University of Wisconsin Oshkosh - Quiver Yearbook (Oshkosh, WI)

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the task of organizing a zoological laboratory. On the death of Professor Le Comte in 1901. he was made head of that department. Mr. Ritter studied in Europe during the years of '94 and ‘95. attending Victoria University at Liverpool, the Zoological Station at Naples, and the University of Berlin. He is a life member of the Academy of Sciences, a member of the American Association of Naturalists of the American Association for the advancement of Science and of the W ashington Academy of Sciences. He has written about fifty papers on zoology, morphology, and on educational topics. At present he is assistant editor of the American Saturalist, and editor of the zoological publications of the University of C alifornia. Margarkt Hosford received her education in the public schools of Hudson, Wisconsin, her childhood home, altho she is a native of St. Stephen. New Brunswick. While a student she was fortunate in coining under the instruction and personal influence of some noble teachers, chief among whom were Prof. Allen H. W eld and Miss C harlotte Mann. At an earlier age than is now common, she began teaching in the district schools of St. Croix county, serving in some of the most primitive localities, and in some of the larger schools, in which the membership was sixty or more pupils, ranging in age from four to twenty years, and in which the course of study included natural philosophy and higher algebra. Later, she was principal of the River Falls graded school, which |x sition she resigned to become a student of the Oshkosh Normal school at the opening of its second term, and graduated therefrom in the summer of 1875. A few months later she was apjx inted teacher of English and I-atin in the State Normal school of River Falls, beginning her work there with the organization of the school. This position she held three years, when failing health required a rest of nearly two years. Her next work was in the Eau Claire high school, and included instruction in Latin, mathematics, United States history and general history. After this, she taught mathematics in the La Crosse high school three years, until called to lx-come principal of the preparatory department in the Whitewater Normal school in the fall of 18X8. After one year in this position, she became teacher of United States history and mathematics in the Normal department, in which work she still continues. Dear Quiver: It seems very strange to be writing to (). N. S. friends from this far-oflf Southland, where, in the days gone by when we were often together, I had no dream of ever living. In the two years I have Ixien here, I have not met one O. N. S. student, though visitors and settlers from Wisconsin are by no means rare. Nevertheless, loyal as I am to the dear old Badger state. I must admit that of all my experience in teaching this in the South has Ik-cu the most pleasant. 'Phis fact is due to two things: the cordiality of the people and the character of the school in which I am working. The people, not only of this section but of all other parts of the state, have been most friendly and cordial, and, in spite of all that may be thought or said of the differences Ix-tween the North and South in regard to “the late unpleasantness. or Fres. Roosevelt’s attempt to solve the negro question (with the uninvited assistance of the Wisconsin legislature), in spite of all this, the Southern | cople are very friendly to the individual from the North. They may lx- jealous lest one should not love Robert E. Lee, but they open their homes most hospitably to strangers. They have all the old-fashioned Southern pride in keeping up their well-known 26

