Lawrence Technological University - L Book Yearbook (Southfield, MI)

Page 12 text:

Edwin O. Graeffe, Dean of the Facultw Before Lawrence Tech obtained its charter in 1932, the old Ford Trade School was used only for recreational purposes. The Golden Glove tournament was held there that year. One of the greatest fighters in the world, Joe Louis, got his start there. The upper floors had been closed for four years and were in very bad condition. Many of the original students earned their first year's tuition by repairing these floors. Although it was against regulations, many out of town stu- dents slept on the fourth floor. After the banks closed in February 1933, the faculty used to meet in Miss Dooley's office hoping that a student would pay a portion of his tuition to enable them to divide it for their lunches. An orchestra was started in 1933, in which Dr. Graeffe played the piano and directed. On Saturday afternoon our fencing team, of which Dr. Graeffe was the coach, would practice on the third floor. Bill Osis, one of our early students, made the Olympic Fencing Team in 1940. Unfortunatelythe Olympic games did not take place that year. Besides teaching, instructing fencing, and directing music, Dr. Graeffe also operated the book store for the first two years. Mrs. Graeffe operated the office for the evening school. During the year 1937-38, Dr. Graeffe made a trip around the world and gathered many valuable experiences and informa- tion for future instruction. World War II caused a big setback for the school in that a majority of our students went to war. At this time Dr. Graefe worked at Fisher Body and taught in night school. lt was very gratifying to see that many of our original students returned to L.I.T. after the war and continued their education under the G. I. bill. The Business Administration curriculum began in 1939 and was interrupted during the war. After its reorganization, it grew to what is now the Industrial Management Curriculum.

Page 14 text:

Harold C Boothroyd, Chairman, Chemistry Department The Lawrence Tech chemistry department originally consisted of three instructors, Doctor William Hawkes, now deceased, Edmond Dombrowski, and myself. All three of the original staff transferred from the University of Detroit in '32, Wayne Buell joined the chemistry department after his graduation and spent many years as a staff member. Originally a full chemical engineering curriculum was offered, including quantitative and qualitative analysis, organic and physical chemistry and several other courses, in addition to the course in general chemistry which is still offered at L.l.T. As time Went on, Drf Hawkes retired, and still later Mr. Buell and Mr. Dombrowski left the department and obtained ern- ployment with the Ford Motor Company. Because of the reduced staff, laboratory space, and the in- adequate size of many of the courses, the Chemical Engineer- ing curriculum was discontinued in 1953. This year we have the greatest number of classes in general chemistry that we have ever had. In addition to the six morn- ing labs which are being offered for the first time, there are also four afternoon lab periods and ten more in night school.