 Mather
College in the Deanship of
Helen Mary Smith • 1914-1941
During
the Deanship of Helen Mary M. Smith, '94, MatherCollege has
passed thorugh some of the most momentous years in the development
of the higher education of women. Enrollment has doubled, and
endowment conservatively estimated is more than six times the
half-million which endowed the "College for Women" in 1914.
To the campus have been added the Harkness Chapel transcepts,
the Mather Memorial Building wing, and three dormitories: Tyler,
Thwing and University Houses. The problems of adjusting
to the needs of the times have been met with intelligence and
integrity.
The following chronology
has been constructed chiefly from annual reports, the Polychronicons,
and Archive files. The university comptroller furnished the list
and amounts of gifts and bequests in the hands of the University
Trustees.
February 3, 1914 - The faculty
of the college concurred with President Thwing in recommending
to the trustees the appointment of Helen M. Smith as dean.
Enrollment was 360. By the gift of Mrs. Henry Lefavour in memory
of Catherine S. Kellogg, the college received $1,053 for the
purchase of French and Italian books for the library.
1914-15 – Flora
Mather Dormitory was built with gifts from alumnae and friends. Haydn
Hall reverted to its intended use as a students’ building. Dormitory
student government was established. The first performance of
Stunt Night was held in the gym. The college received $2,095
for student aid by the bequest of Matthew H. Shay in memory of Helen
S. Shay.
June, 1915 – The first degree
was awarded to a student in Household Administration.
1915-16 – The average scholarship
grade requirement for holding office was established by the student
body.
May 8, 1916 – The faculty
adopted regulations for sororities recommended by their own groups.
September, 1916 – The dean’s report
called for work in the senior year that will apply in the newly created
School of Applied Social Sciences, and for training in Medicine and
Law. “New and larger fields are opening to women; it
seems desirable that we should offer for them the best preparation
available.”
1916-17 – An enrollment increase of 40 resulted
in crowding of library, gymnasium and chapel. Alumnae were
given assurance that any professional school in the university would
be open to women provided there were ten applicants. In collaboration
with other college women the alumnae co-operated with the State-City
Free Labor Exchanges in placing there an executive secretary who
would place trained women in positions other than teaching. Students’ Association
recommended the adoption of a compulsory budget for student activities.
1917 – The Bardons Scholarship
Fund of $5,363.61 was founded by George C. Bardons.
The
college received from the Advisory Council $1,317.80 to purchase
library books in memory of Harriet Sheldon Hurlbut.
1917-18 – The students formed a unit of the
Women’s Land Army.
February, 1918 – Chapel transepts, the gift
of Mrs. E. S. Harkness, were completed. A college appointment
bureau was established to effect placements in teaching positions,
stenography and type-writing were made available, and courses in
the mathematics of investment, business management and the use of
food substitutes were offered. In these times the Liberal Arts
training was repeatedly put to the test and found to be admirable
preparation for the variety of new opportunities and responsibilities
opening to women.
1918 – By bequest of Emily
M. Hills, the college received $1,055.88 to found a scholarship
fund, and $652.38 the income from which is an annual prize for
a poem or essay.
1918-19 – The Law and Medical Schools of
the University were opened to women. An enrollment increase
of 101 strained all facilities to the utmost. Credit toward
the college degree was first granted for three semester hours practice
teaching. War work enlisted graduates at home and abroad in
responsible positions in fund raising, relief work with refugee women
and children, YWCA, YMCA, library work, nursing, and Red Cross, to
mention a few. The dean said, “The world has a right
to look to the college-bred for scholarship and leadership.” A
direct result of the war was the Home Service Institute for Civilian
Relief and the request of a number of students for a combination
of college work and nurses’ training. A less direct result
perhaps was the addition of secretarial English and Business Economics
to the curriculum.
1919 – The college received
by bequest of Jessie M. Turney two sums of $296.64 each, the income
from one to be used for student aid, the income from the other
to be used for Y. W. C. A.
The
family of Gertrude J. Ostrander established in her name a memorial
fund of $592.78, the income to be used for the purchase of library
books.
