Susquehanna University - 1895 to 1939

About This Collection

This collection contains the archive of documents, photographs, and brief publications and correspondence revolving around the evolution of Susquehanna University from 1895 through 1939.

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Students, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University, Dance cards
The students' social life included dances sponsored by academic classes and fraternities. At the dances, women students would wear a dance card with a decorative cord attached to their wrists. The outside cover would indicate the sponsor of the dance, the time and the place. It also named the band that would play at the dance. Inside the dance card, women could record the names of their dance partners or list the titles of the songs played at the dance. This collage shows various dance cards from the late 1930s.
Delmonico Boarding Club, Student organizations, Fraternities & sororities, Susquehanna University, Universities & colleges
In 1859, students formed Boarding/Eating Clubs. These clubs were an early form of fraternity. The clubs would rent a house or a room in a house, hire a cook, plan meals and conduct conversations among their members. The Delmonico Boarding Club, pictured here, lasted until 1925.
Fraternities & sororities, Students, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University, Delmonico Club
In 1859, students formed Boarding / Eating Clubs. A Club would rent a room or building off-campus, hire a cook, elect officers, and plan meals. On the right side of the image from the 1899 Lanthorn, a person is ringing a bell and calling out "hash, hash, hash". Each Boarding / Eating Club would have a caller. One half hour before dinner, the caller's job was to walk through the halls of the Institute building, ringing a bell, to summon the members to mealtime.
Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University, Tuition
The Susquehanna Bulletin is a listing of classes and courses offered at Susquehanna University. This page shows the 1920 expenses for male and female students residing in the dormitories.
Susquehanna University, Buildings, College presidents, Universities and colleges
A fact sheet on buildings, events, and Presidents of the University up to 1905.
Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University, Games, Pennants, Students
Freshmen ( Freshies) and Sophomore Flag Scraps started by having the sophomore or freshmen class tie their class color pennant to a tree or a flag pole in the middle of campus. Neither class wanted the other class's color pennant flying high, resulting in a scrap between the freshmen and the sophomores, both trying to remove the others' pennant. In the 1905 Lanthorn a short poem was written about the "scraps".
Football players, Football, Sports, Students, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University, Ullery, Bill, Snell, Herb
Susquehanna University's first football team was formed in 1892. In 1932, the University had its first undefeated football team under the direction of Coach Bill Ullery and his assistant Herb Snell. Pictured is the 1932 football team.
Founders' Day commemorations, Dedications, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University
Founders Day was celebrated in the Fall. On November 24, 1908, the sundial was dedicated to the memory of Dr. Benjamin Kurtz, the Institute's founding father, in celebration of the school's 50th anniversary. The buildings in the background are Selinsgrove Hall and the Alumni Gymnasium. In 1943, Founders Day was combined into a one day event with Parents Day and Homecoming.
Students, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University, Games, Sports
The Fresh-Soph Tie Up was a competition between the male freshmen and sophomores. These pictures of the event are from the 1921 Lanthorn.
Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University, Games, Sports, Students
The Fresh-Soph Tie Up was a competition between the male freshmen and sophomore students. It evolved in 1913 from the freshmen and sophomore " flag scrap". This event was held on the campus athletic field. The goal was to see how many from each class could tie each other up hand to foot. Whichever class tied up the most opponents was the winner. This event attracted many spectators. By the 1960s, tug of war replaced the "tie-up" event. By 1968 tug-of war became the freshmen and sophomore Olympics. This is a postcard of the 1913 event.
Smith, G. Morris, College presidents, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University
G. Morris Smith was the University President from 1928 to 1959.
Parades & processions, Practical jokes, Students, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University
As a daring prank related to Halloween, the female students gathered at night in front of Seibert Hall on November 6, 1912. They wore homemade ghost costumes constructed from bed sheets and pillow cases. The group paraded towards Selinsgrove Hall, where the male students lived, making "ghostly yells and songs" to wake them, before returning to Seibert Hall by guidance of their burning broom stick. The female students staged similar ghost parades around Halloween during several years in this era.
Students, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University, Rules of conduct
This page continues some of the regulations for "girl" students in the 1925 Student Handbook. Notice rule number 15, that girls were not allowed to sit on the grass with boys.
Weis, Harry, Weis, Sigmund, Sheldon, E. Edwin, Singers, Student organizations, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University
The Glee Club was composed of faculty, students and alumni. In the lower right hand corner of the photo is Harry Weis, and in the lower left hand corner is Sigmund Weis. After graduating from Susquehanna University, the Weis brothers went on to found the Weis Grocery Store company. SU's Sigmund Weis School of Business and the Blough-Weis Library reflect the family's continuing dedication to the University. Also in the photo, second row, second from the right is Professor E. Edwin Sheldon. He wrote the Susquehanna University "Alma Mater".
Buildings, Universities & colleges, Dormitories, Hassinger, Martin, Hassinger Hall, Susquehanna University
Hassinger Memorial Hall was built in 1922 as a men's dormitory. Its name recognizes the contribution of Martin Hassinger, a Board member from Middleburg, PA, and subsequent contributions from his family after his death. In the background of the photo is the Warner Athletic field and the Power Plant.
Fraternities & sororities, Kappa Delta Pi, Kappa Delta, Susquehanna University
Kappa Delta Pi was established in 1916. This photograph of the sorority is from the 1919 Lanthorn. In 1950, Kappa Delta Pi joined Kappa Delta.
Singers, Music education, Students, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University
The Ladies' Choral Club was started in 1921 under the direction of Miss Wentzel. It was organized to promote music appreciation and education.
Student organizations, Music ensembles, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University
As the University developed, new student organizations were often formed. One such organization was the Ladies String Instrument Club as shown in the 1905 Lanthorn.
May Day exercises, May queens, Students, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University
May Day started at Susquehanna University in 1921. It featured dancing, singing, pageants, and crowning of the Queen. This 1923 photo shows the May Queen and her Court with participants in the May Day activities.
May Day exercises, May queens, Celebrations, Students, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University
The May Day celebration started at Susquehanna University in 1921. It featured dancing, singing, pageants and crowning of the May Day Queen. Many years later, in 1976, both men and women were elected to be on the May Day Court.