1875 | ||||
Academic life: The faculty begins publishing the Progressive Farmer, an agricultural journal. Unfortunately, it ceases publication in 1876. The Bee Department is abolished. Athletics: Baseball continues to be popular, as is croquet. Campus: Physical and Chemical Laboratories are added to the east side of Chemical Laboratory at a cost of $16,000. The Laboratory is located near where Pearson Hall is today. Chemical Laboratory, n.d. Student life: Delta Tau Delta is the first national fraternity at Iowa State. The commencement supper for I.A.C.'s 20 graduates is held at the Aborn House in Des Moines, and Professor Wynn delivers a presentation. Afterward, everyone attends the State Oratorical Contest at Moore's Opera House. University: Professors' salaries are raised to $1800 and instructors' to $1500.
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1876 | ||||
Academic life: Professors Pope (Chemistry), Beal (Civil Engineering), and Morrow (Agriculture) join the faculty. Domestic Economy establishes the first experimental kitchen opened by any college or university. Campus: A printing office is established on campus. Student life: New Yale locks are installed on the dormitory doors and many students are locked out and have to crawl through their transoms to get back inside. As noted in an 1876 Aurora, "Croquet is on the brain, we should judge; only 12 count on one ground the other evening, playing six different games. But it is good exercise, keeping out of the ways of the balls." Students spend time discussing the U.S. Presidential election and the merits of the candidates, Hayes and Tilden. Several faculty and students attend the Centennial in Philadelphia. University: The class exercises for the first time are held on campus in the chapel of Old Main. In years past, the ceremony was usually held nearby (Ames, Des Moines, Nevada). Dr. David S. Fairchild of Ames, is recognized as the College Physician. He has informally overseen the health of students since 1873. Miss Margaret McDonald (who later married Edgar Stanton), Mrs. Mary B. Welch (the President's wife), the Proctor, H.D. Harlow, and the Professor of Chemistry, E.R. Hutchins (who was also a doctor) also oversee the care of student health during the 1870s.
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1877 | ||||
Academic life: The first graduate degree of Master of Science in botany, is granted to J.C. Arthur (Class of 1872). Arthur was a student of Charles Bessey's, and becomes a noted authority on rust fungi. Athletics: Croquet continues in popularity. Campus: The Board asks the President to select a plot of 5 acres to be surveyed and set aside for a College cemetery. The College Cemetery (1.7 acres) is currently located on the northwest corner of campus near Pammel Woods (named for Dr. Louis Pammel, botanist). There are more than 700 graves. Included among them are six university presidents; one acting president; numerous administrators, faculty, staff, their spouses and children; veterans of five wars; two students; and a beloved night watchman and his dog. A set of criteria consisting of length of service to the university is required to be considered for burial eligibility. Professor Pope (Chemistry) builds Pope Cottage south of Lincoln Way. The architect is unknown, but the university is able to purchase it in 1884 for $3,000. Pope Cottage, n.d. Student life: The rooms in Old Main are painted and renovated, and for the first time, room rent is imposed. In May, lightening strikes the flag staff on Old Main, and part of the roof falls in on sleeping students. On May 3rd, the students are given a holiday, and spend their time on carriage rides and dinners. During the summer term, the students amuse themselves with ice cream suppers, fishing parties, buggy rides, and political debates. Pi Beta Phi (organized as I.C. Sorosis) is the first national sorority on campus. University: Under Dr. Fairchild, the College begins keeping health records on its students. As noted in his reminiscences sent to Iowa State, "All cases of sickness were entered . . . were classified and analyzed and a report presented to the Board of Trustees." Students suffer many illnesses due to poor sanitation and close quarters. |
