Northwestern State University - Potpourri Yearbook (Natchitoches, LA)

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JOHN RABB, Editor FRANK HUDSON, Associate Editor MARY RABB, Business Manager PAUL MARX, Advisor

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Jt r E J V ) V 4 r — vH N T Y-F I V E YEARS y. Oh, Alma Mater, here today; We for thy lasting blessings pray. We know not where our paths may go— The State Board of Education appointed as the first Board of Administrators the following residents of Natchitoches — Judge David Pierson, Major E. E. Buckner, Hon. Leopold Caspari, Mr. T. P. Chaplin, and Mr. H. B. Walmsley. This Board organized with Judge David Pierson as president; and, on December 29, 1884, elected Dr. Edward E. Sheib, of Baltimore, president of the faculty. The original act limited the course of study to two years, and the annual session to six months ; but these restrictions were later removed. The first session of the Louisiana State Normal School opened on November 1, 1885. The faculty consisted of Dr. Sheib, Prof. Earl Grace, and Miss Nettie Rousseau ; and there were twenty-seven students — some thirty-three additional students enrolled after the session began. President Sheib had taken his Ph.D. at Leipzig, Germany ; he was a pioneer in the newer theories of education. It was he who laid the foundations of the school and steered it successfully through its difficult first years. Being artistic in temperament, he appreciated the natural beauty of Normal Hill, and did everything he could to enhance it. In 1887 Normal held its first graduation, awarding diplomas to Misses Emma Oswalt, Sallie May Phillips, and Mary Washington. In May of the following year, Dr. Sheib resigned to accept a position at the University of South Carolina. Beginning in the summer of 1884 and continuing for many summers thereafter, the Normal conducted teachers ' institutes for the benefit of teachers who could not attend the regular sessions. These institutes were very beneficial to the in-service teachers, and were responsible in large measure for developing widespread interest in education throughout the state. For a little more than a month Professor Alby L. Smith was the Acting President of the Normal. Professor Smith served as training teacher and conductor of the institutes for sor e f aculty fsVfndered to ho wa( then p »f 9!br of English state Uffjy fsity. President fa t tfir N iiiafgt - nn July, 1 888, is»osIfj5rt f or eight years, resigning it on ) ac ept thepreSiJ ncv o JyOiiisiana State ! Vjte now cinstitJting the X fidemic C ft o Northwestern S te ColWe of Louisiana standtT 4— all tharrwrntm oLtl il 1 bmuti ffl home of