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TO THE ALIMNI. Philosophers tell us that man’s life is divided into two periods, the first for preparation. the second for useful action. W hen we are young, we prepare, later we use our knowledge for the good of mankind. If we succeed in doing, we reflect credit U|X n the institution which prepared us for our work. This liook is published by undergraduates of the )shkosh Mormal School, and we who are preparing attempt in these few pages to show our appreciation to you who are leading useful lives, who are making the name of your alma mater known and honored tlnuout the land. We are pleased to devote this space to you. to insert vonr pictures, and publish your letters; hut we feel that the truest token of the high esteem in which you are held by us may he letter expressed in the words, “You have done well; we will strive to follow. Arthur Burch was born at Salem, Kenosha county, Wisconsin, September 8. 1854. The next year his parents moved to Brandon, Wisconsin, by means of an ox team and prairie schooner. His Ixiyhood was spent on the farm, where he dcvelojicd a strong, sturdy lxwly which helped him much in his after life. In 1872, Mr. Burch entered Ripon College and remained two years. In the spring of 1875 he entered the Oshkosh Normal. The young man had to help himself along and so taught three winter terms of country school. At last, thru perseverance. he graduated from the Normal in 1880. Then his active teaching work began, and bv exhibiting the same character that marked his early life he has advanced step by step. He taught first in the seventh ward grammar school of Racine for almost three years, and then resigned to accept the principalship of the Two Rivers high school. Here he taught three years. Mr. Burch was then chosen principal of the Sixteenth District School No. 1 in Milwaukee, where he taught four years, when he was transferred to the Sixteenth District No. 2. in which position six years were sjxmt. He then resigned his position to become assistant superintendent of the schools of Milwaukee. June, 1896. Mr. Burch served as assistant superintendent for three years when he was apj ointed principal of the South Division high school. After two years of work here he was transferred to the East Division high school. Since graduating front the Oshkosh Normal, Arthur Burch’s whole life has been spent in furthering the cause of education. W11.1.1 am Emerson Ritter was lx rn in Columbia county, Wisconsin. Novemlter 19. 1856. He worked on the farm until of age. His early education was obtained first in the district school and later in the high school at Columbia, Wisconsin. He taught school in his native state from 1877 to 1880. He then entered the )shkosh Normal and graduated from there June. 1884. He went to California in 1885 for the purpose of studying under Professor Le Comte at the university of that state. He graduated in '88, having given major attention to chemistry and biological studies. Previous to entering the university he studied human anatomy at the Cooper Medical college at San Francisco. After serving for one year as assistant in the department of chemistry at the university, he received a scholarship from the Harvard Club of San Francisco, and went to that university to study zoology and biological sciences. Here he received the degree of master of arts and doctor of philosophy, and was appointed instructor in biology in the University of California in 1891. His work was in the department of Professor Le Comte, and he was given 25

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reputation for chivalry and generosity, and the newcomer is not permitted to remain long a stranger . Our school is a state industrial institute, but that docs not mean a reformatory. On tin-contrary, it is practically a free manual training high school, which does a little college work. It is always so overcrowded with students that we are unable to keep any except those who prove by their work that they came here for a purpose and have the ability to do the required work. We arc very proud of the fact, that though the school is but seven years old and the pioneer of this kind of institution in the South, it has the largest enrollment of any school or college in the state, and several neighboring states have established similar schools. All educational work here is seriously hampered by the fact that the common schools are too few and very poorly equipped. There has recently been, however, a campaign for education. and this year both the general and the Southern educational boards have taken up the matter. The present outlook is, therefore, very encouraging, though the real results cannot become apparent for several years to come. And all the time I am writing this I am thinking of the good old days at the O. N. S.. when the educational outlook for Louisiana was a matter of supreme indifference, and the all impor-tant question was one of Cicero, or professional arithmetic, or civics: the interesting plans, rooms C, I), and old number five, with possibly the old '‘Assembly Room,” after four o’clock (except on Wednesdays and Fridays). Every memory of the old place is cherished from the first entrance examination to the last commencement banquet, and ever in our hearts is the one wish, ever on our lips one toast—The O. :. S., may she live long and prosper. Ever yours, Ruston, La., March 28, 1903. Elizabeth M. King. THE FACULTY ALUMNI. We students of the Oshkosh Normal realize what we owe to the alumni of this school for their true, steadfast work and the noble examples they have set before us. We are able to learn of the growth and labors of some of these lives thru the alumni department of the Qi ivkh. but we are also most fortunate in having ever before us, helping 11s onward “ad astra,” lives which are strong and pure and beautiful, lives from which every one of us should learn “how to make our lives sublime.” We refer to the faculty alumni,” those whose powers in their chosen profession were so great that they were called back to teach where they themselves had been taught. There are seven in this noble band: Mary I. McFadden. class of ’97: Bcnj. Mack Dresden, ’96; Edna Carter. ’95; Augustus W. Trcttien. 94: Jennie G. Marvin. ’88: Harriet E. Clark. 75, and Emily F. Webster ‘75. All honor to them, every one! Mats off” to the “Faculty Alumni of the Oshkosh Normal school! 27