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1878 | ||||
Academic life: Laboratory work in zoology involves the dissection of crayfish, frogs, and clams. A periodical, "College Quarterly" is started to impart to the state what was being taught at the College. It is edited by the department heads and issued 4 times per year. Athletics: Football is introduced and is very popular with both students and faculty playing frequently. An Iowa Agricultural College (I.A.C.) baseball team plays against the "Actives" of Ames, and loses, 33-12. Campus: A ball ground is set aside for the ladies to take military drill (see Student Life). Student life: May 3rd continues to be set aside as a holiday, and the students are dispersed to "collect specimens." A Young Men and Women's Christian Association is founded. Carrie Chapman Catt (Class of 1880) helps organize the Ladies Military Company G (standing for Girls). In 1891, the group is divided into two companies, G and L (for Ladies). Both are disbanded in 1897. According to the Reminiscences of I.A.C., the following is reported, "A couple were standing at the head of the stairs one noon, when the proctor came along and remarked that "this will never do." "Why," they both replied at once, "It is not one yet." "Yes, I know it is two yet," the proctor replied, "but liable to be one before long." They departed." University: The Alumni Association is founded. The first telephones are installed on campus. Commencement includes extracts read from genuine graduating theses. |
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1879 | ||||
Academic life: The "School" of Veterinary Science is organized, the first state veterinary college in the United States (although veterinary courses has been taught since the beginning of the College). This is originally a two-year course leading to a diploma. In regards to the Department of Botany, Professor Bessey requests of the State Board of Education (overseeing Iowa State at the time), at least 4 rooms for . . . a class or lecture room large enough to comfortably seat one hundred or more students; a well-lighted laboratory . . .; room for the herbarium and cabinet of economic botany . . .; and a professor's study and library." Domestic Science: Young ladies are instructed for several weeks in washing and ironing. They also follow a 12-week course in cookery, using Miss Juliet Corson's "Cooking School Text-Book." The lessons included learning how to make omelettes, chicken pie, hot slaw, apple pie, soups, and fried oysters. (Come see a copy in Special Collections, call#: TX663 C82 1879) Athletics: The military boys hold a sham battle on the morning of June 21st, and the battle rages between the "Pirates" and the "U.S. Troops" for nearly two hours. Campus: A creamery is constructed (size 16 X 24 feet) and 50 cows provided all of the milk and butter for campus. All of the milking and butter making is done by students. Student life: Students are charged the following: $2.50 for Board, per week; $.40 for Lighting and heating; $.21 for Incidentals; $1.00-3.00 for Room rent; $.50 for Washing; and a $5.00 janitor's fee. There are no tuition charges, but students have to bring their own bedding. Students are also not allowed to play cards or use tobacco in any College rooms and are expected to attend Chapel daily. 15 men and 6 ladies graduate. The courses of study at the time included agriculture, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and the ladies' course in science. University: The College expends $300 for the purchase of the Durham bull, "Oneida Prince," from H.B. Adair. Nearly 10 acres is devoted to experiments in wheat and the varieties sown included Minnesota White Fife, Scotch Fife, Improved Fife, Lost Nation, Golden Globe, and White Russian. The total yield is 141 bushels valued at $137.39 at a cost of $76.37. Nearly 1,000 trees are planted in the experimental orchard, consisting of Gros Pomier and Duchess. The first professional engineering degree is given in Civil Engineering, and is awarded to Charles F. Mount.
