Ursinus College - Ruby Yearbook (Collegeville, PA)

Page 12 text:

The Ruby 1931 THE aim of the 1931 Ruby is to present to the alumni and students of Ursinus College and to the public in general the approaching realization of the new science building soon to take its place on the Ursinus campus. To this purpose the 1931 Ruby has been developed in all its detail—both in an theme and in organization and content. The opening design on the fly leaf represents the predominate sciences in chronological order from left to right. First is an alchemist of the fifth century B. C. mixing ingredients with mortar and pestle. Next is a physicist of the fifth century A. D. representing the climax of the development of Greek science. To his right is shown a German chemist of the Renaissance period about 1500 A. D. The next figure is symbolic of medical research during the nineteenth century, and last is a scientist doing biological research on newest forms of microscopic organisms. Towering over all is the architect's conception of the new Ursinus Science Building within whose walls the most modern development and research work will be found. The titlc-p3gc panel represents materials of the various sciences and includes a drawing of the doorway of the new science building. The border panels of the double page spreads found in the opening section and in the main division pages also represent the development of science throughout the ages. Starting at the top left and reading downward we see represented: first, Galileo, the Italian astronomer of the sixteenth century; second, Lavoisier, a French chemist of the eighteenth century; and Franklin (1706-90) and his experiment with electricity. The figures on the right symbolize the more modern sciences viz., physics, applied chemistry, and applied electricity with the suggestion of the radio age into which we are developing. In the opening section we find a photograph of Mr. Cyrus H. K. Curtis, who is, as the President's message suggests, the premier benefactor of our college,” and through whose generosity the new science building has been realized. The main division pages contain photographs and write-ups of the alumni who have become prominent in the various fields of science and to whom the future Ursinus students may turn for inspiration. The subdivision pages contain a design of scientific suggestion which includes the name of the subdivision and the photograph of the individual most prominent in that activity.