of music, both Professor and Mrs. Meyer, Professor of Voice and in- structor in Piano, respectively, have greatly increased their number of pupils. They also have done much for the development and promotion of the A Capella Choir. These instances are the specific ones, but every teacher on College Hill has taken work to help him progress in his field. Last year, 1934-35, practically all of the faculty members enrolled in the seminar course in college administration given by Dr. LeRoy King of the University of Pennsylvania. Each member did research work and prepared a paper on a project that was pertinent to the line of work in which he is engaged here on the campus. The course was both profitable and educational. 21