Radford University - Beehive Yearbook (Radford, VA)

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KAVNOR Immediately after the opening of the institution two literary societies, the Ingles and Pocahontas, were organized and assigned permanent homes in the Administration Building. The Young Women's Christian Association was organized and assigned permanent headquarters in the same building. A Folk Lore Society, Faculty Club, and a host of organizations amongst the students were soon in existence. A Lyceum Course was provided, and a large number of lectures and addresses has been given before the students and faculty throughout the session by men and women prominent in various professions and callings. In August, I9I3, the annual meeting of the Division Superintendents for the State was held in the normal school buildings. In March, I9l4, a joint Educational Con- ference of the teachers of the Ninth and Sixth Congressional Districts was held in the normal school buildings, March 5th, 6th, and 7th. The General Assembly of Virginia, in March, l9l4, has made liberal appropria- tions for the enlargement of the work of the Radford Normal School. The physical equipment of the institution, and the attendance of students, will doubtless be greatly augmented within the next two years. 12

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xii- f-'+ f tif , ,. Q1 ,., tiiiiiiiiilisssel g K f K t 5 ' W Uribe jiomnat ,,.,f HE Radford State Normal and Industrial School was established by Act of General Assembly of Virginia, in l9l0. The city of Rad- ford made provision lor securing the site, and the Board of Trustees Ipxfj? acquired a part of Norwood estate from Captain and lVlrs. Stockton Heth. On the normal school grounds is a virgin forest of oak. 2 ZQYIAWN t The General Assembly, in l9l2, made appropriations for the erection of buildings and the equipment and' furnishing of the build- ings. On October Z, l9l l, Dr. P. McConnell was elected president of the institution. On June 6, l9l2, the Board of Trustees, in meeting at East Radford, Virginia, elected most of the members of the faculty for the session of 1913-I4. The other members of the faculty were elected in special meeting of the Board of Trustees in September, l9l3. The Administration Building was completed in the summer of l9l 3, and cost about ninety-three thousand dollars. This building was dedicated with formal ceremonies participated in by Capt. W. T. Baldwin, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. P. McConnell, President of the Normal Schoolg Governor Willialn Hodges Mann, Hon. R. E.. Byrd, and other distinguished citizens, August 9, l9l 3. ln the summer of l9I 3, a boiler house and other minor improvements were provided. The hrst session of this institution opened September l7, l9l3. Ex-Governor J. Hoge Tyler gave an address of welcome to the students and members of the faculty. The devotional exercises were conducted by Rev. W. Rader. Fear had been expressed by many citizens of the State that too many normal schools had been established and that there would not be sufhcient patronage for all the normal schools. The fact, that the number of young women seeking admission to the Radford Normal School at its opening was larger than could be accommodated, showed that there was a real need and demand for this new institution. The school rented Norwood mansion for use as a dormitory. Norwood and the large frame dormitory rented from Captain l-leth proved insufficient to accommodate the young women desiring to enter the school the first session 11

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