Temple University - Templar Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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Dr. Conwetl, the huitdert'-the Founder digs the first shovetfut of earth for one of the Universitys new huitdings. The Schooi ot Nu1'sing traces its origin to 1895, the same year that the Schoot ot Theotogy was opened to accommodate the many young men who were studying tor the ministry. It was not unti1 1895 that the Co11ege and High School were torma11y divided into separate institutions. Still another mi1estone in the progress of Tempte Cotiege was taid in the same year when the Law Schooi was opened. The course in Pharmacy was first offered in 1901, and two years 1ater the Schoot ot Pharmacy was organized, with day and evening courses. Another step in the advance ot greater Tempte occurred in 1907 when, hy mutua1 agreement, the Phitadeiphia Dentat Co11ege was merged with Tempie. This is the oidest dentat schoot in the country. During the same year the charter Was amended to that of Tempie University. 1mmedi- ateiy to11owing this change the Garretson Hos- pitat was added to the University. 22 1n the cgntinuing course of prdgress, the Schooi of Music was estahtished in 1915, and the Chi- ropody Schoot in 1915, this heing the second oidest school of its kind in the eastern United States. By this time, Dr. Conwe11's greatest work was heing nationa11y recognized, and in 1915 he was presented with the Pennsy1vania award as the stateis outstanding citizen, at the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. Foiiowing the VVor1d War, in 1918, the de- mand for a higher grade ot training in shorthand, typewriting and hootciceeping made it necessary for the President to form the Schooi of Commerce. At that time ciasses in accounting, advertising, and husiness 1aw were organized, and a targe numher ot students who had heen in mi1itary service presented themselves for registration. Before 1919 training for the teaching protes- sion had received consideration through separate and independent departments. 1n that year hy act of the corporation there was effected a re- organization comhining the severat divisions into a singte schooi tcnown as Teachers Cotlege. Dur- ing the year of inception the totai adult registra- tion numhered 487 with 51 faculty memhers. Today, seventeen years 1ater, that numher has heen augmented to such a degree that the annuat student enro11ment has reached more than three thousand students who are served hy 225 facutty memtoers. The year 1920 marked the founding of the Schoot of Oral Hygiene, and in the following year the Greatheart Hospital was incorporated in the University. With Coiiege Hail ta1cing on the veneration of age, Dr. Conweti visioned the need for a htoctc of modern huiidings on Broad Street. Accord- ing1y, in 1922 work hegan on Conwe11 1'1a11. The cornerstone was taid on Thursday, Gctoher 12,

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THE CONWELL LEGACY E who are graduating in 1956 find it cult to realize that we have been here during one-thirteenth ol the Universityls entire history. When Temple was in its infancy some titty years ago, Broad Street was a wide, bare roadway traversed by horse-drawn buggies. Elec- tric lighting was a novelty, and sidewallcs had just been built around the Nlonument Cemetery Hin the event that the city grew that tar northf, Since those early days when Dr. Conwell taught his first class of seven theology students, many changes have come about which have re- sulted in a great metropolitan university educat- ing about 11,000 students yearly. The tirst class met in Dr. Conwellls homeg later the school moved to the basement of the Grace Baptist Churchg and then to a house at 1915 lVlervine Street. By 1888, tour years later, the little night school class of seven stuclents had increased to 500, and Dr. Conwell had been granted a college charter. The increased number of students made it neces- sary to move to larger quarters, and when the Baptist Temple on Broad Street was completed in 1891, Dr. Conwell was teaching his classes in two large Parlc Avenue houses and two rented halls. As pastor of the Baptist Temple, Dr. Conwell organized a campaign to raise funds to erect a new building to be located on the lot adjacent to the church. The drive was so successful that in August, 1895, the cornerstone of College Hall was laid and the dedication exercises were held the following May. Among the notables present at the dedication service was Governor Pattison of Pennsylvania. To this new building went 20 faculty members. headed by Dr. Conwell as professor of mental tm philosophy and oratory. The school colors at that time were blue, cherry-red and golcl. Para- doxically, the monthly paper changed its name from the Temple College News to The Owl. Dr. Conwell macle it a rule that if ten persons wanted a course, it would be given, and, in this way, the curriculum was greatly widened. How- ever, it was not until the power to confer college degrees was granted that Temple became a regu- lar day school and the College of Liberal Arts was organized. This was in 1891. ln the same year the College toolc over the Samaritan Hos- pital, Broacl and Untario Streets, which Dr. Conwell had founded a few years before. 1 Vtflrere the University started,-the first huilcling, at 1915 lVlerUine Street, usecl when llle sluxlent laocly oufgrew the lnasement of Dr. COVILUGIVS church.

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1922, although, loecause of a shortage ot funds, the building was not completed until January, 1924. There were now signs ot rising school spirit. The tootloall team of the Physical Education De- partment played on fields loaned loy high schools. It was in 1921 that the Temple Vxfeelzty received a letter complaining against politics in elections and urged tor a Student Council that would he popularly elected. ln 1925, Dr. Conwell received perhaps the greatest honor of his career. He was the first winner of the Philadelphia Award, presented an- nually to the Philadelphian doing the most out- standing worlc for his city. George Wharton Pepper, who made the award, praised Dr. Con- wellss worlc as preacher, teacher and educator. HThere is at the present timef, he said, Ha movement to enshrine his service and his devotion to his tellowman in a louilding to he added to the equipment ot Temple University, and to he itself a Temple of service, called hy his namef' Mayor Nloore designated the weelc of March 18 to 24, 1925, as Hconwell VV'eel+:,H during which necessary funds were raised to complete Conwell Hall. ln this same year the first Templar was issued under the sponsorship ot Dr. Robert Burns Wallace. Athletic prospects brightened when a 12-acre field at City Line and Vernon Road was purchased in 1924. The first use made of the llield was for Dr. Laura H. Carnett, Associate President, who died in 1929, was one of the most active workers in the development of the University. interclass sports. Other events ot the year in- cluded the formation of the Qwl Honorary So- ciety flater lcnown as the Temple Chapter ot Blue Keyl. Dean Milton F. Staufier was honored at a dinner hy the School ot Commerce Alumni following his completion ot 25 years of service with the University. Dr. Conwell delivered his lecture UAcres ot Diamondsn tor the 6,147th time at the Methodist Church, Vvesttield, Massachu- setts, where he had delivered it tor the first time when he was 17,-fin 1860. The first University footloall team went on the field in 1925, with Heinie Miller as coach. During the fall oi 1925, Dr. Conwell,s health tailed. He died Decemloer 6, 1925, and was mourned hy thousands. His last words expressed a hope to he with the trustees again soon and that God should hless them. A In his last hirthday message to the Temple Weekly in Fehruary, 1925, he expressed his fond hope for a greater Temple University. ,111 -.