Goucher College - Donnybrook Fair Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

Page 16 text:

Dr Guth looking over the first copy of uWeekly, 1916. Gaucher Girls and chaperon at 9. Hopkins musical. the honorary scholastic society. Dr. Van Meters and Dr. Welsh's efforts and work were highly successful, for the exploiting of Goucher's high standards and prominent role in the development of higher education for women in the South ended triumphantly. Goucherts debt was cleared and she now stood on firmer ground due to the pledging of requisite funds. The greatest task now to be faced was that of a soundfinancial reorgani- zation. This task fell to the new president, Dr. William Westley Guth, who was inaugurated in the fall of 1913 at an impressive ceremony at the Lyric, attended by representatives from many of the leading colleges of the United States. The inaugural address stressed Dr. Guth's emphatic stand for wo- man sufrage. Dr. Guth also assumed an unquestionable rank among the great benefactors of Gaucher for his work in increasing the enrollment, in enlarging the curriculum, in encouraging student activities, particularly college publicationsethe first Weekly appeared in 1916-and for his interest in the problem of a new college location. In 1920 he was authorized by the Board of Trus- tees to inaugurate a campaign to raise funds to secure a new site. The program was successful and four hundred and twenty-one I acres at Towson became the pos-

Page 15 text:

their stamp upon the College. One was the changing of the name from The Womanis College of Baltimore'i to Gaucher College,u partly as a tribute to Dr. and Mrs. Gaucher in recognition of their services and many gifts, and partly to give a more definite name. Another was the changing of the college seal. Instead of the triangle a shield bearing the emblems symbolic ofpurity, womanhood and Maryland was placed within the circle. Dr. Van Meter at this time served as acting president. During this term the million dollar campaign to lift the College from its debt was launched. Dr. Van Meter and Dr. Welsh were the leaders of this plan to avert the impending jateethe closing of Goucher's doors-unless sujficient q funds were pledged by a certain - time. The last week of the cam- paign was one of great anxiety, and also the occasion of two impor- tant rallies held in Fordis Theatre and in McCoy Hall at Johns Hop- kins University. At the former a letter from President Wilson was read by his daughter Jessie, class of '08, and at the latter President M. Cary Thomas of Bryn Mawr addressed the college women of Baltimore. Both meetings stressed the valuable services of Gaucher to city and state from the standpoint of education, health and scholarship-all of which would be lost if funds were not available. The merits of its wide recognition were cited. The significance of its ranking as a class I institution in the Bureau of Education at Washington, though only 25 years old, was stressed, and attention called to the fact that Gaucher also possessed the Beta of Maryland Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, J essie Wilson read her father's message at Fordis Opera House. 1913.

Page 17 text:

session of the College and made it possible to dream of a greater Gaucher. In 1929, after sixteen years of splendid service for Gaucher, Dr. Guth died. The vacancy left by his death was filled by Dr. Froelicher, the lifelong friend of the College, who became acting president, and who was followed with trust and devotion until his death, in 1930. It was then that Dr. David Allan Robertson, Goucher's fifth president, took ofice. His inauguration was outstanding and will remain one of the most memorable in the history of the College. The Lyric presented a most colorful scene as the presidents, deans, professors, and students from more than two hundred foreign and American universities and colleges filed into the hall where the nine hundred Gaucher students were assembled. At that nme four 'Mts. Hoover received an honorary degree at President Robertsonbs honorary degrees were conferred; inauguration 1931 , . a Doctor of Literature to Lizette Woodworth Reese, and a Doctor of Laws to Mrs. Herbert Hoover, Dr. Florence R. Sabin and Dr. Winifred C. Cullis. President Robertsonts elaborate plans for the jiftieth anniversary cele- bration of Gaucher were typical of the enthusiasm shown by him at all times during his seven years at the College. It was this same enthusiasm that prompted him to dejim'telyformulate plans and to ask for bids for the actual building at Towson. A contest was conducted amonghfty-five leading architects of the country and the winner of the design selected was announced at the anniversary exercises at the Lyric-thefirm of Moore and Hutchins of New York. Thus afterfifty years of distinctive service Gaucher can look forward to a still greater Gaucher.