From the Archives

The news for the 1969 spring semester at State College of Arkansas (now the University of Central Arkansas) was that Peter Jennings spoke in Ida Waldran Auditorium.  Jennings, an ABC news commentator, described himself as a “foaming at the mouth liberal” when he addressed about 500 UCA students on February 5, 1969.  Jennings visit was courtesy of the UCA Student Senate, and was part of Jennings’ broader visit through several other states.

Jennings, a Canadian citizen, discussed the 1968 presidential election, and thought he would have voted for Hubert Humphrey, but liked George Wallace of Alabama.  According to The Echo, “He further explained that Wallace was the only candidate to tell it like it was.  His first speech of the campaign was the same as his last.”

Jennings said that Nixon needed to be given an opportunity to get his programs working before anyone passed judgement on his presidency. Jennings was not impressed with President Nixon’s choice of Spiro T. Agnew as his vice president.  According to The Echo, “Jennings wryly suggested that Spiro Agnew can and will grow into the job of vice president – in 15 or 16 years.”

Before he finished, Jennings made a comment about UCA’s president, Silas Snow.  Snow had given Jennings a tour of the campus.  According to The Echo, “He also remarked that Dr. Snow had left him with the impression that student-administration relations were just peachy keen at this friendliest place in Arkansas…that’s what it said on the place card.”  For years, UCA’s slogan was “The Friendliest College in Arkansas.”

Governor Winthrop Rockefeller asked nearly $7.1 million for UCA operations during the 1969 legislative session.  President Silas Snow was quoted by The Echo as saying, “The recommendation for SCA was the minimum amount that the commission judged was required to carry on the college’s programs and gear them to an anticipated increase in enrollment.”

In the spring of 1969, the new cafeteria named for dietitian Elizabeth L. Christian, began operation.  Students from Conway Hall, Hughes Hall and State Hall used the cafeteria.  The other cafeteria on campus was Commons Cafeteria, which fed students from the other residence halls. The building that once housed Commons Cafeteria is now known as McCastlain Hall.

Another well-known speaker to visit the UCA campus was Ralph Nader, an auto safety critic.  Nader was the author of a best-selling book, “Unsafe at Any Speed.” Nader, a lawyer, received his B.A. from Princeton in 1955, and an LLB from Harvard Law School in 1958. Nader spoke to a small crowd of about 200 people in Ida Waldran Auditorium on March 31, 1969.  The crowd had expected Nader to slam the automobile industry.  Instead, he attacked nuclear power plants.  At the time of his speech, Arkansas Power & Light (now known as Entergy Arkansas) was building a nuclear power plant near Russellville.

A new academic plan was available to any junior or senior in good standing.  The plan allowed a student to take a course under a credit, no-credit rule.  A grade of “D” was required to pass, but if the student made a “D” or above, the student was given credit for the course.  The actual grade made by the student was not figured into the student’s overall grade point average.

A bill to give State College of Arkansas (SCA) university status was defeated in the Arkansas House of Representatives.  Representative Charles Stewart of Fayetteville led the opposition.  Stewart complained that if SCA had received university status it would cause confusion due to the existence of the University of Arkansas, Arkansas State University and State University of Arkansas (the proposed name at the time for what was later UCA).

However, Representative Stewart did offer an amendment to change SCA’s name to Central State University.  The president of SCA, Silas Snow, did not want the name “central” used in the name.  Snow stated, “Our name did not just happen by chance.  It was carefully chosen with the aid of a study committee. SCA serves all of Arkansas.  We don’t want a name that connotes just Central Arkansas.”  Apparently, Snow changed his mind along the way.  State College of Arkansas became the University of Central Arkansas while Snow was still president on January 21, 1975.

The Board of Trustees approved the new health and physical education building.  According to The Echo, “The building is expected to cost $2,100,000.  It will have seating accommodations for 6,000 and its site will be on Bruce Street, west of the Science Building.”  That building is known today as the Jefferson D. Farris Center. Jefferson Farris Sr. was the head of the Department of Health and Physical Education from 1943 until his death in February 1961.  His son, Dr. Jefferson Farris Jr., succeeded him.

