Lawrence University

TIME AND TRADITIONS: 1900s


Lawrence students gather in downtown Appleton to celebrate the victory of Will Wescott, '00, winner of the Interstate Oratorical Contest in Denver, Colorado, May 3, 1900.	Harassing underclassmen, especially freshmen, is popular in the early 1900's.

Early 1900s Student life

The Lawrence literary societies begin to lose their position of dominance on campus to the newer Greek letter societies.

Kappa Upsilon chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta, 1905.

1904 Rhodes scholars

A. E. Rollins, Lawrence's first Rhodes scholar, is selected to receive a $4,500 scholarship for three years of study at Oxford University in England. Three years later, Ernest Hooton is selected as Lawrence's second Rhodes scholar. He becomes a Harvard anthropology professor and author of ten books. In his lighter moments, he creates hundreds of cynical sayings called "Hootonisms," such as "History is principally the inaccurate narration of events that never should have happened in the first place."

1908 Memorable music
Lawrence's performing arts series is organized by William Harper, dean of the conservatory. Today, such stars as cellist Yo-Yo Ma, soprano Kathleen Battle, and The Joffrey II Dancers grace our stage.
William Harper

1908 What's in a name

Lawrence University, under the leadership of President Samuel Plantz, abolishes its schools of expression and commerce and its preparatory department (high school) and adopts the name Lawrence College, underscoring its commitment to undergraduate liberal education, a commitment that continues today.

Carnegie Library, 1909


Hiram A. Jones Memorial Latin Library in Main Hall, named in honor of a professor of Latin literature, 1902	Henry Lummis, professor of Greek language and literature, 1885-1905

On to the 1910s

Milwaukee-Downer in the 1900s

Back to the 1890s
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