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

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FOREWORD Before we describe and il- lustrate the college activities of 1952, let’s look back 75 years to September 1876, when our State Normal School opened with 27 students and 4 faculty members. Men students had to be 17 and women 16 years old to be ad- mitted. The student had to file a certificate signed by a responsible person attesting the good moral character of the prospect. He was also required to signify his intention of teaching. Those not intend- ing to teach were charged two dollars per month tuition. When accepted a student was told to bring his own towels, nap- kins and bedding. The school provided a Contrai 1876 ISNS Battalion Officon 1893 wash-stand, table, chair, mirror, toilet set and bedstead. Straw for the bed was fur- nished if needed. When the student of 1875 arrived at the railroad station in Cedar Falls he was transported free of charge by horse and 4

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MARGE SCHLOEMAN Executive Editor GORDON HENRY Business Manager GLADYS MEIER Managing Editor JACK STEPHENSON Art Editor PAUL SMITH 2 Photo Editor

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buggy to the Normal School. Upon completion of the course he was again transported to the railroad station for his journey home. Let’s look at his experiences between his two rides. As he traveled two miles southwest from Cedar Falls through virgin prairie covered with tall grass, he came to an eight foot board fence. West of this fence stood a plain three-story brick structure that for eight years had been the Civil Home. This was the building now known as Central. His board was two dollars and sixty-five cents per week. Room was fifty cents per week in the fall and spring quarters, but heating expenses increased it to seventy-five cents for the winter term. He found himself in a whirl of rules laid down for his good con- duct. If he boarded at the school he was not permitted to leave the grounds except on Saturday. He couldn’t carry firearms while on the campus. He was required to be polite, refined and discreet at all times. He was not to get up until the six o’clock “rising bell.” His room was War Soldiers’ Orphans’ y Gilchrist Hall and Tonnit Court» 5