Saint Ambrose College - Oaks Yearbook (Davenport, IA)

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ABOVE: St. Ambrose displays it's very start of co-educational institution. In 1885, the central unit of Ambrose Hall was dedicated on its present site. This same year the college was incor- porated as a literary, scientific, and religious institution. Although it was officially known as St. Ambrose semi- nary until 1908, young men not aspir- ing to the priesthood soon outnum- bered the seminarians. Diocesan priests, supported by lay colleagues, were not only in tuned to their time, but often set the pace for progressive higher education. ln 1929, women were allowed to attend late afternoon and evening classes. Ten years later, the arrangement was dis- continued, when St. Ambrose encour- aged the opening of a sister college, Marycrest. Later, nurses were allowed to attend classes also to be discontin- ued. In 1967, the present co-educa- tional system that presently abides was established. ful, i ' - M, we .. - ,A I 1' . 2, 7 SAC theatre was conducted in the above auditorium which was housed in Ambrose Hall. Today, it houses a recreation center.

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Reflections St. Ambrose College, the center for much of our growth and development, had at its conception, a philosophical base approximating the ideals of freedom and the pursuit of happiness advocated in the Declaration of Independence. As outlined in the college objectives, St. Am- brose College teaches that man can achieve the greatest measure of happiness in his understand- ing of the meaning of life based on truths about man's relations to the Creater and his fellow man. Basing its very purpose on Christian principles, the institution has committed itself to the pursuit of truth and the respect for the freedom and digni- ty ofall men. What stands today as a liberal arts institution for men and women, St. Ambrose has historically pursued a progressive course of constant growth both physically and intellectually. This institution of higher learning, at present offering a program of undergraduate studies lead- ing to a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Arts in Special Studies degree, came into existence when the first Bishop of Davenport, the lVlost Reverend John MclVlullen, one year after the founding of the Diocese of Davenport, decided that one of his primary concerns was the education of youth. He set aside for this purpose two rooms at the old St. lVlargaret's School, now Sacred Heart Cathedral, and engaged two instruc- tors for a handful of boys and young men. -9' LEFT: Rev. A. J. Schulte First President of St, Ambrose. BELOW: Early dorm accomadations of Ambrose Hall. BELOW: The old Chapel, housed in the west wing of Ambrose Hall . if 1 is i wr

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During World War ll, the location St. Ambrose was chosen as a base for the training of United States Naval officers. Because of this arrangement, in October, 1945, Secretary James V. Forrestal, bestowed the U.S. Navy's Certificate of Commendation on the college. The recognition by the United States Navy, an outstanding athletic program, and respectable alumni, were some of the not- able causes for an upsurge of student en- rollment, including students from every part ofthe country. Today St. Ambrose has grown to an insti- tution with eight major buildings, ninety faculty members and twenty-six major areas of concentration. More than sixty thousand people claim St. Ambrose College as their Alma Mater and each year more than 1100 full-time students are enrolled. Located on six blocks of residential areas in north central Davenport, the college's buildings are grouped in the south two- thirds of the campus with the athletic field and parkingareas on the north. .QM Q i -- ' st 'f X- ,f 3 1. H N. 3- Www 8 'f f