Elmhurst College - Elms Yearbook (Elmhurst, IL)

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J r ELMHURST COLLEGE CENTENNIAL YEAR 1871 ■V..-. -J The First One Hundred Years The Centennial Year began with an opening convocation given by the former Secretary of State, Stuart Udall. Highlights of the year included concerts performed by the classical guitarist, Carlos Montoya; band leader. Doc Severinsen, and his choral group, The Brothers and the Sisters; and folk singer Glenn Yarbrough. All of these were sponsored by the Campus Life and Social Life Committees, along with the Centennial Committee. Further activities were: a performance of the Broadway play. Stop the World I want to Get Off, a presentation of Will Rogers, USA conducted by actor James Whitmore, and lectures given by Ashley Montague and Dr. Harlan Hatcher. Former Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Carl Klein, spoke at the Business Community Centennial Breakfast on February 20. Spring events centered around lectures delivered by crusader Ralph Nader and author Paul Ehrlich and concerts performed by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Peter Nero. Two other activities marked the spring scene, the Centennial Ball on April 30 and the celebration of an all-day Mayfest on May 2. All of these events served to commemorate the founding of Elmhurst College — one hundred years ago. The history of the school includes three distinct periods: the proseminary stage, the academy and junior college stage, and the college stage. On December 16, 1871, the first president, Carl F. Kranz, and fourteen students arrived in Elmhurst to begin the proseminary age which was to last until 1919. The building used to house the first students has since been divided and is now used as housing for present day professors. The first new building, Kranz Hall, was built in 1873 and is the oldest building on campus. Old Main was erected in 1878. Dr. Daniel Irion took over the presidency in 1887. His administration became the longest in the history of the college — 32 years. With his resignation the college moved into its second stage of development with the Rev. Herman Schick as president. Dr. Schick resigned in 1924 and it was then that the college was launched into its final stage of development. It was H. Richard Niebuhr who was selected to lead the effort to change Elmhurst into a full four-year liberal arts col- lege. The gymnasium was constructed in 1928, and in its day was considered very modern. In 1928, Timothy Leh- mann was appointed to the presidency. It was under his administration that Elmhurst became co-educational. With the appointment of Dr. Henry Dinkmeyer as president, the college advanced a new building program, and Dinkmeyer and Lehmann Halls became realities. The story of the college after President Dinkmeyer ' s death is really a story of the present. It involves two of the chapel, Niebuhr Hall, the College Union, the Science Center, and the new library to open in the fall. In 1971, President Kleckner resigned, and the man to fill the spot in Elm- hurst ' s one hundred and first year will begin the story of the future. 18

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L ' ncie Pete Langhorst watches intently as the ays bowed to Carthage. 17

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7 mm - k .1 The Aiumni Association presented the schooJ with a centenniat marker which stands in front of the Union near the site of the original building of the Pro-seminar Era. Opening events of the Centennial Year commemoration were marked by the convocation given by Stuart Udall. President KJecJ er and the president of the Alumni Association, Ken Baker, stood by the plaque commemorating the first 100 years.