Southwestern Louisiana Institute - Lacadien Yearbook (Lafayette, LA)

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1917-1918 — Southwestern became a junior col- lege, providing the last year of high school and the first two years of college. Teacher training summer sessions attracted 313 students. 1919 — Acquired a 125-acre farm and barn for agriculture instruction; gymnasium was converted to dining hall by student labor. 1920-1921 — The Constitutional Convention of 1921 designated Southwestern one of the institu- tions of- higher learning in Louisiana. Southwest- ern was composed of four separate colleges, each having its dean and faculty. Each college offered degrees in areas of Liberal Arts, Education, Agri- culture, and Engineering. High school courses were phased out. -A Lo«d of ln«fit-utc H»q Q Name changed to Southwestern Louisiana Institute of Liberal and Technical Learning, to reflect new status. Enrollment was 280. and granted first Bachelors ' degrees to 86 candi- dates. 1921 — Twentieth Anniversary was marked by the renaming of buildings in honor of the school ' s supporters: Main Building became Martin Hall; the oldest dorm, Foster Hall after a former Louisiana governor; the newer dorm, DeClouet Hall, honoring a member of the legis- lature who helped obtain funds; and Brown Ayres Hall after one of the original Board of Trustees members. 1922-1923 — Girard Hall completed. Total costs per session were $265.40. 1923 — Library, containing 5,800 volumes, moved to Girard Hall which was also used for classrooms. Main campus consisted of 50 acres, and a college farm of 125 acres. There were five permanent brick buildings and eight frame structures. The catalog added the following courses: Art. Biology. Chem- istry. Commerce. Business Administration. Eco- nomics, Sociology. History. Foreign Languages, Political Science, Physics, Mathematics, Public Speaking. Physical Education. Music, and Veteran Rehabilitation. The only purely administrative offices were the Registrar, Business Manager, and Superintendent of Grounds and Buildings.

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1904 — The Interscholastic Athletic and Oratorical Associ- ation was organized, and held its first contest on the cam- pus in 1906. The events were primarily track events. 1905 — Added faculty in Latin, Art, Geography, Drawing and Telegraphy. Graduated 62 students. 1907 — Requirements for admission raised to 8th grade level. Enrollment was up to 265. Completed second resi- dence hall which was later named De Clouet. 1908 — Began participating with area schools in football events. 1911-1912 — The first student annual, L ' Acadien, was published. Track team organized. 1914-1915 — Organized baseball team. Built Brown Ayres, the Arts Building, which cost $14,593. The building was destroyed by fire in 1972. TRANSITIONAL YEARS 1916-1917 — The school ' s curricula con- sisted of: four two-year teacher training courses; a four-year academic industrial course; a one-year commercial course, and stenographic course. Enrollment was 322, with 24 faculty members. Operational budget $45,000. The total cost for room, board, laundry, medical .services, books and supplies, lab fees and matriculation was $160 per session.

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SOUTHWESTERN AS A COLLEGE 1924 — Library now contained 8,000 volumes. Enrollment was 618; graduated 68; 31 with bacca- laureate degrees. Bi-weekly Vermilion began pub- lishing weekly. 1925 — Institute accredited by and invested with full membership in Southern Association of Col- leges and Secondary Schools. Science Hall (now Lee Hall) built for classrooms and laboratories for $40,000. Student Government Association founded. Built Football Stadium and Men ' s Gym- nasium near McKinley. Both have since been replaced. Enrollment 750, graduated 106. 1927 — Built Buchanan Hall and Judice Hall, both dormitories. 1928 — Organized Golf Team. 1929 — Additions to Martin Hall. Extended audi- torium and provided additional space for offices. Enrollment 869; faculty, 45. 1930 — Organized boxing which continued until 1941. 1931 — Acquired a 30 acre horticultural farm. Library contained 15,000 volumes. 1932 — Organized Tennis Team. Given accredita- tion by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. r935 — Built the O. K. Allen Dining Hall. 1936 — Acquired 171 acre Whittington farm, with Whittington Hall, which was later used as a Home Economics practice residence. 1937 — Added two pieces of land amounting to 37 acres to the main campus, one bounded bv McKinley, St. Mary, Taft and Tulane; the otncr bounded by Girard Park Drive and Woodson. Built Harris Hall, a women ' s dormitory. 1938 — President Stephens retired and was suc- ceeded by Dr. Lether Frazar. Departments of Agriculture and Home Economics became College of Agriculture with Dr. Joel L. Fletcher, dean. Cre- ated a Music Department. Faculty a body of 77 members. 1939 — Building on campus included addition to O. K. Allen Dining Hall, and a men ' s brick gym- nasium. 1940 — Completed work on Broussard Hall, Ste- phens Memorial Library. Mouton Hall, Burke Hall, McNaspy Stadium-Dormitory, Hamilton Laboratory School, Saucier Infirmary, Women ' s Gymnasium, new residence for President, Parker Hall, and Evangeline Hall, and covered walks. All were dedicated at the same time. Library moved to Stephens Memorial Library building, and added a collection of microfilm reproductions, 250 paint- ings for exhibit, a F eriodicals room, a browsing room, and a loan system. College of Engineering formed. Added two-year Pre-Dental, and four- year Public Welfare curricula. Debate societies moved to the intercollegiate level. 1941 — Dr. Joel Fletcher named as President; had previously served as Dean of the College of Agri- culture.