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1880 | ||||
Academic life: President Adonijah Welch is paid $3,100 with an allowance of $150 for conducting Sabbath services (this is a reduction from his previous salary of $3,500); Professors Charles Bessey (Botany) and Millikan Stalker (Veterinary Medicine) are paid $1600; Mrs. Mary B. Welch (Domestic Economy) is paid $1,100, and Herbert Osborne (Asst. in Zoology and Entomology) is paid $300. The courses of Study at the College are designated as General and Technical. The General course focuses on the Course in the Sciences related to the Industries. The aim, according to the I.A.C. catalog, is to "to give a liberal culture in the sciences and other branches of learning, which underlie the great industries of the country, without especially confining it to any particular pursuit or profession." The technical courses of the College are: Agriculture; Mechanical Engineering; Civil Engineering; and Veterinary Science. There are also lines of technical study: Domestic Economy, Military Science, Literature and Language, Mathematics and Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Philosophy. Campus: North Hall is in the process of being constructed, and is to be for the use of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, as well as Botany. It is located near where MacKay stands today. It is later attached to Margaret Hall (the women's dormitory) and demolished in 1926. Student life: The lectures committee arrange for a presentation by Will Carleton, the "Science of Home." Unfortunately, he does not show up, and the students are forced to hold an impromptu debate and oration. Only the freshmen have to participate in the non-instructive (and non voluntary) labor system. While previously used as a teaching device, the prevalence of the laboratory method eventually becomes predominant. The course of study for a junior in Agriculture includes the following classes in the first term: Horticulture, Botany, Practices in Agriculture, Vegetable Anatomy and Physiology, Physics-Heat, and English Literature. University: The Alumni Association meets and congregates between Professor Stanton's house and the College, and they later join the students in the dining hall. It is noted that the classes tend to sit together. The Library has 6,000 volumes and is open from 2:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. |
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1881 | ||||
Academic life: During the freshman year, the Agricultural Course of Study includes Practical Agriculture (farm and garden work 12 hours per week); Advanced Algebra; Geometry; Book-keeping; Rhetoric, German or Latin; Drawing; Composition; Botany; Zoology; and Dairy. The College Herd includes the following types of cattle: Short-horns (19); Holsteins (7); Jerseys (1); High Grades (45) and Common (45). If there is room, students are also accepted as "sub-freshman" to prepare for entering I.A.C. as freshmen. Their course work includes algebra, English, drawing, geometry, physiology and hygiene or descriptive zoology. Athletics: In baseball, the College Nine defeats the Ames team by a score of 17-16. Campus: The buildings of I.A.C. (in addition to the faculty houses) consists of the Main College Building (Old Main), the Boarding (East) Cottage, Chemical and Physical Hall, North Hall, the Horticultural Buildings, South Hall, Farm House, the Creamery, and a Workshop, Laundry, and Gas-Works behind Old Main. The College Farm consists of 860 acres with 70 set aside for the College Grounds. The College Catalog notes the following, "The College occupies a pleasant and beautiful location, one and a half miles west of the town of Ames . . .The railroad facilities for reaching Ames from any part of the state are very good. Regular conveyances for passengers and baggage run between the station and the College, three times each day." Student life: There is no charge for tuition, but students have to pay for room and board. Manual labor (in addition to instruction-related labor) is still required, and the catalog states, "This institution can offer no inducements to the idler or self-indulgent." University: An entire building at the Iowa State Fair is dedicated to the Iowa Agricultural College (I.A.C.) and deemed a great success. There are displays by all the departments, and the college battalion (under the direction of General Geddes) undertakes guard duty for the fairgrounds. I.A.C. students win recognition for their collections of stamps and insects. |
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1882 | ||||
Academic life: Mrs. Welch gives a course of six lectures on domestic economy to a class of 60 women in Des Moines.
The Veterinary Course of Study contains classes in zoology, botany, anatomy of domestic animals, veterinary obstetrics, and sanitary science. Campus: The "College Grounds" are expanded to 120 acres, while the "College Domain" has 860 acres. Student life: There are now two proctors for the students, replacing Mr. Harlow, who has graduated the previous fall. Proctor Harlow receives a watch in honor of his years as proctor. University: Due to health problems (and increasing external pressures for more vocational training) President Welch takes leave to inspect the agricultural colleges of Europe. While he is gone, the Board of Trustees cut his salary (and that of Mrs. Welch) by $300. General Geddes is also removed from his position in military tactics. |
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1883 | ||||
Academic life: The Mechanical Engineering Course of Study includes classes in algebra, geometry, composition, drawing, botany, chemistry, differential and integral calculus, physics, French, political economy, and geology. Athletics: Bicycle riding and baseball are popular on campus. Campus: The first Engineering Hall is built at a cost of $4,890.
