Talking in the Library

K-State Keepsakes: Edward M. Kennedy

 18th in the Series

Today as the country observes the death of Edward M. Kennedy at age 77, it is noteworthy to recall that he delivered the 61st Alfred M. Landon Lecture on Public Issues at Kansas State University on January 30, 1984.  The senator from Massachusetts spoke on "The Changing Relationship Between Politics and Public Policy."

Arriving 35 minutes late because his flight had been delayed, Senator Kennedy spoke to a capacity crowd of 1,800 people in McCain Auditorium.  The senator criticized President Ronald Reagan for a number of his recent policies.  President Reagan delivered a Landon Lecture in 1982 and in 1967 while serving as governor of California.  Senator Kennedy's brother, Robert, presented a Landon Lecture in 1968, his first public speech after announcing his candidacy for president.  He was assassinated a few months later.

The Kansas State Collegian reported that, unlike previous lectures, no protests or disturbances took place.  The people who crowded outside McCain Auditorium appeared more interested in meeting the senator than protesting.  John Carlin, governor of Kansas, and Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum, Alf Landon's daughter, attended the lecture.

Twenty-five years ago Senator Kennedy addressed a number of issues that sound familiar today including the use of American troops in foreign countries.  He stated that he opposed "...the policy of scorning human rights [in El Salvador], and then putting 5,000 American troops on permanent maneuvers in Honduras...Central America must be an issue in this [presidential] campaign--so that afterwards we will not go to war by the back door, with our people divided and deceived.  History has taught us in anguish  and retreat the folly of that course."  A text of Senator Kennedy's speech is available in the University Archives and an audio version is accessible through the K-State Landon Lecture Series home page.

Named after Alfred M. Landon, former governor of Kansas, the lecture series began in 1966.  It is considered one of the most prestigious of its kind in the United States.  During the 2009-2010 academic year Admiral Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Sheila C. Bair, chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, are scheduled to present the 154th and 155th Landon Lectures.

Tony Crawford, University Archivist

K-State Keepsakes: First Ladies of K-State, 1863-2009

17th in the Series

K-State celebrates Founders' Day on February 16!  On that date in 1863 ownership of Bluemont Central College, the school established by the leaders who settled the Manhattan area in the 1850s, was transferred to the state and became Kansas State Agricultural College (now Kansas State University).  It is the oldest public institution of higher education in the state.

For the last 146 years twelve men have held the office of president at K-State, from Joseph Denison (1863-1873) to Jon Wefald (1986-2009).  What better time than Founders' Day to recognize the women who joined their husbands to serve the university as first ladies!  Unfortunately, this venue does not provide the space to adequately describe the individual characteristics of these outstanding women.  Collectively they: supported their husbands; raised children; became leaders in campus and community organizations; hosted visiting dignitaries, faculty, and students; and carried out countless other roles to benefit their institution.

The average tenure of a first lady was 12 years with Janet McCain serving the longest, 25 years, while Marie Will remained in her position for two.  Ruth Ann Wefald has been at K-State for 23 years.

Below is a list of the 12 first ladies, their husbands, years of service, and one random tidbit about their life or time at K-State (click here to see photos of the first ladies and presidents):

Frances Ann Osborne (Dennis) Denison (Joseph), Sep 1, 1863-Aug 31, 1873.  Only first lady and husband to have had a previous marriage.

Ann "Nannie" Taylor Foote Anderson (John), Sep 1, 1873-Sep 1, 1879.  Met future husband during childhood.

Charlotte Pearl Halstead Fairchild (George), Dec 1, 1879-Jun 30, 1897.  Son, David, married Marian Bell, daughter of Alexander Graham Bell.

Marie Van Velsor Rogers Will (Thomas), Jul 1, 1897-Jun 30, 1899.  Had excellent voice and sang at campus events.

Marguerite Rae Nichols (Ernest), Jul 1, 1899-Jun 30, 1909.  Born in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Margaret Ward Watson Waters (Henry), Jul 1, 1909-Dec 31, 1917.  When they left Manhattan the home they built at 311 N. 14th was purchased by Kappa Kappa Gamma as their sorority house.

Effie Lane Nebeker Jardine (William), Mar 1, 1918-Feb 28, 1925.  Only first lady of two Kansas public colleges/universities (William became president of Wichita State in 1934).