Spring 1969 seemed to be the time for well-known speakers and writers to visit UCA.  The author of the national best-seller, “True Grit” was here in March 1969.  Writer Charles Portis was quoted as saying, “Reviews haven’t changed him.  Having a lot of money has.”  Charles Portis, had a brother that attended UCA at the time and was a pre-med student, his name was Richard Portis. Charles Portis spoke to a small group at UCA and later autographed books for about 175 people in the Browsing Room of Torreyson Library.

***Image Courtesy of the 1969 Scroll – Governor Winthrop Rockefeller***

GO BEARS, sounds much more appropriate than GO PEDAGOGUES!!

Due to the Spanish influenza pandemic that swept the nation and state, ASNS students were given the option of leaving ASNS during the first week of December, and not returning until after the holidays.  Only about 40 students accepted this offer.  It should be noted that some state supported institutions of higher education either began the fall semester late, or closed early, or did not open at all for the fall semester due to the outbreak of Spanish influenza.

When looking back at a time 100 years ago, the things that tend to jump out at us are the differences between now and then.  One of the most noticeable differences was in regard to the cost of attending college.

It is somewhat of a shock to know that the tuition for the 1918 summer school was only $10.00 (ten dollars). Textbooks were estimated to cost $4.00, a laboratory fee of $1.00, board in Doyne Hall was $30.00 for eight weeks.

However, one must consider the cumulative inflation that has taken place from 1918 to 2018.  According to three different websites that show the impact of inflation on currencies, ten U.S. dollars in 1918 is equivalent to a low of $165 to a high of $179 in 2018.  That puts the cost into perspective, yet it is still lower than what the same courses cost in 2018.

The summer session was eight weeks in length and began on June 3rd and closed on July 26.

The 1918 Arkansas State Normal School (ASNS) Summer  Bulletin discussed educational conditions that had impacted the need for teachers.  According to the 1918 ASNS Summer Bulletin, “War conditions have made heavy inroads into the teaching profession of the state.  Practically all unmarried male teachers have been called to the army.  This has had two important results; (a) an unprecedented demand for trained teachers which the Normal School and colleges have been unable to supply, and (b) a decided increase in the salaries of teachers who have made contracts since the schools opened in the fall.  The State Normal School has had an average of one call a day for teachers since September at constantly increasing salaries.  The demand will increase and salaries will go higher.”

The impact of the war was noted in several areas in regard to its impact on education and on society in general.  According to the 1918 ASNS Summer Bulletin, “The great war has made plain at least one thing – that our whole economic system must be revolutionized and reorganized on the basis of efficiency.  It has already begun as to the production and conservation of food and fuel and the operation of railroads and mines.  It will include the schools before it is completed.”

Community singing was something that occurred with regularity during the war.  Patriotic songs were sung at churches, and at other types of events.  The 1918 ASNS Summer Bulletin stressed the importance of community singing, “In the schools and churches we are striving in every way to keep in touch with our men who have gone into the service and it is a source of pleasure to them to know that tho they are far away, we at home are singing the same songs.  Let us create and foster patriotism by the singing of our war songs this summer.”

As those of you who read the article about the 1918 Arkansas State Normal School graduation will recall, the songs that were sung at graduation that year were all patriotic songs.

To be admitted for the 1918 Summer Session a student had to be at least 16 years of age; must present a certificate of vaccination; must present evidence that the common school course has been completed; must bring a high school transcript in order to receive credit done in high school.

After the summer session closed, students could take one of the various examinations for the license they chose to take.  The five licenses from the highest to the lowest were as follows: State; Professional; First Grade; Second Grade; Third Grade.  ASNS officials had made arrangements with the State Department of Education and the county examiners, to have examinations at the end of the summer session.  There was no cost to the student for the examination.

Much of the course work that was offered during the summer was the same as we might expect today.  History, English, education, mathematics, reading, science, home economics, and music were offered.

