University of Wisconsin River Falls - Meletean Yearbook (River Falls, WI)

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Charles G. Stratton A.B. Michigan Normal College Geology, Geography Dean of Men Irma Hathorn A.M. Teachers College, Columbia University Dean of Women Rudolph A. Karges Ph.M. University of Wisconsin Chemistry. Director High School Department James P. Jacobson M.S. University of Wisconsin Physics Everett Bowden M.S. University of North Dakota Chemistry Alfred C. Vogele M.S. University of Illinois Biology Twenty-Four

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THE COLLEGE dedication of the River Falls Normal School occurred in September, 1875. The school was housed in what was then considered the largest and best equipped building that had been erected by the board of regents up to that time. The school opened with a larger attendance than any of the three schools previously established, the enrollment being 270. of which 130 were in the normal department and 140 in the preparatory department. The faculty of the River Falls Normal numbered nine, with Warren D. Parker as its first president. On November 29, 1897. the first building burned, and the work of the school was carried on in churches and secret society rooms until the new building could be erected. In September. 1898, the school was located in the new building, larger, more convenient, and better lighted than the first. The enrollment immediately began to increase and the new building was soon filled to capacity. Since River Falls was situated in an extensive agriculture section, in 1911 a course in agriculture was added to the course of instruction at the normal school. The board of regents immediately purchased a tract of land of fourteen and a half acres to be used in connection with the agriculture department. The department of agriculture advanced so that in 1915 the present normal farm was purchased, and in 1919 a modern dairy barn and shops building was erected to offer more and better facilities for instruction in the department of agriculture. In 1914 a new building was erected, known as North Hall, which contained the agriculture rooms, science laboratories, auditorium, administrative offices, and gymnasium. In 1928 an addition to North Hall was erected, to be used by the training school and junior high school departments, which formerly occupied the third floor of South Hall. The science laboratories, located on the second and third floors of North Hall, were much better equipped and a modern swimming pool and large convenient locker rooms were located in the basement. This year a new mechanics building is to replace the old barracks which will be used by the agriculture department as a stock pavilion. At the present time River Falls offers training in many depatments. In agriculture the department was recognized by the state vocational board in 1928 as eligible to place four-year degree graduates in Smith-Hughes departments. At the present time River Falls has the largest department for training agriculture teachers of any teachers college in the United States. Also it is one of three teachers colleges in the United States, the departments of which are recognized by the vocational board for training Smith-Hughes teachers. In the elementary education department, consisting of primary, intermediate. and grammar grades. River Falls offers two. three, and four year courses. The four-year degree course in elementary education was added in 1930. In the rural education department a one and two-year course is offered for training teachers for rural schools. Courses of training are also offered in junior high school and principals departments. In 1927 the title of the school was changed to River Falls State Teachers College, and it became a degree granting institution the same year, offering degrees in agriculture, science, education, mathematics, history, social science, and English. These additions and improvements of the educational plant and courses of study prophesy a new and expanding life for the school, which is the oldest in northern and western Wisconsin. TuftniV'Thrtt

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John M. May M.A. Cornell Universiiy Director Agriculture Department E. J. Prucha M.S. University of Wisconsin Agriculture, Registrar Arthur N. Johnson M.S. Iowa State Agricultural College Agriculture Clyde B. Campbell B.S. Iowa State Agricultural College Teacher Training in Roy E. Spriggs B.S. Kansas State Agricultural College Agricultural Mechanics William Segerstrom B.S.M. Stout Institute Manual Training T wenty-Fivr