1919-20 – Tuition was raised $25 (to $175). Enrollment
increased by 95 and the need for endowment was increasingly apparent. The
trustees adopted a salary scale to be put into effect at a later
date. Recitation periods were extended from 8:15 to 4:30 to
relieve pressure on room space, and a class schedule which was a
miracle of mathematical calculation was evolved by Miss Garritt,
Registrar, and Professor Bernadotte Schmitt. Students’ Association
took responsibility for attendance at chapel. The Alumnae Association
undertook publicity service for the college under the direction of
Mrs. Grace Goulder Izant.
 1920 – The college received
from an anonymous alumna $540.30 to found the Class of 1899 Scholarship.
1920-21 – Since 1914 the enrollment had doubled,
being 710. Tuition again rose $25 (to $200). A house
on Adelbert Road was remodeled for Household Administration cooking
and sewing laboratories.
February 8, 1921 – Under the new code of
by-laws adopted by the trustees the faculty appointed its own budget
committee to prepare the College budget for submission to the trustees. The
code also provided for the election of six Graduate Trustees, two
at large, and one each from Law, Medicine, Adelbert and Mather. A
committee of the trustees was appointed to learn the aims and needs
of the College.
1921 – The College received from the Class
of 1911 $577.25 to found the Bourne Class of 1911 Fund for the purchase
of books from the library. Phi Kappa Zeta sorority established
a fund of $1,139 for the purchase of library books.
1921-22 – The department of Nursing Education
was started at Mather; the dean said, “only a central school
on or near the campus would realize the greatest possibilities,” and
in 1925 the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing was established.
1922 – The college received
$500 from friends of Hiram C. Haydn to establish a fund in his
name for the purchase of books for the library.
On
the retirement of President Thwing, students and alumnae presented
him with a fund of $1,275.50 to be used at his direction which has
been that the income be used for library books. At the 50th
anniversary the Alumnae Association added $500.
1922-23 – Dormitory accommodations appeared
to be the greatest need, vacancies being more than doubly applied
for with the result that the college will inevitably become more
local, said the dean. Haydn cafeteria was moved to the basement,
serving daily 335 students. Three sets of honors were established:
due notice of high standing given during the year and at commencement;
freedom for gifted students in choice of studies after junior year;
award of money prizes to the two seniors making highest grades at
end of first half of senior year. The dean’s report called
for endowment for faculty salaries.
1923 – The college received
$1,050 from the Western Reserve Chapter of the D. A. R. for the
purchase of books on American History.
January, 1924 – The Alumnae Association office
under the direction of a full-tie executive secretary opened in Room
149, formerly the Mather campus office of President Thwing. In
1936 a door was put through to the adjoining room, formerly Miss
Collett’s physiology laboratory. The first room is now
an alumnae lounge and the “Lab” is the alumnae work room.
1925 – A system was instituted whereby faculty
who taught freshmen served as freshmen advisers for individual problems. This
plan proved to be the forerunner of the system of assistant deans
established in 1926-27.
1925-26 – “Freshmen Week” was
extended to give new students the history and traditions of the college,
discussion on courses of study, and directions on how to study and
take notes. Admission was restricted to those ranking in the
upper third of their class in secondary school and having no final
grade below 80%. Intelligence tests were given as an experiment. The
development of these tests has made them one of the helpful indications
of probable success or failure in college work. Tuition was
advanced to $250.
1925 – The college received
from Delta Phi Upsilon sorority $1,000 to establish a fund for
the purchase of books for the Department of Classics and Art.
November 25, 1925 – Two hundred alumnae met
in conference on the campus to learn the status of the college and
the places in which they might lend help. The million dollar
endowment campaign was an outgrowth of this meeting.
1926-27 – The assistant deans were appointed. Each
was relieved of one-fourth of her teaching and this time given to
administrative work with students. The work had previously
been undertaken in addition to a full teaching schedule. This
system, augmented by advisers for the upper classes, is still in
effect and is responsible for the excellent reputation of Mather
in dealing with the needs of individuals. The first student
was accepted for a year of foreign study in France under the auspices
of the University of Delaware. Through the generosity of the
Church of the Covenant the use of the parish house stage was given
to college dramatic groups. The Alumnae Association gave the
college $1,750 for scholarships.
