Pittsburg State University - Kanza Yearbook (Pittsburg, KS)

Page 8 text:

The burning of Russ Hall during an electrical storm in 1914, a tragic set-back at the time, provided only added initiative and effort toward the goal of a perman- ently established, ever-growing educational institution. The school developed from the special task of preparing teachers of industrial arts and home economics to a general program embracing the preparation of teachers and administrators in all subject-matter fields and in all levels of the public-school system. The 27 years from 1913 to 1940 constituted the administration of the first pres- ident of the College, William A. Brandenburg. It was a period of notable progress in raising and establishing on high levels the academic standards of the institu- tion; of remarkable expansion of the program and the offerings, in keeping with the rapidly increasing enrollment of students, and consequent enlargement of the faculty; of substantial development of financial support, and of corresponding growth in physical plant and equipment. Dr. 0. P. Dellinger was appointed acting president in 1940, until the accession of Dr. Rees H. Hughes as president in 1941. Since that time, the College has ex- panded under the careful leadership of President Hughes. The new buildings on campus speak for themselves and for the functioning building program, and the growth in enrollment speaks for the intellectual, social, and spiritual growth and training the students receive. Kansas State Teachers College has become one of the fully-accredited schools in the nation, and its active constructional and educational programs assure its place in the American school system. Beginning this summer, the College celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, and if this Kanza of 1953 were to be dedicated, it could only be to those students and faculty members of years past. The way has been lighted before us, we can but follow. Page 6

Page 7 text:

In 1903, when a State Manual Training Normal School at Pittsburg was proposed, it appeared that Kansas had had a state system of schooling for over 40 years, and that it was maintaining three state schools for teacher training. None of these institutions offered courses in manual training, and a definite lack of teachers in that field was felt. The bill providing for the establishment of an Auxiliary Manual Training School, a branch of the State Normal School at Em- poria, was passed in February, 1903, and in September of that same year, school was opened at Pittsburg with 54 students and five faculty members. “In order that none should be handicapped in procuring this education which the legislature has provided, the requirements for admission are very broad and liberal.” Any student who had graduated from the eighth grade of the common better, and who presented satisfactory character references, was to be admitted to the Normal School without examination. During the years 1905-1908 construction was begun on an administration building. While Principal R. S. Russ was debat- ing the question in the State House, he was jokingly fined a barrel of apples, so the school celebrated its first “Apple Day,” now an annual event, on March 8, 1905. The attempt to become an independent school resulted in the dismissal of Mr. Russ, the first principal, but the school continued in its steady growth. The ground- work had been laid, the path begun. In 1913 the long-awaited independence was granted and the name of the school became “Kansas State Manual Training Nor- mal School of Pittsburg.” schools or district schools of any county in the state with a grade of 80 per cent or Page 5

Page 9 text:

Queens of poise, personality, beauty and charm. Annette Brown, tied for second attendant; Lois Nieman, queen; Betty King, tied for second attendant; and Sue Carol Rash, first attendant.