Mildred Leona Jenson Farrell (Francis), Mar 1, 1925-Aug 31, 1943.  Only first lady to have a baby during her tenure.

Helen Elsie Eakin Eisenhower (Milton), Sep 1, 1943-Jun 30, 1950.  Only Manhattan native to become first lady.

Janet McLean Henry McCain (James), Jul 1, 1950-Jun 20, 1975.  An accomplished ballerina, she served longest term as first lady, 25 years.

Shirley Hansen Acker (Duane), Jul 1, 1975-Jun 30, 1986.  Accomplished artist who took lessons from Oscar Larmer, K-State and Manhattan artist.

Ruth Ann Joynt Wefald (Jon), Jul 1, 1986-summer 2009.  Driving force behind the establishment of the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art at K-State.

With President Jon Wefald announcing his retirement effective the end of the academic year (2008-2009), a national search was undertaken for a replacement.  On February 11, 2009, it was announced that Kirk H. Schulz and Noel Nunnally Schulz will become the 13th president and first lady of K-State!

Tony Crawford, University Archivist

K-State Keepsakes: Wildcat Olympians

16th in the Series

Now that the 2008 Olympic Games have come to an end, it is time to recognize the very impressive number of K-State athletes who have participated in the Olympics, either while attending the University or after leaving.  In fact, K-State has sent at least one athlete to the Olympics since the 1968 games in Mexico City!  Christian Smith ran the 800 meters at the most recent Olympics but did not qualify for the finals.

Beginning with the 1920 Olympics, 20 K-Staters have competed in the Games winning a total of 11 medals including 4 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze.  This total is even more impressive when you consider that major Olympic events swimming and gymnastics have not been varsity sports at K-State for many years.

Ray Watson holds the distinction of being the first Wildcat to become an Olympian when he placed 7th in the steeplechase in 1920.  He also participated in the 1924 and 1928 Games.  Watson holds a place in Wildcat lore by becoming the University's first NCAA champion, winning the mile run in 1921.  His accomplishments are even more impressive considering he lost his hand in a shotgun accident at age 14!

Thane Baker is the most decorated Wildcat having won the silver medal in 1952 (200 meters), and a gold (400m relay), silver (100m), and bronze (200m) in 1958.  Other gold medal winners include: Bob Boozer, basketball, 1960; Kenny Harrison, triple jump, 1996; and Mitch Richmond, basketball, 1996.

Five Wildcats participated in more than one Olympics, Ray Watson (1920, 1924, 1928), Thane Baker (1952 and 1956), Mitch Richmond (1988 and 1996), Attila Zsivoczky (2000 and 1004), and Austra Skujyte (2000 and 2004).

K-State Keepsakes: Jerry Wexler: Mr. "Rhythm & Blues"

15^th in the Series

Jerry Wexler, Class of 1946, passed away on August 15, 2008 at the age of 91.  A native of New York, he entered K-State by chance when his mother selected the college while pouring over college descriptions in the mid 1930s.  He came to Manhattan in 1935 but dropped out of college only to quit the school again when he returned the next year.  No doubt his lack of success as a student was due in part to the numerous trips Wexler made to Kansas City where he got caught up in the city's jazz scene.  After a stint in the military during WWII, Wexler returned to K-State as a more serious student.  Wexler said the "university accpeted him back" and he "worked hard and did very well, stayed out of pool rooms."  He received a degree in journalism in 1946.

After graduating, Wexler landed a job with Billboard magazine reviewing records.  It was during this time that he and others were attempting to come up with a new term for "race music."  When he coined the phrase "rhythm and blues" it stuck as Wexler gained notoriety for integrating this style of music into the popular white culture.

In 1953, Wexler was asked to join Atlantic Records where he became a partner in the company.  For over 20 years he was instrumental in building Atlantic into a major record label.  Wexler signed and produced performers such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, The Coasters, and The Drifters, to name a few.  Later, he was influential in advancing the careers of Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and Dylan, who he helped win a Grammy in 1979.  Others he worked with included Dire Straits, Carlos Santana, and Willie Nelson!

Wexler won numerous awards during his illustrious career including the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Blues Foundation in 1995, and the coveted Trustee Award at the Grammy Award ceremony in 1996.  He was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.  K-State recognized Wexler's achievements by honoring him as an Alumni Fellow in 1996.

