Louisiana Polytechnic Institute - Lagniappe Yearbook (Ruston, LA)

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a large three-story Girls’ Dormitory erected; and in addition a two- story frame building known as the Boys’ Hall, and several cottages. A splendidly arranged three-story pressed brick building, known as the Mechanic Arts Hall, has just been completed, as well as a new laundry plant. Other improvements have kept pace with the growth in buildings and grounds. The following table will give a good idea of the growth of the work and usefulness of the Institute during the ten years of its existence: Session. No. Faculty. No. Students. No. Parishes Represented. 1895-96. . 6. 1896-97 . . 9 . 1897-98. .9. .300. .27 1898-99 . .12. .298. . 33 1899-00 . .12. .276. . 3 1 1900-01 . .14. .368. .36 1901-02 . .17. .534. .39 1902-03 . .42 1903-04 . .24. .733. .46 •1904-05 . .29. .837. The courses of study include definite courses of academic work plus an industrial subject. The industrial subject requires at least two periods each day, and is aimed to be intensely practical. Work is offered in Mechanics, including bench work in wood and iron, wood turning, forging, pattern making, and machine work; m Domestic Science, including plain sewing, embroidery, dress¬ making, reed work, basketry, cooking, household sanitation, chem¬ istry of foods and other allied branches; in Industrial Art, including- freehand drawing, sketching, oil and water color painting, and de- signing; in Bookkeeping, Stenography, Telegraphy, Printing and Bookbinding. In connection with four years of industrial work each student pursues an academic course. In Mathematics, the first year begins with a review of Arithmetic, and at the end of the fifth year Calculus is completed. English Language and Literature are carried on throughout the entire course. In Science, courses are offered in 14

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HoutBiana Strimstral Snatitut? The Louisiana Industrial Institute was founded by the Legis¬ lature of 1894. Act No. 68 of that body, approved July 6, 1894, rovides for “the establishment of a first-class Industrial Institute and College for the education of the white children of Louisiana in the arts and sciences, at which such children may acquire a thor¬ ough academic and literary education, together with a knowledge of kindergarten instruction, of telegraphy, stenography and photog¬ raphy, of drawing, painting, designing and engraving, in their indus¬ trial application; also a knowledge of bookkeeping, and of agri¬ cultural and mechanical art, together with such other practical indus¬ tries as from time to time may be suggested by experience, or such as will tend to promote the general object of said institute and college, to-wit: Fitting and preparing such children, male and female, for the practical industries of the age.” The same act located the school “at Ruston, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana and entrusted its control to a Board of Trustees, consisting of the Gov¬ ernor of the State, two members from the State at large, and one from each congressional district. The State Superintendent of Pub¬ lic Education has since been made an ex-officio member. The Louisiana Industrial Institute begin its first session Sep¬ tember 23, 1895. But few schools not heavily endowed have de¬ veloped more rapidly. The total revenue for beginning was about twenty acres of ground, and $20,000, $10,000 of which was appro¬ priated by the Legislature and the remainder by Ruston and Lincoln parish. Out of this a small two-story brick building, now the middle front portion of the main hall, and a small frame mechanic ' s shop, were built, and a faculty of six teachers employed. Since then three three-story wings have been added to main hall; 13

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Botany, Zoology, Physics, Chemistry and Geology, with advanced work in Bacteriology for those in the Domestic Science course. Other subjects included in the academic course are: History, Civics, Political Economy, Commercial Law, Elements of Commerce, and Drawing. The first faculty consisted of Col. A. T. Prescott, President; W. C. Robinson. Geo. Baxter Morton, A. M. Herget, Miss Mary D. Coleman, and D. R. Lyons. Col. Presc ott and Prof. Herget are now members of the faculty of the Louisiana State University; Miss Coleman in 1897 married Prof. Herget; Air. Morton is now a patent attorney in New York City, and Mr. Lyons is connected with the Government Printing Office at Washington, D. C. With the opening of the second session in 1896 three new mem¬ bers were added to the faculty—W. E. Taylor, Miss Lilia A. Har¬ kins, and Miss Pearl Sherwood. Miss Harkins was more recently in charge of Domestic Science in the Montana Agricultural College, while Miss Sherwood is now Mrs. Adolphus McCranie, of Homer, La. With the beginning of the session of 1897-1898 Prof. James B. Aswell, then of the Calhoun Collegiate Institute, was elected teacher of English, Miss Ivy F. Harner was placed in charge of the Domestic Science work, and Harry Howard was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Miss Coleman as teacher of Business Branches. The new members of the faculty for the session of 1898-1899 were C. H. Carson, Jr., Jno. T. Thornton, W. J. Everett, H. C. Bond, and Mrs. M. L. Brooks, now Mrs. S. D. Pearce, of Ruston During the summer of 1899 Col. Prescott resigned the presi¬ dency, and Prof. W. C. Robinson was elected in his stead. Prof. Geo. O. Thatcher was elected teacher of English at the beginning of the following session, and W. H. Hodges, Jr., was appointed assistant in Biology. Prof. James B. Aswell. then State Institute Conductor, was elected president during the summer of 1900, and Miss Ella V. Foster, now Mrs. James B. Aswell, was elected to fill the vacancy m the department of History. The new teachers for the session of 1901-1902 were Miss Eliza¬ beth M. King, Miss Martha Hunter, Harry Gwinner, C. M. Barber,. 15