University of Chicago - Cap and Gown Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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FAMOUS MIDWAY PERSONALITIES Cn the page to the left, we have . . . xlimmyfouhig . . . god ofthe rolling greensvvard . . travels with the team of QQ. Wally Eclcersall . . . oneofthegreatestfootballplayers of all time . . . needs no introduction. Coach Stagg . . . disabled . . , congratulates HShorty Des vlardien from his motorcycle sidecar after a Chicago victory over lndiana. U8abe Meigs . . . famous ball carrier ofthe champion- ship 1905 team. C. 8. l-lerschberger . . . Chicagos first All-American selection. Qtto Strohmeier . . baclcfield mainstay of the powerful 'QQ squad. Pete Russel . . . the great T915 captain tall4s things over with Coach Stagg. Norm Paine and Nels Norgren . . . jovial friends . . winners of the C . Ned Merriam . . . smiling Speedster of Maroon tracl4 and football squads. Wally Steffen and Pat Page . . . the great combination . . Wally holds the ball for Pat. INTERVALS IN THE LIFE OF THE GRAND OLD MAN Pictured at the right . . Stagg plays end as a son of old Eli. A young divinity student at Yale in one of his lighter moments, Stagg poses for a picture on the Yale diamond in 'l888, after leading the Frosh to victory over the Sophs. After the game . . . Stagg leads his 'l9'l3 Warriors off the field. The famous coach smiles jovially for the cameraman at Western Normal on 'l'l April 1930. Baclc in his vvorlc clothes . . . Stagg begins early in September to whip his T930 sauad into shape for the first game. As we lil4e to remember the HGrand Old Manf, . . . posed Ion Stagg field, wearing the Maroon jaclcet he loved so We . I N l

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A. A. Stagg, President l-larry Pratt Judson, William Scott Bond. Dedication oF the New West Stand, ' 4 October 1913, at this time, that could not Find a job as coach in the early '90s The game had rapidly outgrown the conFines oF the Big Three and its immediate satellites, and there were Few coaches, all oF whom were in great demand. Stagg had been coaching at Springtield only a short while when a letter came From Doctor William Rainey l-larper inviting Stagg to meet him in New York City to discuss a matter oF great importance. Stagg remembered Dr. l-larper From their agreeable assocations at Yale and it was with great pleasure that he made arrangements to see him. The meeting took place in the Murray l-lotel in New York where, over the breakfast table, Dr. l'larper brought Forth his plans For the creation of the University oF Chicago. Stagg was keenly interested in the project For the new University which would not open its doors For approximately two years. l-lowever, when Dr. l-larper suggested that he head the department oF athletics at a salary oF Si 500 a year, Stagg, not being a person to quickly make up his mind, remained silent For a Few minutes, deliberating the matter. Dr. l-larper, thinking that the question oF salary was making him hesitate, enthusiastically burst in with l II give you S2500 and an associate protessorship, which means an appointment For liFe.,' Still Stagg hesitated, Finding it impossible to make up his mind on the spur oF the moment. Cn Q5 November'l890 he Finally decided to accept the position oFFered at the new University and accordingly wrote to Dr. l-larper stating: ' AFter much thought and prayer l Feel decided that my lite can best be used For my Master's service in the position which you have oFFered. While travelling to Lake Geneva in the summer oF 'l89'l, Stagg stopped oFF For a Few hours in Chicago to look over the University which was to be the dominant interest oF his liFe For so many years to come. It was a rather desolate rural scene which greeted the eyes oF the youthiul coach, the great part oF the land owned by the University being pasture surrounded by barbed wire. The University site and much oF the surrounding countryside was owned by Marshall Field, whose speculations in Chicago real estate were even more praFitable than his great store. At this time the area which was to become the glorious Midway Plaisance oF the great Exposition oF 1893 was a mere strip oF unimproved land just taken over by the park commissioners to join Washington Park with jackson Park. When he returned to the Midway again in September oF 1892 to report For duty, Stagg Found that no one building had yet been completely Finished, the carpenters still being busy putting the Finishing touches on Cobb l-lall which was the First building to be started. l-le tells oF how people entered the building over bare planks, and as there were no knobs, Faculty members carried square pieces oF wood to insert in the doors to turn the latches. No one knew how many students to expect, and nobody knew what they would do with any students who came. The Feelings OF the president, Dr. l-larper, as to what would be the out- come oi the University's First day are admirably described in Goodspeeds History oF the University of Chicago. The First day oF Qctober, 1899, that great day so long anticipated, in preparation For which so many plans had been made and so many labors perFormed, the day on which the doors of the University were to be opened For receiving students and beginning that work oF investigation and instruction which it was hoped would end only with the end oF time-that great day was drawing near. President judson writing oF it, says: 'The night beFore l spent working with Dr. l-larper on the details oF the opening until about midnight at his house. When we had Finished he threw himselF back on the sofa and said, ul wonder if there will be Yu