Courses from the Department of Agriculture, a department that no longer exists, were; Agriculture 2S – Rural Economics and Social Life; Agriculture 3S – Vegetable Gardening and Horticulture; Agriculture 10 – Agronomy.

Keith Holloway, Agriculture Professor                                              Students studying a horse in Agriculture class

The Department of Home Economics (now the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences) taught three courses, two of which are no longer offered. The two that are no longer taught are: Home Economics 7S – Food Conservation and Preservation; Home Economics 13S – Home Nursing, Including Red Cross and First Aid Work.

The female students of ASNS were very active in making and packing bandages for the Red Cross.  When the war began for the United States, the female students organized themselves into a Red Cross unit and utilized the sewing machines that were located in the first building on campus that was later known as the E.E. Cordrey Science Building.  The women sewed comfort clothing for those men who had been injured in battle.  According to sources, the women were very dedicated to this work and continued in this activity until the war ended.

Red Cross Day

On the back of the 1918 ASNS Summer Bulletin was a list of special features that were offered.  Some of the special features were as follows:

1. The Manual Training Department will offer courses to meet the needs of all grade and rural teachers.
2. Two teachers will devote their entire time to Home Economics. Canning Club and demonstration work will be emphasized.
3. Courses in drawing and music for supervisors and grade teachers will be stressed.
4. The Model School with two trained supervisors will be in operation the entire term.
5. A model rural school will be in operation near the campus.
6. The Education Department will give courses showing the use of the various Standard Tests such as the Courtis Tests in Arithmetic, Kansas Silent Reading Scale, etc.
7. Lectures and entertainment will be given every afternoon and evening.  We are sparing no efforts to secure the best talent for these occasions.

The 1918 ASNS Summer Session was the largest summer enrollment up to that time, with over 200 students enrolled in classes.

The news on campus in June 1918 primarily centered around the Normal summer school enrollment, the Faulkner County Teachers’ Institute that was held at the Normal, and a solar eclipse viewing that was held on the Normal campus.

Summer School Enrollment:  The enrollment for summer school students was a record for Arkansas State Normal School (now the University of Central Arkansas – UCA) in 1918.  More than 200 students were enrolled.

The enrollment would have been much larger had it not been for the war (later known as World War I) where most of the Normal male students were serving in a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.  The 1918 spring enrollment for men had suffered significantly.  In the spring of 1917, there were 200 men enrolled, but by the spring of 1918, only 12 men were enrolled in classes. But nonetheless, the 1918 summer school enrollment was still the largest up to that time.

Activities were scheduled on campus throughout the summer.  According to the June 5, 1918 issue of The Log Cabin Democrat, “Two evenings each week games will be played on the campus and much interest is expected to be shown in these activities.  This afternoon at 7:30 on the campus, President B.W. Torreyson will deliver an address of welcome to the summer students.  The public is invited to attend this address.  Friday evening, between 8:00 and 10:00 o’clock, the faculty of the Normal will give a reception in honor of the students.  The citizens of Conway are also invited to attend this reception and get acquainted with the new students who will make their homes in this city for the next two months.”

The reception that was given by the faculty for the incoming students was a tradition during those early days.  The reception was held in the parlors of Doyne Hall, the dormitory for women, and the only dormitory on campus in 1918.

Faulkner County Teachers’ Institute:  During the summer of 1918, the Faulkner County Teachers’ Institute was held on the Normal campus.  County teachers’ institutes were popular during that time period and were conducted to improve upon the relatively poor teaching credentials held by most Arkansas teachers.  County teachers’ institutes were held in each county of the state and were attended for the most part by people actively engaged in the teaching profession.

As most of you know, there were very few public school teachers who held the Licentiate of Instruction and an even smaller percentage who held Bachelors degrees during that time period. There were five levels of licenses that a teacher could hold in 1918.  From the highest to the lowest, the licenses were:  State; Professional; First Grade; Second Grade, Third Grade.

