Susquehanna University - 1895 to 1939

The groundbreaking for Seibert Memorial Hall was held on September 25, 1901. The Hall was named for Samuel Seibert of Hagerstown, Maryland. The student newspaper reported that all of the school's coeds participated in turning soil at the groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate that the building would serve as the women's dormitory. Seibert Hall also held social parlors, an art room, and a recital hall. The Hall was equipped for electricity which was turned on in 1907 when the town's electrical plant began to operate. The tennis courts in front of Seibert's lawn were built in 1904.

The Men's Student Council started the first Student Handbook in 1925. This page from the 1930 Handbook lists the general rules for all male students. For example, rule number three states that men were not allowed to smoke anywhere on campus except in the men's dormitories.

Pages from the first student handbook in 1925. The Class Scraps between Freshmen and Sophomores were a college tradition. The Handbook explains the rules of the game.

Summer School at Susquehanna University was started in 1902. At the time it was considered a "modern development".

Frederick Stevens started the a capella Motet Choir with eight singers in 1933. By 1936, the Choir had 40 singers with a few adults supplementing the student membership. The Choir brought excellent publicity to the University for the high quality of its singing. The Motet Choir had an ambitious tour schedule, but the tour's cost exceeded its revenues. Partially due to high cost, the Motet Choir was discontinued in 1940. Pictured is a photo of the Motet Choir leaving for a tour. Also, pictured from left to right are Fred Stevens, Motet Choir Conductor, his wife Sara, and the Motet Choir Manger Paul Overbo.

Pictured is a photo of the Motet Choir taken for the 1934-1935 concert season brochure. As noted in an earlier entry, the Motet Choir was formed in 1933 and became quite famous across the country for the high quality of the singing.

This photo shows the SU Faculty in 1914. Front row: Jay Kelchner, Athletics; Miss Barry, Preceptress; Miss Guss, Art; Miss Brown, Voice: Prof. Thompson, German. Back row: Doc Dun, Physical Director; Prof. Brungart, Languages-Academy; Prof. Faust, Mathematics-Academy; Prof. Lundquist, Dean of Conservatory of Music; Prof. Sones, Dean of Business Dept; Prof. Fry, Violin.

The Conservatory began in 1903 and organized many musical performances by its students. The Susquehanna University Orchestra was formed with both male and female students.

In 1917 the United States declared war on Germany. As a result, Susquehanna University saw a decline in its male student population. Pictured are some of the male student soldiers who were in the military.

When America entered World War I, the Susquehanna Ambulance Units were formed with volunteers from the student body and area residents. When serving, the ambulance corps' responsibility was to gather the wounded from the battle fields, then transport them to medical stations.