Osborn Cottage
Sloss House Student life: There are two cases of scarlet fever, and at least 40 students leave the College in order to avoid the disease. University: President Welch resigns, but remains on the faculty as professor of psychology and history of civilization until his death in 1889. Seaman A. Knapp, a native of northern New York, former superintendent of the Iowa School for the Blind, and professor of agriculture at Iowa Agricultural College, succeeds him as President on December 1. Seaman A. Knapp |
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1884 | ||||
Academic life: In regards to the two-year course in Domestic Economy, "This course is based upon the assumption that a pleasant home is the surest safeguard of morality and virtue; and one of the essential elements of broad culture. Its aim is to prepare young women for the highest demands of home life," according to the I.A.C. Catalog. The classes included botany, Latin, rhetoric, domestic economy, chemistry, and history. Campus: The Office Building (English Office Building) is erected for the offices of the president, secretary and treasurer at a cost of $3,117. It is later used by the Building and Grounds Department (1904-1933) and the Department of English and Speech (1933- ). It stood southeast of Beardshear Hall, before it was razed in 2004. English Office Building
There are also plans developed for the Veterinary Hospital (currently where the Memorial Union is located) and a new Hall for Mechanical and Civil Engineering. Electric lights are first installed in Old Main. Student life: Candidates for entering the freshmen class must demonstrate knowledge in English Grammar, English Analysis, Arithmetic, Human Physiology, and Algebra. University: Seaman A. Knapp resigns, and Professor J.L. Budd is acting president from December 1884 through February 1885. Professor Budd's daughter Etta, later becomes an art teacher at Simpson College where George Washington Carver is one of her students. She convinces him to transfer to Iowa State to pursue a career working with plants. |
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1885 | ||||
Academic life: Senior students in Geology use Joseph LeConte's Elements of Geology as a textbook (come see a copy in Special Collections, QE28 L496e2). Their time is divided among lecturers, a review of Iowa geology, study of typical fossils, and visits to local quarries. The students also spend time studying the rocks, minerals, and fossils in the College's collection. Campus: The buildings, Veterinary Hospital (approximately where the Pine Room (Memorial Union) is located) and Sanitary Building, are built approximately on the site of the Memorial Union for a cost of $10,600. The Hospital includes all of the "modern appliances for the treatment of diseased animals, and the Sanitary Building houses offices and classrooms," according to the I.A.C. catalog. Both buildings are torn down in 1926-1927 to make way for the Memorial Union.
Veterinary Hospital Sanitary Building The I.A.C. catalog notes 6 houses on the college grounds being used by professors' families. Student life: To be considered for admission, prospective students had to write the President, and request a Card of Enquiry. The Card had a number of questions to be answered considered essential to admission, such as, University: The College Hospital is established. It occupies the second floor of the Sanitary Building and is supported by taxing each student 60 cents per term. Hunt led an interesting life, and married an I.A.C. graduate, as noted in this University Archives biography: Leigh S. J. Hunt was born in Indiana in 1855. He obtained his undergraduate degree through Middlebury College in Vermont via correspondence course. Hunt studied law independently and passed the bar in Indiana. He then taught at public schools in Indiana before moving to Iowa and becoming superintendent of schools at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa (1880) and East Des Moines Independent School District, Des Moines, Iowa (1882). Hunt became the third president (1885) of Iowa State Agricultural College (Iowa State University). His lack of experience and aggressive style of leadership led to conflicts with the students and faculty and he resigned in 1886 after only one year. |
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1886 | ||||
Academic life: A freshman taking the general course in science, had to take the following courses:
Athletics: Football scores include Building v College, 14-11; and a baseball game between the freshman and sophomores results in a sophomore win, 10-9. Campus: As a marketing strategy, the I.A.C. Catalog notes that the "view of the surrounding country from the upper stories and towers of the Main Building is one of wide extent and great beauty." Student life: The total enrollment of resident graduates, seniors, juniors, sophomores, freshmen, special students, and sub-freshmen is 305. While there is no tuition charge for Iowa residents, a $15.00 fee per term is applied to out of state students. University: William Chamberlain, secretary of the Ohio Board of Agriculture, is named president on July 20.
