Action to establish...
(('nt*fro’n pine H
Immediately after the Univer
sity location had been establish
ed at Eugene, subscription lists
were circulated to raise money
and were supplemented by othei
money-making projects such at
Fourth of July balls, strawberry
festivals, sociables, and even r.
program by the American Bur
lesque Opera Troop.
Excavation for the first edi
fice of the new state university
Deady Hall, was begun on May
7, 1873. The building proceeded
slowly' due to insufficient funds
Forty-six canvassers were ap
pointed in March, 1875. The re
stilts fell far below expectations.
Finally in desparation the board
of regents planned for paid can
vassers :
“Should they (the paid can
vassers fail to obtain the re
quired amount, we must give
the enterprise up as hopeless
and will say to those having
claims against us as officers
of the Union University As
sociation. take the bidding and
make what is due you out of
it.
Eugene Guard, May 1, 1875
Soon after this appeal, the far
mers in the Eugene area agreed
to donate wheat and other goods
to the university.
However this wasn’t suffici
ent, and frequently Judge Walton
approached pay day with an
empty pocket. Leaving his law
office, he wandered through the
countryside adjacent to Eugene
asking for donations, frequently
returning with a calf, a few pigs
or boxes of apples, which he
turned in to T. G. Hendricks
manager of the general store, j
Hendricks always managed to;
convert the farm products into;
cash. The campaign had been \
long drawn out, many friends
had lost hope; it was only the!
unshakable resolution of a few
leaders which finally carried the j
project through to success.
Citizens rescue college
Finally, at the end of Febru
ary, 1876, the first floor of Dea
dy Hall was completed. The ac
ceptance of the biulding. how
ever, still hung in the fire owing
to the debts. Had it not been
for W. J. J. Scott and J. E. Holt,
tw'o Eugene citizens who assumed
the indebtedness, the college
might have died a-borning.
The first struggle was over.
The state accepted the building,
the regents of the university
adopted a complete set of rules,
and the faculty was elected.
Judge Joshua Walton, by his
persistent optimism, his willing
ness to solicit and collect small
donations, and by his continu
ous advertisement of the school,
was the most important bene
factor of the university move
ment.
The original faculty consisted
>f John W. Johnson, president;
Mark Bailey. Thomas Condon,
Mrs. Mary Spiller, and Miss Mary
Stone.
Opens October 16
The new institution started on
its course in a simple and unos
tentatious m a n n e r. Professor
London had arrived in July. 1876;
President Johnson and the others
of the staff in September. On
October 16 the examination and
classification of students began.
Classes were soon organized, and
instruction was under way with
out any sort of formal opening
ceremonies. Students were slow
in arriving, but at the end of the
term there were 177 in aftend
ance. of whom 80 were classi
fies as being of college grade and
57 in the preparatory depart
ment — an excellent showing un
der the circumstances. The class
ification of students based on
.heir studies was at first tenta
tive. and it was not until 1880
that the curriculum assumed de
finite form.
Condon was well liked by all
the students and was the promi
nent peacemaker in the internal
affairs of the University because
he hated all disputes.
A very pious man, Mark Bai
ley, was a leader of the theolo
gical conservatives in the school.
The preparatory instruction
was in the hands of Mrs. Spiller,
who had held a similar position
at Pacific University. She was
assisted by Miss Stone.
For two years the faculty was
limited to five persons due to an
unsatisfactory state of finances.
In 1878 John Straub was chosen
professor of Greek. He was a
careful and exact teacher, in
iusting on the regular prepara
tion. of class assignments by his
students.
! Weekend events continue; Frost predicts...
(Continued from f>oue I)
Skeet Manerud and Basil Wil
liams are co-ciiairman of the
event. Eighteen meml>ers of the
teum are expected to attend.
Also present at the banquet
will be John Parsons, Eugene,
who played in the 1916 Rose
Bowl game.
Ella Fitzgerald, Bill De Souza
and Monte Ballou and his Castle
Jazz Band arc the featured en
tertainers at tonight's Homecom
ing dance and concert. The Fitz
gerald concert will begin at
7:30 in McArthur Court. The
Betsy Lee...
(Continued from f>o:ie 1)
and two younger brothers. Her
I father was the former treasurer
' of the Territory of Hawaii.
Miss Lee danced with the Olsen
and Johnson show from New York
i while she was in high school. She
I was president of the Stage De
sign Club and an officer in Puna
! hou's student government.
Member of SU Board
i While at Oregon, she has taught
hula classes, been chairman of
! the SU talent committee. Co
chairman of the AWS Variety
show and chairman of the tra
ditional Barbershop Quartet Con
test held during Dad's Weekend.
Currently, she is a member of the
SU Board as the representative
from the School of Architecture
and Allied Arts.
Wrhy d i d the almond-eyed
beauty choose tile University in
stead of some other college 7
Oregon, she said, has a great
deal of influence in the Islands.
There are many Hawaiians who
have attended Oregon. "It is well
represented," she added.
Miss Lee was chosen queen by
student voting from five finalists.
She received over half of the 1700
votes cast.
Karl Onthank to be honored
• • •
(Continued from page 3)
through his work as permanent
secretary of the Oregon Mothers'
and Dads’ Clubs (organizations
ae helped found) and as a corre
spondent to alumni everywhere.
Although Onthank retired from
his post as director of graduate
placement and employment, he
?an still be found in the adminis
trative office eager to help others
(a quality that shines through
aut his Oregon years.)
Concerning his half-century ca
reer in education, Onthank be
lieves he could not have chosen
better in advance. “It's been v£ry
gratifying to see young people
engaged in a most satisfactory
occupation — learning, growing,
expanding, going out into the
world to find their places. And
to see them go out and do well is
especially satisfying.
His plans for the future: be
sides visiting his daughters (who
graduated from Oregon Phi Beta
Kappa) and eight grandchildren,
Onthank hopes to continue his
work in conservation and alumni
organizations, especially Friars.
“I’d like to write too.” says
Onthank, summing up his future
plans. I have a great deal of ma
terial on Oregon history—inti
mate glimpses into the thoughts
of our University presidents, for
instance. In fact. I’ve got enough
work laid out to last me until
I’m a hundred, anyway.”
From an unceitain freshman
and a small campus to a success
ful man and thriving University,
Onthank and Oregon go hand in
hand. The future holds even
greater expectations.
But today we pause to applaud
the 50 years of "Mr. Oregon”—
DON WOUDA
Don. a 6'4” soph from
Vallejo. Calif., plays
center for the Ducks
BUICK
Sales
4 BE TTf R BUY
k\USE0 CARS
- Service
We also feature
OPEL SERVICE
942 Olive Dl 5-2361
Scherer Buick City
dance, entitled "Kxpres&'.ona In
Sound," will start at 9:30 p.m.,
with the bands performing al
ternately.
University religions groups will
serve brunch Sunday morning at
9:30. Following dinner at the
living organization*, aiumm itio
Invited to attend an Informal
concert given by University mu
sic group* on the HU main atcpa
at 2:30 p m. Performing will l>o
the University Singer* and Uni
versity Symphonic Bra** Choir.
V Mk'
EY$
a i vv a r s * F i R <r t- Q U a i i r y 1
Penney’s
introduces
men’s
fashions
that
are
really
new!!
f MARK III
3-PIECE
HOP
SACKING
BLAZER
SUIT
Handsome wool Ijopsack
ing . . . tailored to neat
perfection with blazer
style jackets accented
with metal buttons . . .
complete with rayon foul
ard lining- . . . plus vest
that matches lining or re
verses to match the suit!
complete with
reversible vest
main floor