University of Evansville - LinC Yearbook (Evansville, IN)

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Mayor Ben Bosse, center, and james Scarborough, architect, break ground for Administration Building on May 5, 1921. The year 1922 also brought recognition by the State Board of Education of ECI as a standard four-year college. The l,inCI, meaning Life in College, also came into existence that year. The annual was edited by Ralph Olmsted, now business man- ager ofthe University. The school continued to grow under the administration of President Hughes, who resigned in 1927. Dr. Earl Harper succeeded him and served until 1936. During Dr. Harper's administration, the curriculum was re-arranged into three divisions: humanities Cfour departmentsj, science Cfive de- partments, and social science Cthree departmentsj A gift of Mr. and Mrs. john L. Igleheart made possible the erection of a president's home on Rotherwood Avenue. It was the only building constructed on the campus between 1922 and 1947 though some temporary frame buildings were moved onto the campus in 1947. Gov. james Goodrich signs charter of Evansville College Feb. 17, 1919. of

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To further convince the representatives of Evansvillefs need for the institution of higher learning, Mr. Clifford made a map showing colleges within the Tri-state area, each with a circle around it with a radius of 50 miles. This map showed that not a single circle touched the Evansville area, already a well-populated city. After hearing the report of the Moores Hill representative, President Alfred Hughes concluded that Moores Hill Col- lege should relocate at Evansville. He further proposed that the standing structures be given to Moores Hill for community school use and that one building on the new campus QMoore Hall Residence for Womenl be named for john C. Moore, founder of the college. In june, 1917, the junior college graduates were given Associate of Arts degrees and the campus doors were closed at Moores Hill, Indiana. A total of 487 men and women were graduated from the college over 61 years. Guided by President Hughes, the Evansville Chamber of Commerce successfully raised the cityfs proposed funds be- tween March 30 and May 3, 1917. With large donations from the Rosencranz family, Francis Reitz, members of Trinity Methodist Church and with the efforts of Mayor Bosse, the fB500,000 was raised. Next, the First Congres- sional District, surrounding Evansville, began to raise the second portion of the total. The total financial campaign including the matching funds donated by the Indiana Con- ference ofthe Methodist Church ended December 20, 1917, with a grand total of one million dollars. At last a campus site could be purchased. After much con- sideration, the 70-acre tract of land on which the University of Evansville is located was purchased. Meanwhile, a charter was granted to the newly located school, named Evansville College, by the Indiana Legislature and signed by Governor james P. Goodrich on February 17, 1919. The following September classes opened in temporary quarters in the downtown area. Rooms in the Adath Israel Synagogue between Fifth and Sixth Streets on Vine, the Y.M.C.A. and Central High School were used for classes. A few resident students were housed in Sweetser Hall for Women and Excelsior Club, a dorm organized by men. CD9 .1 Nine professors were selected to compose the faculty: An- drew Bigney, Charles Torbet, G. R. Franklin, Lucy jenkins Franklin, H. L. Goumez, Olaf Hovda, Elizabeth Cowan, C. W. Shumway, Eugene McCartney. When the college opened on September 16, 1919, there were 104 students registered. By the end of the first year, 303 students had en- rolled. Governor Goodrich formally opened the college during ceremonies on November 20 and 21. The first issues of the student newspaper, The Crescent, which first appeared on October 21, carried stories of the opening festivities and published that the State Board of Education had accredited the department of education as a normal school for teachers on a two-year program. Another story informed the students that the late Levi Gilbert's 2,800 books had been given to the college to start a library. Even as school started, plans were well underway for the Administration Building on the east side campus. It was dedi- cated on june 16, 1922. The four-story Indiana limestone building cost l5300,000. A

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ns , Q - , , , f aa. ll f- , -,. ,.,. .,-.. .. -. .-.-n - ,....,.. ....... --. N. ...-..f- f..-1-qu--,..-.,.f,., . -. . ,,-in .M at ,fl f f V . ., , .. U , . I .- , , Q ty ,, 4 ,. , ,. ll ll I ll I Blk I1 llt ESE? 2. President's Home Dr. Marion Smith was president from 1936 until 1940. His term was a difhcult one for once again financial prob- lems faced the college. As a result, suggestions were made to give the college over to municipal control or to come under the direction of Indiana University. In 1940, Dr. Lincoln B. Hale became president. Under Dr. Hale's leadership a large advancement came to EC in the form of the establishment of an -Evening College, now the Community College. For years some professors had met in in- formal class groups in the evenings if the students chose to do so. The Evening College at once became a strong tie between the adults of the community and the college. During World War II, enrollment dipped again. In 1940, there had been 527 students. But 1943 found only 286 enrolled. By 1945 there were 456, and attendance jumped to 1,502 the very next year. A rapid building program began in 1947 with the con- struction of the 3750,000 Engineering-Science Building. About the same time alumni and friends of EC decided that the students needed a student building to replace the TUB or Temporary Union Building, a former Red Cross canteen lo- cated where the new classroom building now stands. Funds were raised and construction began in November, 1949, on the McCurdy Memorial Union, which was to be a living memorial to honor students and alumni who gave their lives in World War II. After President Hale resigned in 1954, Dr. Melvin W. Hyde came to the campus. Dr. Hyde, who has resigned effec- tive this September, has seen the greatest number of changes take place on the campus. The succession of buildings has been rapid: Clifford Memorial Library, 1956, Hughes Hall Residence for Men, originally occupied by women, 1958, Bookstore and cafeteria addition to the Student Union, 1959, Moore Hall Residence for Women, 1960, Hovda, Franklin, Bigney and Torbet Residence Houses, purchased in 1960, Krannert Hall of Fine Arts and Wheeler Concert Hall, 1962, Carson Center for Health and Physical Education, 1962, Harper Residence Dining Center, 1964, Neu Chapel, 1965, Shanklin Theatre and Hyde Hall, 1967, Hale Resi- dence for Men, 1966, and Brentano Residence for Women, 1966. Functioning only as an undergraduate school until 1965, EC took a step toward university status when the Division of Graduate Studies was established in the summer session of 1965. The program included courses for elementary and secondary teachers in 12 major areas, and will be expanded in the future. The graduate faculty includes 31 professors under a graduate council including Dr. Ralph Coleman, Dr. Nicho- las Brown, Dr. Marvin Hartig, Dr. james Morlock and Dr. Earl Tapley.