In 1986, Wexler honored K-State by donating a collection of approximately 2,000 recordings to the University.  It contains albums he received from Atlantic as well as items from his own collection.  The core of the collection consists of recordings from the mid 1960s into the 1980s and reflects Wexler's professional and personal interests.  The K-State Department of Music and the K-State Libraries collaborated to receive the collection from Wexler; it is available for use in the  Morse Department of Special Collections.  Titles can be identifed by conducting a keyword search in the K-State Libraries on-line catalog.

In 1993, Wexler published his autobiography, Rhythm and the Blues: A Life in American Music.

One needs not go any further than the K-State Libraries to learn more about K-Stater Jerry Wexler and his influence on America's music!

Sources. "Jerry Wexler: The Steward of Rhythm and Blues."  A&S. Spring, 1986; "Wexler Finds Success at KSU-And in Life." K-Stater. July, 1993; Vertical File-Jerry Wexler, University Archives.

Tony Crawford
University Archivist

National Poetry Month Display and Celebration!

Given the weather we’ve been having lately, people shouldn’t think of poetry as “April showers bring May flowers”!  So, to enlighten the readership, and celebrate National Poetry Month, David Beckley (General Reference student employee) and Erin Fritch (General Reference and student supervisor) have assembled a selection of poetry books for the monthly book display on second floor.  Please stop by, browse, and read!

Two years ago I devoted a K-State Keepsake to National Poetry Month.  You are invited to read the piece because of the information it provides about poetry and K-State. At the time, Jonathan Holden, professor in our Department of English, was the first poet laureate of Kansas!  Denise Low currently holds this distinction.

In addition to those mentioned in the poetry keepsake, a couple of K-State graduates have gained a national reputation in recent years.  Ed Skoog served as student body president before he graduated in 1993 with a degree in English.  His poems have been published in over 20 periodicals, including Poetry and American Poetry Review.  His first major book, Mister Skylight, is forthcoming in 2009 when the English department anticipates that he will return for a reading.  His “chapbook,” Field Recordings, is in the Morse Department of Special Collections.  Amy Fleury, who has BA and MA degrees from K-State, is an associate professor at Washburn University.  Her book, Beautiful Trouble, has won several awards.

Do you have a favorite poet?  In addition to Amy Fleury and Beautiful Trouble, among those I enjoy include Linda Gregg, Mark Strand, Jane Kenyon, and Robert Creeley.  Creeley, a major American poet who passed away in 2005, is my favorite.  Creeley has a K-State connection; he served as judge for the 1976 Kansas Quarterly Poetry Award.  His Selected Poems, 1945-2005 was published last year by the University of California Press.  Creeley’s first book, Le Fou (1952), is much sought after by collectors and libraries.  A copy is in Special Collections.

Included in the aforementioned display on second floor is a poem that I wrote for National Poetry Month at Erin’s request.   It is as follows:

“Poetry”

Not only for lovers,
or even poets,

for you!

it’s waiting,
here,

and worth
every
read,

check some out,

priceless!

Anthony R. Crawford
University Archivist

K-State Keepsakes: "The Tuttle Creek Story" and the Velen Sisters

Currently showing on K-State Television, Channel 8 (cable), is “The Tuttle Creek Story: Presented by the Blue Valley People of Kansas.” The University Archives made its original 16 mm film of the “Story” available to Ron Frank, Educational Communications Center, to reformat for this program. The University Archives’ copy was selected because its condition is superior to those located in other archives. Part of the television program includes an interview that he conducted with Cheryl Collins , director of the Riley County Historical Museum, about the making of the film, its significance at the time, and importance to the history of the region. The University Archives and the Velen Collection (see below) are acknowledged at the end of the program The focus of the film is the early 1950s and how the construction of a dam would destroy the existing Blue River Valley. The film was professionally filmed and produced by Charles M. Peters of Beverly Hills, California, and released in 1953. Mr. Frank provided the University Archives with a DVD version of the film and the program. “The Tuttle Creek Story” came with the Doris and Leona Velen Tuttle Creek Dam Collection that was donated to the University Archives in 2004 by Kevin Larson, a history teacher at Riley County High School. The Velen sisters lived in Cleburne, a town in the Blue River Valley that was eventually flooded when the Tuttle Creek Dam was constructed. The sisters were key participants in a highly organized “grass roots” effort to “Stop the Big Dam Foolishness.” While the Velens are not identified by name, it is assumed that they are pictured in the film. For example, included in the footage is a bus trip a group from the area took to visit Dwight D. Eisenhower in an effort to gain his opposition to the dam. Doris and Leona were active in planning this activity. Construction of the dam began in 1952 and it was completed in 1962 after several delays. The Velen Collection is one of several in the University Archives that documents the Tuttle Creek Dam and the history of the area. The collection is significant to researchers, not only for the information it contains about Tuttle Creek Dam, but because it provides excellent documentation of the controversy between citizens and the U. S Government, the Army Corps of Engineers in particular, over the flooding of land and communities throughout the country. The contents include correspondence with political leaders around the state and country, speeches, documents concerning meetings and events, pamphlets, scrapbooks, related material, and, of course, the film. A description of the collection is available.  A related collection in the University Archives is that of Doris H. Fenton. It contains material she collected during the time the dam was being considered and constructed, as well as conservation issues.  These are two of the numerous collections of personal papers and records preserved in the holdings related to “Agriculture and Rural Life” in Kansas, a strategic collecting emphasis of the Morse Department of Special Collections. Many of the archival collections are summarized at: http://www.lib.k-state.edu/depts/spec/flyers/ag-history.html

