University of Northern Iowa - Old Gold Yearbook (Cedar Falls, IA)

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Auditorium Building Mr. Gilchrist led a song and prayer service at the request of some students. These students had gathered in Room A with families of the principal and steward, other students and employes. So began the Sunday evening service which later was merged into that of the Christian Associations. On December 1st the Seniors gave their first literary enter- tainment and opened up the way for the organization of the Philomathian and Alpha societies. The first school paper bore the name, “The Students’ Offering,” and was edited by the literary societies. Just how prominent this paper should be made seemed to be a question for some time. At first one edition came out each term, then five editions per school year and later two editions each term. We are told that the spirit of “Mr. Gilchrist’s School was earnest and willing work. We have no record of the recitations these students made, their names tell us little of what they knew and thought, but literary and commence- ment programs do show us the topics on which they at times grew eloquent. So let us look at them. From a program for December J, 1876, we may read, “Life Thoughts,” “The Teacher the Nation’s Hope,” “Great Men Who Were Bachelors,” and “I Am Content,” all of which seem to say, “This one thing I do.” The commence-

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Administration Building. 1896 City, was chosen as principal of the Iowa State Normal School. The board met again on July J2th and chose the faculty: Mr. Moses W. Bartlett as professor of Ancient Languages, Mr. D. S. Wright as professor of Mathematics and English, and Miss Frances L. Webster, professor of Geography and History. Later Mr. E. W. Burnham was secured to teach Music and give lessons on the one piano and few organs owned by the institution. Letters were now sent to county superintendents authorizing them to hold examinations for those desiring admission to the school. On Tuesday, September 6, 1876, the school opened. The faculty received the students in Room A, devotional exer- cises were led by the principal and enrollment by Profes- sor Bartlett concluded the work of the forenoon. After dinner came the recitations in which faculty and students alike participated and to Professor Wright was granted the privilege of hearing the first What is grammar? Can you just imagine how he asked it and then set his lips in that line which, while it demands a good answer, at the same time destroys all possibility of there ever being one? Such was the beginning—one building in which all lived, studied and recited, four professors and twenty-seven stu- dents, most of whom had been teachers. Many present-day customs date from the school's be- ginning. The first Sunday evening, September (1, J876,

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mcnt program for June, 1878, shows a swing in a direction more natural to human nature. Men no longer vow to be bachelors; women no longer assure us they are content in spite of such avowals, but they pour forth their inmost con- victions through such topics as “Safety Lies in a Medium,” “Reason and Faith,” “Triumphs Through Adversity,” and “National Instincts.” The commencement program for June, 1879, with its laconic, all-inclusive subjects, “Truth,” “Science,” “Scales,” “Clouds” and “Keys” presents an orig- inality far removed both from the radicalism of '77 and the moderatism of '78. The winter term in 1878, as were the later terms,, was announced by large posters on which we may read these facts: A Large Faculty of Experienced Teachers. Boarding, room, heat, light—only $3.15 per week. Free tuition for teachers. Others admitted at $2.00 per month. One hundred and twenty-seven students enrolled in Fall Term. In the annual report at the close of the school year in 1881, Principal Gilchrist announces that the school has reached its capacity and that laboratories, assembly, recita- tion and dormitory rooms and a model school are the most pressing needs. When a bill passed the legislature and a second building was being planned the graduating class asked to be allowed to have “Class of 1882” on the corner- stone. So great was the joy of the board, however, that it reserved for itself this honor. The appropriation fell short of the needs, citizens of Cedar Falls came to the rescue, teachers and students subscribed for frescoing the chapel and finishing the society rooms on fourth floor and great was the rejoicing on all sides on that day of dedica- tion, June 8, 1883. The principal's children with those of the neighborhood made up the personnel of Miss Ella Miller's Model School, occupying rooms “11” and “13” on second floor. The announcement bulletins for the follow- ing term read: Well Equipped Model School. Two Great Imposing Structures. A great school enrolling between three and four hundred students. The first decade was drawing to a close. The number of graduates had varied from four the first year to its high- est number, thirty-seven, in 1882, and to nineteen in 1886. As early as 1879 notices had been sent to county superin- tendents announcing graduates as candidates for positions and up to 1886 of the 177 graduates, 166 had taught since graduation, and only three of the eleven failed to teach from inclination. In the ten years Mr. Gilchrist had “changed sentiment from indifference to interest and from hostility into willingness to give the school a fair trial.” The second administration began on July 29, 1886, when Mr. Homer H. Seerlcy assumed his duties as princi- pal. There were no ceremonies, no assurances, no promises, but “the infusion of new blood gave new vigor” and soon a spirit of harmony and of effective work prevailed. With a new leader, of course some changes were made. Graduation from the beginning had depended on success- fully passing an examination given by the board of exam- iners and records show that sometimes at least seven appearances of the Waverly or La Porte bands were needed at the commencement exercises to relieve the candidates for graduation from the strain of those hours. Thus gradua- tion made on recommendation of the faculty rather than examining board was a welcome innovation. Provision was also made whereby an examination for state certi- ficates was held annually at Cedar Falls for benefit of stu- dents completing courses. Authority in the management of their respective departments was transferred to the pro- fessors. New courses were planned, definite degrees were settled on and diplomas sent to all former graduates, and the courses were made to conform with laws of the state and to meet needs of such students as wished to continue their courses elsewhere. From this time until the present the progress had been both in organization and expansion. In 1887 the Y. M. C. A. was organized and soon afterward the Y. W. C. A.