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1887 | ||||
Academic life: There are no textbooks to be used by the sophomores focusing on horticulture, as there has been nothing written about Iowa's prairie soil and climate in regards to small fruits, orchards, lawns, flowers, and forestry. Campus: In his report to the Board of Trustees, President Chamberlain notes that a Ladies' Hall, faculty housing, sanitary upgrades are the top needs for the campus, in addition to other student housing, recitation and lecture rooms for the departments. University: The ordinary income of the College from land endowments, state bonds, and mortgages totals $55,359.25 for the year. |
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1888 | ||||
Academic life: The Course for Ladies requires four years and provided a thorough study of literature, with a smattering of courses in the natural sciences, and mathematics, resulting in the Bachelor of Letters (B.L.) degree. The courses are varied, and include domestic economy and laboratory practice, botany, zoology, French or Latin, history, German, English literature, Geology or Chemistry. Athletics: A baseball league is organized with a pennant race between the classes. In the final game, the seniors beat the freshmen, 12-10. Campus: The Experiment Station Building is begun, in order to fulfill the terms of the Hatch Act (1887) to "establish a research organization to advance science to solve problems for the food, agricultural and natural resource systems, and links with other land-grant university research programs across the nation in a vital research chain." An initial experimental project is planting an orchard with fruit tree varieties from Russia and China. Bevier House, the first Experiment Station Building Bevier House, the first Experiment Station Building Student life: Students suffer from both measles and German measles with 41 students afflicted. University: The Agricultural Experiment Station is established on March 1. Robert Speer, former member of the Board of Trustees, is named the first director. |
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1889 | ||||
Academic life: There are 424 volumes added to the Library, and the Dewey Decimal system is implemented.
Athletics: The I.A.C. Baseball Club wins games over the Marshalltown Y.M.C.A. and Boone. Campus: A fruit house is constructed for $600 and a well is drilled near the horticultural barn for $230.25. A road is also constructed leading from the cemetery to the campus, and Herbert Knapp builds his house on campus. The location is on Knoll Road. The house becmes Coburn House in 1928, and is later moved across campus north of Pammel Road. It was razed in 1975. Coburn House Student life: Members of the literary societies number 191 students. Students are entertained by musical selections from Iowa Agricultural College Glee Club (men) and the Philomela Club (women). There are 47 students in the graduating class. University: Former President and Professor Welch dies on March 14 and funeral services are held in the chapel. A funeral procession leads to his final resting place in the Iowa State Cemetery. The Board of Trustees states that the College "has lost one of its oldest, ablest and most efficient supporters, friends, and instructors." |
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1890 | ||||
Academic life: J.E. Cobbey (Class of 1876) presents his published work, The Law of Replevin, to the college library as "evidence that I have not been idle since graduation." Athletics: President and Mrs. Chamberlain host students at their home, The Gables, and the afternoon is spent playing lawn tennis. Campus: Morrill Hall is constructed to fill the need for a library, chapel, museum, as well as recitation rooms. Named to honor the Senator who had sponsored the Morrill Act, which had established the land-grant college system, Morrill Hall is built at a cost of less than $30,000. It is re-dedicated after renovation in 2007. Student life: In addition to the 5 literary societies, the Directory of the Aurora (the student newspaper founded by those societies) includes the Christian Association, the Veterinary Medical Society, and the Athletic Association. The Iowa Agricultural College Student begins publication. From 1897 through 1947, it is known as the Iowa State College Student, and as of 1947, becomes the Iowa State Daily. |
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1891 | ||||
Academic life: An electrical engineering class is added to the curriculum; Agriculture and Horticulture are removed from the General Course in Science and placed in the Agricultural course. Instruction in library work is offered, and English is now considered a full department with Miss Doolittle as chair. Athletics: A Field Day is held in Iowa City on June 5, and the events included tennis singles and doubles; baseball throw; track events; middle-weight boxing, and there are exhibitions in boxing, fencing, tumbling, the horizontal bards, and pyramid building. Due to bad weather, certain events are postponed for a week and were completed in Marshalltown. Campus: Morrill Hall is completed and the library and museum are moved to their new locations. The new chapel seats show up late, so the carpenters work overnight to install them in time for the dedication. Student life: The senior girls give a reception and a number of the senior boys attend, dressed in white pants, dark coats, no vests, green satin ties, straw hats, canes and spectacles. William Miller Beardshear, a minister who had been a college president and superintendent of schools in West Des Moines, is appointed president on February 1. |