Anthony R. Crawford
University Archivist
14th in Keepsakes Series

K-State Keepsakes: Hale Library, 1997-2007: “Happy Birthday to you….”

On October 5, 1997, Hale Library was officially dedicated ending an 80 year architectural odyssey and ushering in a new world of library resources, both traditional and electronic.  The college library was completed in 1927, making it the first building on campus devoted solely to housing the library.  Lack of space continued to be problematic and in 1955 the stacks addition was completed to the south.  At that time the library was named in honor of Francis David Farrell, the university’s eighth president (1925-1943).  To alleviate overcrowding, a second addition to the southeast was completed in 1970.

Growth of collections and services, combined with a severe reduction in quality study space, led to outside consultants recommending that the library be expanded at a cost of $28 million.  With dwindling state resources for construction projects, an innovative answer to how finance a new library had to be found.  Three components came together to fund the project: a federal wind fall of funds to the state allowed Governor Joan Finney to allocate $18 million for the construction; K-State students passed a referendum to provide $5 million; and Joe and Joyce Hale, impressed with the students’ financial commitment, came forward with $5 million.  Without all three, the library addition and renovation could not have become a reality.  To recognize the essential contribution of the Hale’s the new library was named in their honor.  To acknowledge the importance of the original library and its namesake, the 1927 structure retains the designation of “Historic Farrell Library” and the main entry to Hale is officially known as the Farrell Entrance.

Other major donors provided initial and more recent funding during the last decade, including the Kansas Farm Bureau Insurance Co., Andreas Foundation, Archer Daniels Midland Foundation, Dow Chemical, William R. Love, Richard and Marjorie Morse, and Mr. and Mrs. Dan Wassenberg.  The Friends of K-State Libraries, founded in 1984, has provided funding for numerous acquisitions, furniture, and equipment during the last ten years.  Students continued to support its library through funding initiatives that include computer stations for the InfoCommons, SFX software, and the Google Search Appliance.

One of the major goals of the new library was to assimilate the old and the new structures, architecturally and aesthetically.  With that in mind, the construction encased and expanded the west, south, and east sides of the previous library, while leaving the original 1927 building exposed to preserve its historic beauty and significance.   In 1999 Hale Library received the Merit Award for Excellence from the American Institute of Architects for the central states region.

On the interior, the library was designed to be user friendly and house the collections, services, and departments necessary to anticipate and provide the needs of the 21st century.  In addition to providing traditional library material (the holdings are approaching two million cataloged volumes!), library resources are available to distant users through data bases with full text delivery, innovative searching capabilities (most recently the Google Search Appliance), digital initiatives, and interlibrary services.  To meet the challenging role of providing information to users, the Collection Services and Access Services Departments have met and advanced the demands presented by the information explosion.  To support the technology needs of students and faculty, the Information Technology Assistance Center (iTAC) is housed in Hale.  The space odyssey of a library never ends and K-State Libraries has entered a cooperative agreement with the University of Kansas to house bound volumes in a shared storage facility in Lawrence. 

The following areas are key components of K-State Libraries’ commitment to providing information, collections and services to targeted user groups: Dr. William R. Love Science Library, Dow Chemical Multicultural Resource Center, Richard L.D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Special Collections, Government Publications, the branch libraries at the colleges of Veterinary Medicine, Architecture, and Engineering, and the Math/Physics Department. 

