Purdue University - Debris Yearbook (West Lafayette, IN)

Page 19 text:

1919 (Debris Foreword BORING under unprecedented handicaps resulting from i $ the shock of the world war. the Staff of the 1919 Debris 1 £ f wj has prepared this record of Purdue's most trying year. We were forced to begin work on the book later than usual because of the conditions prevailing at Purdue until long after Christmas. We take pride in presenting this Volume XXXI. feeling that we have accomplished our purpose in some small degree at least in spite of more discouragements than have been confronted by our predecessors. This book, the product of our labors, contains a history of the past year with all its joys and sorrows: a record of Purdue's role in the war: a resume of our customs and traditions: a pictorial review of the University at work and at play. It is a memento of Purdue life which, we trust, will be treasured by our readers in future years among their most valued possessions. t PURDUE UNIVERSITYfc P «s« TmrtM

Page 18 text:

1919 Debris The University Service Flag FEELING that sonic definite recognition should l e taken of the men of the University who had entered the service, the members of the Purdue Girls' Club voted tlic money necessary for the purchase of the University Service Flag. A committee of four, consisting of the presidents of the girls of the four classes, conferred with Miss Laura Fry of the Art Department. She conceived the idea of having all the men represented by the one large blue star, under this star being the letters I’. U. and the numeral , for the number of men enlisted. Early in March of 1918 this Service Flag was dedicated at a special convocation. Hazel Miller. 'iS. chairman of the committee, presented the flag to President Stone in behalf of the Purdue Girls’ Club. As the President received the flag it was pulled to its present | osition over the pipe organ, in Fowler Hall, by two Purdue men in uniform. At the time of dedication the total number of men enlisted was fourteen hundred, while the gold stars numbered three. Since then the number of enlisted men has increased to four thousand, and fifty-two gold stars have taken their places on the white field. Thus it was that the Purdue Service Flag came to be. with the hope that it might remain through the future years as a reminder of the patriotism and sacrifice of Purdue men. I A«K TWM.VI! . PURDUE UNIVERSITY

Page 20 text:

' W T)ebri$ Debris History VOLUME I of the Purdue Debris was published by the Senior class of 18IS9. The book was small and is a great contrast compared with the Debris of recent years. A: this time there were only two fraternities at Purdue -Sigma Chi and Kappa Sigma. Purdue com| ctcd in athletics with Indiana colleges and Butler was the greatest rival of the Old Cold and Black in football. The students lived in the dormitories, which occupied Purdue Hall, and the few women then in attendance were all housed in Ladies' 1 fall. There were very few organizations outside the literary societies which were very influential in university life. The Exponent was published by the societies, who took turns editing the paper which was not a daily at that time. The few buildings, small number of students, small amount of equipment contrast strikingly with the Purdue of today. In fact, the University has far distanced the fondest hopes of its founders. The school has developed along all lines and has come to Ik- recognized among the accepted higher institutions of education. The Debris has kept pace with this advance and each year has recorded the story of the progre . The book has grown from a volume of slightly more than one hundred to the present volume of nearly four hundred. Each year there has been noticed a gradual and marked improvement in the quality of the Debris, until in recent years it has come to be a valuable souvenir of Purdue life. The art and photography work has been increased each year, largely because of the improved printing facilities, allowing for artistic color work, flue electro-plate halt-tones, attractive cml ossing and many other improvements. We Itope that this volume will show an improvement over former ones, demonstrating the evolutionary growth of Purdue. Pac roi’nnx