1926 – The college received
by bequest of Anne M. McClymonds $14,281.55.
1927 – The college received
from friends of Stella Berkeley Friedman a memorial fund of $561.70,
an annual award not to exceed $25 to the member of the graduating
class who has attained the highest scholarship in Sociology.
1927-28 – The college received $50,000 by
the will of Mrs. Jay C. Morse for a student aid in memory of Gertrude
Hanna Hubbell. Miss Palmié’s retirement marked
the first break in a group of nine department heads who had been
with the college for thirty years. The curriculum was revised
so that the work in the first two years was distributed over several
fields of knowledge, and in the latter two the student concentrated
on her special interests. Professor Bourne and three other
member of the History Department made use of new room in Clark Hall
for giving training in methods of utilizing historical material. Independent
study for especially qualified students was also furthered by Miss
Collett in Physiology and Mr. Gruener in Chemistry. Special
work in Philosophy was furthered by the appointment of Mr. Fisch
as assistant professor.
The
principle of student responsibility for publication of the Sun
Dial and a separate Annual for the college on student
budget and without a special levy was now well established and recognized
as sound and valuable experience.
1928-29 – Freshmen were allowed to enter
at mid-year, and took advantage of it to the number of twenty-one. Miss
Perkins, Mr. Fowler, Mr. Clemens and Mr. Herrick retired after many
years of valuable service to the college. Miss Sargent and
Mr. Scott in Classics, Mr. Quimby in Music, and Mr. Visscher in Biology
were appointed to the faculty. Tuition was advanced to $300,
where it stands in 1941.
1929 – In memory of Augusta
Mittelberger, the sum of $23,814.83 was given by Mr. and Mrs. Worcester
R. Warner and friends, the income to be use for the purchase of
books for the library.
In
memory of Mary Butler Thwing Shallenberger the sum of $1,108.68 was
given by President Thwing and family, the income to be used for the
purchase of books in modern languages and philosophy.
February 15, 1929 – The alumnae responded
to the pressing need of the college for endowment by undertaking
a campaign to raise a million dollars. The campaign was successfully
completed at the end of nine months.
1929-30 – The wise counseling
of the assistant deans coupled with great care in admissions was
responsible for the drop from 73 in 1925-26 to 31 in 1929-30 of
those required to leave the college because of inability to do
acceptable work.
March, 1929 – A High School Visitor, Miss
Elsbeth Pennington ’27, later Field Secretary, was appointed. Mr.
Samuel Mather gave the college the south wing addition to the Mather
Memorial Building. This generous gift provided much needed
office and classroom space and released Clark Hall for the use o
the Mather College Library. The quadrangle thus created provided
an excellent place for out-door dramatics. With the acquisition
of Music House the serious study of music and its appreciation surged
forward under Mr. Quimby’s leadership.
1930-31 – The “College
for Women” was
named Flora Stone Mather College. “The name has met with
universal satisfaction,” said the dean, “and no fonder
hope could be entertained than that the college should express in
itself, in its students and graduates the wisdom, graciousness and understanding
that characterized Mrs. Mather.”
Professor
Clara Louise Myers retired after twenty-eight years as a member of
the faculty.
Majors
in art and music were established. The office of vocational
counselor and placement secretary was established under the direction
of Miss Mary Schauffler with three objectives—to aid seniors
to decide what they were fitted to do; to discuss their vocational
future with all students wishing counsel; to hold group meetings
concerning vocational fields; to build a file of occupational information;
to make employer contracts. Total placements to date, 1941,
number 4,225.
1930 – The college received
by bequest of Julia C. Bolton $10,000, the income to be used for
the college; and $500 from Nathan Loeser in memory of Beatrice
Moss Loeser, for the purchase of books for the library.
1931-32 – The Trustees established eight
free scholarships to students outside of greater Cleveland. Sufficient
adaptation of Clark Hall to the purposes of the College Library was
accomplished to secure adequate study space. Some gifts to
the library of special note were $500 from Mrs. Henry S. Upson, and
$210 for Browsing Room books from the Advisory Council, in addition
to their annual gift.