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1892 | ||||
Academic life: Professor Marston joins the faculty in engineering, and later goes on to serve as Iowa State's first dean of engineering from 1904 through 1932. Elmina Wilson is the first woman to receive a Civil Engineering degree from Iowa State, and goes on to receive her M.S. in 1894. She teaches at Iowa State, serving as an Assistant of Civil Engineering (1892-1897); Instructor of Civil Engineering (1898-1902); and as an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering (1902-1904). Her sister, Alda, also earns a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1894. Athletics: The Iowa Intercollegiate Baseball League is formed, with representatives from Drake, Grinnell (then known as Iowa College), Iowa State, and the University of Iowa. Iowa State won the first game of the season over the University of Iowa - the trophy prize selected was a silver bat. This bat is now part of the Artifact Collection in the Special Collections Department at Iowa State. Campus: An elevator is installed in Old Main, but the students comment in the Aurora that they would rather take the trunks up the back stairs. Student life: "The more things change. . . (Ed.) "students began creating cow paths between the college buildings, much to the dismay of the landscape gardener. The Aurora notes that "this state of affairs has continued until now the campus is covered with all sorts of radiating and intersecting lines of mud connecting cottages with barns, "Prof's" houses with laboratories and the main building with almost everything else on the grounds." "And after the heart throbs of parting, |
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1893 | ||||
Academic life: The four years course in agriculture includes classes in algebra, live stock, horticulture, chemistry, elocution, principles of heredity, dairying, and entomology. Athletics: Baseball scores are now being reported in the Aurora, including detailed descriptions of the league games with the University of Iowa, Drake, Grinnell, and Cornell. Campus: The Board of Trustees sets aside 13 acres west of Morrill Hall for an athletic field (currently where the Library, Durham Hall, and Marston Hall exists). Student life: The Class of 1894 publishes the university's first yearbook, "The Bomb." In his biennial report to the Board of Trustees, President Beardshear stresses the need for expanding the water supply system, a ladies' dormitory and an armory. He also quotes the poet, Robert Burns in his report. |
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1894 | ||||
Academic life: The herbarium and library of C.C. Parry is purchased for the College. Campus: Construction is begun on the ladies' dormitory, later named Margaret Hall, after Margaret Stanton. Student life: George Washington Carver is the first African American to graduate from Iowa State College, from "The Course in Agriculture." He also wrote the class poem for the class of 1894 (who were known as "The Gourds," ever climbing). |
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1895 | ||||
Athletics: The football team earns the name "Cyclones" following a victory over Northwestern University. An article in the Chicago Tribune newspaper, headlined "Struck by a Cyclone: It Comes from Iowa and Devastates Evanston Town," reads: "Northwestern might as well have tried to play football with an Iowa cyclone as with the Iowa team it met yesterday. At the end of 50 minutes' play, the big husky farmers from Iowa's Agricultural College had rolled up 36 points, while the 15 yard line was the nearest Northwestern got to Iowa's goal." Campus: A new organ is installed in Morrill Hall. Student life: 8 members of the "Class of 1894" remain as assistants at the College, including George W. Carver. The college closes two weeks early due to drought drying up the water supply of local springs.
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1896 | ||||
Academic life: Two engineering lectures are given at the College, on "The Prevention of Electrolysis in Underground Water Pipes, and "The Mississippi River and the Engineering Problems Connected Therewith." Athletics: Baseball continues to be popular, and in the state field day, I.A.C. wins the silver cup. Campus: The Marston Water Tower, designed by head of civil engineering (later dean of the college) Anson Marston, is built – the first elevated steel tank water tower west of the Mississippi. Student life: The women students housed in Margaret Hall (the women's dormitory) host a weekly reception for the gentleman students. |
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1898 | ||||
Academic life: Millikan Stalker, Class of 1873, is appointed the first Dean of Veterinary Medicine. The Board of Trustees adopts the official seal with the inscription, "The Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts—Science with Practice."
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1899 | ||||
Campus: A carillon of ten bells is installed in the Campanile (erected in 1898), manufactured by John Taylor and Company of Loughborough, England. Professor Edgar Stanton (class of 1872) donates the bells in honor of his first wife, Margaret MacDonald Stanton.
The college colors are changed from silver, yellow, and black to cardinal and gold, in order to make it easier to dye sweaters. From the student newspaper. . .: |