University of Miami - Ibis Yearbook (Coral Gables, FL)

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OM Archives 1928 1929 (JM . . . President Ashe ' s first announcements of University; policy favored an interchange with Latin America, to make the Universit i of Miami a bridge between the two Americas. UM ... In the 1920 ' s and 1930 ' s the University; of Miami regularly played and defeated the football team of the University of Havanna. UM . . . Octavio Averhoff became the second recipient of an honorary degree from the young institution, collecting a Doctor of Laws. UM . . . Financial difficulties threatened the existence of the university as shown by Mr William Whitman, who sent a check for $1,000 to be used only if the University continues through 1928- 1929. UM . . . When financial difficulties threatened the fledgling institution, students canvassed door-to-door in order to raise needed funds. UM . . .Dr. Rafael Belaunde joined the faculty as professor of Spanish and Hispanic American affairs. UM . . . The 1929 IBIS was dedicated to William Jennings Bryan, who conceived the plan for a Pan American university in Miami, but who never lived to see his dream realized. UM . . . Henry Skinner West became dean of the newly created colleges of Liberal Arts and the School of Education. UM . . . The post-hurricane economic depression was felt heav- ily by the University of Miami as many of the public pledges totalling $15,000,000 were never received. RETROSPECTIVE 5

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Miami Herald Archives 1926 UM . . . A small communify nestled between the Florida Ever- glades and Biscai ne Ba , wooden buildings, sweltering heat, and Flagler ' s railroad . . . this was Coral Gables in 1926. UM . . . George Edgar Merrick donated 160 acres and $5,000,000 to establish an institution of higher learning that would combine the best of Latin and Anglo-American cultures. UM . . . Corxstruction began on the Adminstration Unit. This building, to be named a fter Solomon Merrick, was the first on the current Main Campus. UM ... A hurricane dashed hopes of completing permanent facilities so the Anastasia Hotel was quickly; converted into tem- porary classrooms. UM . . . The University of Miami opened the doors to its first class on October 15th. 1927 UM . . . The Miami Conservatory, established in October, 1926, by Bertha Foster, was acquired as a school of the Universi- ty. UM . . . The Law School, organized in 1926 by Dean R.A. Rasco, graduated its first lawyers liscensed to practice law in Florida . UM . . . Famed local artist Denman Fink regularly taught and worked with budding student artists. UM . . . Courses were offered in Marine Zoology, the fore- runner of today ' s graduate program at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. UM . . . Judge William E. Walsh completed his first year as president of the University Board of Regents — now the Board of Trustees. Walsh was a great asset to the University during her fledgling years. 4 RETROSPECTIVE

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I 1930 1931 UM . . . This was the first year for Hurricar e uarsity tennis, the winningest sport in the school ' s history. UM . . . Effects of the depression continued as the Citi! of Miami reduced its appropriation to the Universiti to $20,000, but pai ment in full was still doubtful since tax revenues were prorated among several accounts. UM . . . Ludd Myrl Spiuey was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws and Glenn Hammond Curtiss an honorary Doctor of Sci- ence during commencement excerises on June 9th. UM . . . The Aviation School was the site of formation of the first greek-letter professional aviation fraternity in the collegiate world, Pi Omicron. UM . . . The first class to have attended Miami for four years graduated with fifty students. UM . . . The first national fraternities came to campus early in the 30 ' s. but sororities preceded fraternities by several years . UM . . . The Depression years saw students employed as jani- tors, clerks, drama workers, and library assistants in order to afford the luxury of a university education. UM . . . President Ashe ' s annual university salary was $10,000. The same proportion of his salary as that of the faculty s remained unpaid during each of U.M. ' s initial, struggling years. UM . . . President Ashe saluted the graduating class for their appreciation of the fine things the University had to offer, their patience with inconveniences, their charity towards shortcomings, and their growth in intellectual power k 6 RETROSPECTIVE