Susquehanna University - 1895 to 1939

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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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Alpha Sigma Omega Fraternity
Alpha Sigma Omega Fraternity
Fraternities & sororities, Alpha Sigma Omega, Phi Mu Delta, Students, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University
Alpha Sigma Omega fraternity was formed before 1900, but disappeared by 1910 because President Aikens and the faculty had opposed fraternities. It was reconstituted with the motto "SU: First and Last" shortly before America entered World War I. In 1921 the fraternity bought a house on Walnut street, and two years later they bought the lots beside it. In 1924 Alpha Sigma Omega joined the national fraternity Phi Mu Delta. In 1927, they built a Tudor-style fraternity house.
Arbor Day
Arbor Day
Tree planting ceremonies, Manners & customs, Students, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University
Faculty and students would plant trees on campus in celebration of Arbor Day. Later it became the responsibility of the senior graduating class to plant a tree on Arbor Day, so they would have a place marked on the campus to gather for their alumni reunions. This photo was taken in front of Seibert Hall.
Cheerleaders
Cheerleaders
Cheerleading, Students, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University
Cheerleading started with only male cheerleaders. In the early 1920s, women became active in cheerleading at some schools. Susquehanna University did not have females involved in cheerleading until the late 1940s. However, by the late 1950s, all of the cheerleaders were women.
Cheerleaders
Cheerleaders
Student organizations, Students, Susquehanna University, Ramer, Lynne, Derr, John, Cheerleading, Universities and colleges
Cheerleading started with only male cheerleaders. In the early 1920s, women became active in cheerleading at some schools. Susquehanna University did not have females involved in cheerleading until the late 1940s. However, by the late 1950s, all of the cheerleaders were women.
Class Banquet
Class Banquet
Banquets, Banquet camera photographs, Students, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University
Every graduating class would hold a class banquet at an off-campus location ranging from Middleburg to Milton. The graduating class and their chaperones would make many toasts as they enjoyed a full course meal. The banquets provided lasting memories for the students before going out into the world. This is a picture of the class of 1917.
Dance Card
Dance Card
Dance parties, Students, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University, Dance cards
This dance card lists the titles of songs played by the Blue Moon Orchestra at the 1939 Inter-Sorority Commencement Dance held in the Alumni Gymnasium.
Dance Cards
Dance Cards
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 Club
Delmonico Club
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.
Flag Scrap
Flag Scrap
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
Football
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.
Fresh-Soph Tie Up Ritual
Fresh-Soph Tie Up Ritual
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.
Fresh-Soph Tie Up Ritual
Fresh-Soph Tie Up Ritual
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.
Girls' Ghost Parade
Girls' Ghost Parade
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.
Girls' Regulations (continued from SUH_1925_0145)
Girls' Regulations (continued from SUH_1925_0145)
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.
Ladies' Choral Club
Ladies' Choral Club
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.
May Day
May Day
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
May Day
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.
May Day
May Day
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 1934 photo shows the May Queen and her Court with participants in the May Day activities. Throughout the 1930s, the May Day celebrations continued to be very elaborate affairs.
May Pole
May Pole
May Day exercises, May poles, Students, Universities & colleges, Susquehanna University
This photo shows freshmen women raveling the May Pole on May Day 1934.
May Queen
May Queen
May Day, May queens, Students, Susquehanna University
May Day festivities featured dancing, singing, pageants, and crowning of the Queen. This photo shows May Queen Mary LaHaza in 1933.