1931 – The college received
$5,521.59 from Sarah L. and William A. Leonard, the income to be
used for student aid.
1932-33 – Professor William
Henry Hulme retired after thirty-nine years of association with
the College, first as instructor in German, and from 1900 Professor
of English.
The
committee on Honors Studies decided to accept written applications
for the privilege of independent study which would then be referred
to the department concerned for decision.
The
Alumnae Association supplied $2,300 for student loans, the Advisory
Council made $1,000 available for the same purpose. Under the
stress of the depression use of the Library increased; however acquisitions
fell off one-fourth.
1933-34 – Seventy-seven students
were aided by part-time work through the Federal Emergency Relief
Administration.
Mrs.
W. S. Tyler bequeathed to the college $20,000 for the maintenance
of Clark Hall, and one-fourth of her residuary estate.
Mr.
Andrew Squire bequeathed to the college his farm “Squire Valleevue” and
an endowment established to reach eventually $3,000,000.
In
memory of Isabel Wetmore Lowman, Mrs. Perry Harvey gave the college
$10,000, the income to be used for health education.
Professor
Eleanor Ferris of the History Department retired from the faculty
after twenty-one years with the college.
1934-35 – Introducing
Mather College was prepared by the Enrichment Committee and
a series of teas and meetings by alumnae were planned and carried
out to spread information about the college. Thirty-one daughters
of alumnae were enrolled in the college.
The
laboratory technicians course was approved by the faculty.
The
Tower Theater was constructed with gifts from students, Alumnae Association
and friends.
Said
the dean, “So many employers have written us enthusiastic letters
concerning the work of our graduates that the Vocational Counselor
is forced to the conclusion that their training must have had something
to do with their success.”
1935-36 – Flora Mather House
became a co-operative dormitory, the fee being $250 instead of
$400 as formerly.
Professor
Robert Waller Deering retired after being associated with the college
since 1892.
The Alumnae
Association provided funds for new floor covering, lights, tables, chairs and
window blinds for the south rooms on the second floor of the library in Clark
Hall.
The
Alumnae Historical Association established the Henry Eldridge Bourne
Fund of $25,154.22 for lectures, books, and research in history.
The
faculty voted a five-day class schedule, thus leaving Saturdays free
for students who are earning some of their expenses.
Miss
Eva May retired after thirty years as Director of Physical Education.
The
faculty accepted the report of Miss Helen McKinstry, Director of
Physical Education of Russell Sage College, for the organization
of the Physical Education Department centered around student needs
and to take advantage of Squire Valleevue.
1936-37 – Professor Herbert
Austin Aikins retired after forty-four years as Professor of Philosophy
and Psychology, and Professor Mary Eliza Parker retired after twenty-four
years as Professor of Household Administration.
The
University held an open house to acquaint the community with the
various colleges. At Mather classes were opened to visitors,
special exhibits were arranged, and dinner was served to friends,
parents, students and faculty in the Church of the Covenant. A
student forum was held, with Mr. Taeusch as leader, on matters of
college policies, curriculum, and social life.
Tyler
House on Bellflower Road was opened as a semi-co-operative dormitory.
The
old heating plant in the gymnasium basement was removed and a games
room blossomed in its place. Upstairs additional room for corrective
work was gained by extending the floor over the old balcony. Swimming
was made part of the regular program.
The
Alumnae Association, in addition to carrying on the work begun in
the Library the previous year, gave the college $500 to make the
pig-pen at Squire Valleevue into a weekend house.
The
Vocational Counselor reported an increase in placements of 42% over
last year. This office co-operated with the U. S. Bureau of
Education in a study “The Economic Status of College Alumnae.” Findings
with regard to Mather Alumnae were published in the Alumnae Folio.
One
of the most important gifts in the history of the library came into
this year when Professor Emeritus Henry E. Bourne gave to it his
fine library on the French Revolution and Napoleonic period.