This meant that the most qualified teachers, and possibly those who might hold a degree, held a State License or a Professional License.  In Faulkner County, during the 1918-1919 academic year, there were 8 teachers who held a State License; 17 teachers held a Professional License; 118 teachers held a First Grade License; 89 teachers held a Second Grade License; 4 teachers held a Third Grade License.

The statistics for teachers and the licenses they held, during the 1918-1919 academic year for the entire State of Arkansas were as follows: 300 teachers held a State License; 434 teachers held a Professional License; 5,750 teachers held a First Grade License; 3,521 teachers held a Second Grade License; 792 teachers held a Third Grade License.

The Faulkner County Teachers’ Institute, was under the direction of O.L. Dunaway, a Conway native, who at that time was the superintendent of the Hot Springs public schools. The Faulkner County Teachers’ Institute was one week in length, and Arkansas State Normal School professors taught classes in the Institute.

According to The Log Cabin Democrat, there was an interesting feature of the 1918 Faulkner County Teachers’ Institute; one of the lecturers was a Jewish Rabbi, Louis Witt of Little Rock.  Rabbi Witt was considered a scholar of the Hebrew religion and a gifted orator.  According to The Log Cabin Democrat, “Rabbi Witt will lecture each night during the institute.  His subject for next Monday night will be ‘The Origin and Purpose of the Synagogue.'”

Apparently, the evening lectures of Rabbi Witt were quite popular and drew large crowds from among Conway residents.  Rabbi Witt’s second evening lecture was “The Symbols of the Synagogue.”

The facilities for the Faulkner County Teachers’ Institute consisted of a large tent.  According to The Log Cabin Democrat, “For the convenience of the teachers a large tent has been secured and will be erected on the Normal campus and under this the daily work will be conducted.” The tent was made necessary due to the large summer enrollment of Normal School students.  More than 80 Faulkner County teachers attended the 1918 Faulkner County Teachers’ Institute.

Solar Eclipse: Another interesting event that took place on the Normal campus was the viewing of a solar eclipse.  The solar eclipse was on Saturday, June 8, 1918, and the Arkansas State Normal School Science Department helped visitors view the solar eclipse in a safe manner.  Pieces of smoked glass were distributed to all those who wanted to view the eclipse, which began at 5:30 p.m. and by 6:30 p.m. had reached its maximum, which was 90 percent coverage. Longtime professor of science, E.E. Cordrey, was on hand to discuss the nature of eclipses.

Attached are two photographs from 1918.  The woman standing outside Doyne Hall, was Normal School student Mamie Munger.  She was later known as Mrs. Tom Herrod. Her type of attire was typical for that time period.

The other photograph shows some Normal School women with U.S. Army Soldiers.  Both photographs were donated by the same person, also a student at the time, and the caption she wrote is, “This group of girls, against the rule of the college, slipped off and met soldiers in 1918.”

Photo Courtesy of CAA-WTS Pamphlet (PAM 201 in UCA Archives)

According to the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum website, “The name “Yellow Peril” was not the official name of this aircraft but a generic name applied to several primary trainers including the Boeing/Stearman NS and N2S Kaydets.  The name originated from the fact that all naval trainers had been painted orange-yellow since 1917 as well as from its use in Naval Aviation Reserve bases where prospective Aviation Cadets received their first training.  In the event that a cadet failed to solo within a certain period of time, he was in “Peril” of not being appointed an Aviation Cadet.”

Photo Courtesy of CAA-WTS Pamphlet (PAM 201 in UCA Archives)

 

Navy Cadets at UCA took their classroom instruction from UCA professors.  The professors covered courses in navigation, engines, aerology, communications and civil air regulations and recognition.

According to records compiled by the federal government, UCA did a good job of training pilots.  Out of 85 colleges in the U.S. involved in military training, UCA ranked seventh overall. In aviation and ship recognition, UCA was first in the nation, and third in the nation in navigation.

Approximately 500 Navy pilots were trained at UCA during World War II.