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Page 19 text:
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The legislature of 1!)15 granted the institution an appropriation of $100,000 to be used for the erection of Sheridan Coliseum, now under con- struction, which stands just south of Picken Hall. It will be the largest building on the campus and will contain the auditorium, gymnasium for men and women, showers and swimming pool, departments of music, blacksmith- ing, manual training and farm carpentry, gas and steam engines and public school art. Under the careful guidance of our inspiring leader, Dr. William A. Lewis, the school has witnessed its greatest growth in material equipment, in num- ber of students an d teachers, in service rendered the people of Western Kan- sas and in the confidence and support with which the people and their repre- sentatives have rewarded these services. At this time the Fort Flays Kansas Normal School has before it, an ex- ceedingly bright future: while there has been nothing as tangible as new buildings, there has been great internal growth and strengthening. There has been developed, a Fort Hays Normal spirit which counts for much more than mere buildings : and this spirit is growing and deepening each year ; it is permeating the atmosphere of Western Kansas. The pride taken in the Fort Hays Normal by the people of Western Kansas and the appreciation that they have shown for the work being carried on at this institution is sufficient to assure a great future. 19
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Page 18 text:
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sighted, public-spirited pioneer saw a better future for this ground and sug- gested that it be used for public purposes . The legislature of 1889 was induced to ask Congress for a cession of the land to the state for a soldiers home. Congress did not make the grant. The legislature of 1895 passed a resolution asking Congress for a cession of the land to the state for the purpose of establishing upon it a public park, an experiment station and a branch of the State Normal School, but Congress failed to act. Finally in March, 1900, an act was passed by Congress grant- ing the land to the state to be used for a State Normal School, an experiment station for the Agricultural College and a public park. The legislature ac- cepted this grant in February 1901. Owing to delays occasioned by controversy over claims of squatters upon the land, the Normal School was not started until 1902. The opening oc- curred on June 23 of that year with William S. Picken as principal. Care- fully did Mr. Picken nurture and guide this seedling of an institution that it might grow and bring forth good fruit. 11 is labors were not in vain for at the expiration of his term in 1913 the school had grown so rapidly that additions of various kinds had to be made to meet the needs of these indus- trious people. The buildings had increased in number from one small struc- ture to three buildings, modernly equipped. The faculty had increased from two to twenty-two and the student body had grown from twenty-four to over seven hundred. Dr. William Alexander Lewis succeeded Principal Picken and assumed his duties in August 1913. His inauguration took place March ( following. On this same day the name of the school was changed from Western Branch of the State Normal School to Fort Hays Kansas Normal School, and the head official of the school was changed from principal to president. March ( , 1915, the state legislature accepted the federal grant of August 27, 1914, which established this school as equal in function and standing with the other State Normal Schools. 18
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