San Francisco State University - Franciscan Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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Aoonmm snows EDITED BY ' SIBYL HURNING ' ASSISTED BY LOUISE VALLARINO

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7ke ma aww . Lusty San Francisco was in the midst of Civil War fervor when the State of California opened the first teacher training institute within her gates. Lusf ty San Francisco was too interested in the fight be' tween the states and the fight to keep California within the Union to care much for the infant school that was starting in the city. Little heed was taken when Governor John G. Downey signed the measure that legislated the first State Normal School west of the Rockies into ex' istence. The infant school had its troubles. Politics beset it and finances were not strong enough for its continued existence. After a few years it was moved to San Jose. The year 1875 saw the start of the second teacher training venture in San Francisco. The city was settling down from the effects of the Civil War agif tation and was starting a campaign against Chinese Immigration. The second attempt was purely municf ipal in scope and was started at the Girl's High School as a post graduate course. Apparently the city fathers thought San Francisco should have the advantages offered in the little hamlet of San jose and so started the post graduate course at the high school. This existed until 1899 when the present State College was founded. California and San Francisco in particular were wrapped up in the excitement incidental to the Span' ish American War. San Francisco had gone through the hectic years that marked the eighties. The Carf men's strike had been settled and due homage had been paid to that Royal Hawaiian Kalakua who died in San Francisco. The shooting of judge David Terry had been forgotten and the city was looking to the new century. The Midwinter Exposition had been closed and the visit of President Benjamin Harrison was past history. fPageSeventeen1 I .GN wig iw 4 I i Xitrgjfrx-if lx i K, I i - r .rib 'J X . Thus what is now San Francisco State College came into existence during the hectic years at the turn of the century. The second school was to perch on the crest of Powell Street. Little is known of the early years of that institution. With the fire and earthquake came destruction of the Powell Street building and disruption of the Normal School. Dr. Frederic Burk took hold after the 1906 catastrophe and the college was moved to its present site. An old negro church was converted into the library for the normal school and College Hall was erected. Two opinions prevail as to College Hall. One source says that it was a temporary measure and the other declares that it was the Hnestischool building in the West at the time of its erection. Frederic Burk guided the college until his death in 1925. The Winnetka system of instruction was given to the educational world as the product of this man. He visioned a separate administration building and a new training school and gymnasium. RUINS OF the Powell Street building of the ecrrly college. ln the background can be seen the old Ferry lower. The picture Wcxs lciken crfier Ihe fire ond earthquake of 1906. .F i. rx MA - Q li7i ?-iTi1i-ig :-i1l l.il in1171lSi 1L lp