As emphasized by Lori Goetsch, Dean of K-State Libraries, “an even more powerful link to…information resources is the human link.”  By 2007, the Libraries employed 136 FTE staff to provide users with information and services.  Dean Goetsch replaced Brice Hobrock as dean when he retired in 2004 after serving 21 years in that position.

To meet the needs of the library and its constituents in the future, library administration and staff ended the first decade of Hale Library’s service by completing “A Living Strategic Plan” for 2007-2012.  As stated in that document, the “K-State Libraries…has been adapting for the past decade to both the challenges and opportunities posted by today’s digital information environment.  With the realization that more and more information is created and shared electronically it is the goal of the Libraries to foster a flexible, adaptable, and creative environment to meet these changing needs.”  The staff of K-State Libraries is looking forward to serving its myriad of users in the next decade with anticipation and confidence that their search for scholarly information will be successful.

Anthony R. Crawford
University Archivist

13th in the Keepsakes series

K-State Keepsakes: EXTRA! EXTRA! Campus Newspapers

Printing existed to some degree at Bluemont Central College from the time it opened on January 1, 1860 until it became Kansas State Agricultural College in 1863.  It was reported that “rambunctious students kept throwing the type [from a printing press] down the stairway and protective measure had to be taken”!   Formal instruction in printing began in the fall of 1873, shortly after John Anderson became the second president of the college.  Adhering to the provisions of the Morrill Act that established the Land Grant college system, he expanded the curriculum by adding printing and other industrial arts programs.

K-State Keepsakes: Poetry

With April being National Poetry Month, it is appropriate to recognize K-State’s poets and poetry with a sampling of what has transpired in this area over the years!  For example, in the first college catalog, 1863-1864, Homer’s long narrative poem, Iliad, was listed as a required course for third year students and continued to be for several years (it is not known if they had an English version!).  However, students soon created their own poetry that was more utilitarian in nature! One of the many poems included in the College Symposium, published in 1891,  describes a student’s feelings about agricultural chemistry.  The last stanza reads:

We studied of drainage, of tillage, of composts.
Of everything horrid the author could say,
Till at last the term ended, and with it our sorrows,
But the memory will linger for many a day.

With April being National Poetry Month, it is appropriate to recognize K-State’s poets and poetry with a sampling of what has transpired in this area over the years!  For example, in the first college catalog, 1863-1864, Homer’s long narrative poem, Iliad, was listed as a required course for third year students and continued to be for several years (it is not known if they had an English version!).  However, students soon created their own poetry that was more utilitarian in nature! One of the many poems included in the College Symposium, published in 1891,  describes a student’s feelings about agricultural chemistry.  The last stanza reads:

We studied of drainage, of tillage, of composts.
Of everything horrid the author could say,
Till at last the term ended, and with it our sorrows,
But the memory will linger for many a day.

K-State Keepsakes: Birth of a College

Founded in 1863, Kansas State University celebrated its birthday on February 16; however, the early inhabitants of Manhattan had a college prior to that date!  The first settlers arrived in the area as early as 1854.  Isaac T. Goodnow, and other members of the New England Emigrant Aid Company, reached the vicinity in 1855 looking for a place to settle and promote Kansas Territory as a “free state.”  Once they viewed the beautiful surroundings they looked no further for a town site!  When others arrived they adopted Manhattan as the name for their town as a compromise between those who migrated from Boston and Cincinnati.

Many of the settlers were well educated and, after discussing the importance of establishing a college, they obtained a charter for the Bluemont Central College Association from the Territory’s legislative assembly in 1858 to create a school. The incorporators of the college were Goodnow, Washington Marlatt, S. D. Houston, C. E. Blood, George S. Park, S. C. Popmeroy, W. A. McCollom, and T. H. Webb.

Early Manhattanites contributed funds for the erection of Bluemont Central College but financial support was obtained largely by solicitation in the East, primarily through the efforts of Isaac Goodnow.  As a result, a cornerstone for the building was laid on May 10, 1859, with approximately 300 people witnessing the ceremony. Located at what is now the northwest corner of Claflin Rd. and College Ave., construction proceeded quickly and by the end of the year the building was ready for occupancy.  The three story limestone structure measured 44 x 66 feet and opened its doors to students on January 9, 1860.