1837-38 – The college celebrated the Fiftieth
Anniversary of its founding as a separate but co-ordinate college
within Western Reserve University. The celebration, held May
fifth, sixth, and seventh under the direction of Miss Mildred Hart
and a committee of the faculty, created for those who experienced
it “a high and happy mood—nor was this merely the emotion
of an hour.”
By
bequest of Emma Maud Perkins $10,000 came to the college for student
aid.
By
bequest of Mary and Bertha McClymonds the college received $23,249.49
for student aid.
The
Alumnae Association established four funds of $500 each in memory
of Emma Maud Perkins, William Henry Hulme, Charles Edward Clemens,
and Charles Franklin Thwing.
The
May Squire House for practice in home management was named for Mr.
Squire’s daughter. She had died when a young girl and
his grief found expression later in bequeathing the Farm to the College
for Women.
Graduates
in Home Economics established the Mary Eliza Parker award.
In
November 1937 the Clara Louise Myers Room in Clark Hall was redecorated
by the college and furnished by the alumnae, as a place for leisure
reading.
1938 – By bequest of Mary
Frances Morris the College received $40,000 for student aid.
By
bequest of Mary Coit Sanford a fund of $10,000 was established with
the Cleveland Foundation to provide scholarships in the College in
memory of Harriet Fairfield Coit and William Henry Coit.
By
bequest of C. L. Richman the College received $2,000.
1938-39 – Professor Borgerhoff,
a member of the faculty since 1903, and Professor Gruener, a member
of the faculty since 1895, both retired.
A
speech clinic for freshmen was established, and a special room with
a recording machine was set aside for it.
Mrs.
Francelia Rooklidge, head of Guilford House for sixteen years, died
in February, 1939.
The
faculty voted to discontinue the closed grading system beginning
in June, 1939.
Thwing
House was equipped by the Advisory Council as a dormitory operated
in connection with Tyler House next to it on Bellflower Road.
The
alumnae held their first conference for representatives of regional
branches and alumnae advisers for prospective students. Under
the direction of Miss Meribeth Cameron, Assistant Professor of History,
a faculty forum was held to inform the alumnae of developments in
curriculum and facilities.
In
connection with the Fiftieth Anniversary a resume of gifts to the
Library was issued in a booklet entitled “The Friends of Mather
College Library, 1888-1938.”
An
Argus reading machine (for micro-film) was purchased through the
Bourne Fund for the Department of History.
1939-40 – The Advisory Council prepared University
House in Abington Road for the overflow of dormitory registrations. The
dean’s report called for more adequate and less expensive housing
for students than is possible under a system of small houses.
The
Alumnae Association supplied funds used by the College to establish
Press Board as a student activity and news center under the direction
of Mrs. Margaret W. White.
The
Student Council and Miss Schauffler, Vocational Director, in co-operation
held a vocational information conference at which eighteen fields
of work for women were presented by leaders in each field.
Services
centered in the Library, in addition to the Argus reader, include
the playback apparatus for students of speech, modern languages and
music, the care of lantern slides and pictures for courses in art,
the Press Board and Record offices.
The
College sustained a severe loss in the death of Professor Robert
C. Binkley, head of the History Department.
1940-41 – A College newspaper,
the Mather
Record, was undertaken as a project of the Class of 1943 (Freshman)
at the end of last year. It completed its first year as a
highly successful and well-written reflector of student opinion
and experience.
The
stage in the Tower Theater was reconstructed to provide a laboratory
broadcasting studio.
The
score of a recognized college aptitude test was required of each
applicant for admission.
The
Board of Overseers was established as a medium of communication among
faculty, trustees, administration, and alumnae. |
Eliza
Lord 1890-1892
Those of us who were associated with Mather College
in the forties were saddened to learn in February of the death of Eleanor
Dolan who served as our dean from 1940 -1950. Although her tenure as
dean was short in comparison to the 27 years Miss Smith spent at
Mather or the 20 year tenure of Miss Hastings, Miss Dolan's contributions
to Mather College were indeed significant.
Elizabeth
T. Hastings, dean and professor emeritus at Case Western Reserve
University, died this week at her home at 2419 Queenston Road, Cleveland
Heights. She was 72.