Northwestern State University - Potpourri Yearbook (Natchitoches, LA)

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torn down, it was the first of the many buildings to be erected as the services and instructional program of the School developed and expanded. The Seekers After Knowledge Literary Society was organized in 1890, and was followed in 1893 by the Eclectic Literary Society. The Alumni Association was formed in 1894 with Miss Bessie V. Russell as its first president. At the beginning of the session of 1 894-95, the existing set-up of elementary school classes was replaced by a model ungraded school, which was designed to be a model for the ungraded country schools of the state ; and its province on the campus was to give the Normal students practice in organizing and teaching such schools. At its session of 1 895, the State Legislature passed a law which systematized the institutes by requiring that at least twenty weeks of institutes would be held each year, under the Supervision of the State Superintendent of Education and the President of the State Normal School. During the session of 1895-96, the State Institute Conductor held fourteen institutes of one week ; and, during the summer, institutes of four weeks each at Shreveport, Alexandria, Grand Cane, Winnsboro, and St. Francisville. Professor Smith died in 1 896 ; and the following year the Alumni Association established the Alby L. Smith Loan Fund to assist needy students. Beverly C. Caldwell assumed the presidency of the Normal in 1896, and retained the position for twelve years. During his administration the expansion of the campus got well underway with the construction of East Hall, 1898 ; a model school building, 1900 (later moved and rebuilt as Bullard Hall) ; West Hall, 1902 ; a two-room home for the President, 1904; and the administration and classroom building which now bears his name, 1906 ; and Infirmary, 1914. In addition to his pedagogical work at the College, Mr. Caldwell worked actively with the promotion of civic projects in Natchitoches ; and his knowledge of modern methods of farming proved of great value to the rural inhabitants of the parish and of the area. His memory was phenomenal ; it is said that he knew personally every one of the hundreds of students who had ever been at Normal. Dr. James Benjamin Aswell was named president in September, 1908, and remained until he was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives in 191 1. Prior to coming to Normal, he had served successively as Louisiana State Institute Conductor, President of Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, and State Superintendent of Education. Aswell was a crusader for a new educational system, which would provide opportunities for the enlightenment and culture of every child within Ixniisiana.

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