Athletics – Page 3

The Twelve Days of Davidson

December 25, 2013 By cachristianlamb Leave a Comment

For this Christmas Day edition of Around the D, we offer a play on “The Twelve Days of Christmas” – The Twelve Days of Davidson, collapsed into a single post:

On the first day of Christmas

Davidson College Archives & Special Collections sent to me

12 Original Houses on Patterson Court

Patterson Court, circa 1960s.

11 Seniors Graduating at the First Commencement Exercises (1840)

A young E. Constantine Davidson, one of the those eleven graduates in 1840, and the diploma of Oni Davis McNeely (Class of 1840), currently on display in the Library’s Davidsoniana Room.

10 Wins in the Undefeated 2000 Season for the Football Team

Excited Wildcat fans tear down the goalposts after the last game of the undefeated season; a few fans hang off the posts (from Quips and Cranks 2001).

Those goalposts ended up in the senior apartments, as seen in this photo from Quips and Cranks 2001 – shown here with Chris Thawley, Jeff Larrimore, Rob Neuman, and William Childs (all Class of 2004).

9 Decades of Wildcat Logos

The mascot logos for Davidson throughout the years: Top row, left to right: 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. Middle row: 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Bottom row: 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.

Top row, left to right: 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.
Middle row: 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
Bottom row: 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.

8 Teams Left in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship when Davidson Reaches the “Elite Eight” in 2008

Davidson Men’s Basketball Team (from Quips and Cranks 2008).

Poster advertising a celebration of the 2008 basketball team, after March Madness.

7 Cemeteries Under Lake Norman (that we know of!)

Original site of Baker Cemetery.

Current site of Baker Cemetery, at Centre Presbyterian Church in Mooresville, NC.

6 Deep South Field Hockey Championships in a Row (1990 – 1995)

Team photograph of the 1990 field hockey team, the first in the run of 6 championships (from Quips and Cranks 1991).

1995 field hockey team, the last in the conference title run (Davidson's field hockey team currently plays in the NorPac conference, not Deep South)

1995 field hockey team, the last in the conference title run (from Quips and Cranks 1996; Davidson’s field hockey team currently plays in the NorPac conference, not Deep South)

5 Years of “Ghosts in the Library”

Posters from the first three years of Ghosts in the Library (2009 – 2011)

Posters from Ghosts in the Library, 2012 and 2013.

4 College Library Directors

Cornelia Rebekah Shaw, 1907 - 1936; Chalmers Gaston Davidson (Class of 1928), 1936 - 1975; Leland M. Park (Class of 1963), 1975 - 2006; and Gillian Gremmels, 2007 - present.

From top, left to right: Cornelia Rebekah Shaw, 1907 – 1936; Chalmers Gaston Davidson (Class of 1928), 1936 – 1975; Leland M. Park (Class of 1963), 1975 – 2006; and Gillian Gremmels, 2007 – present.

3 Students Taking One of the Earliest X-Rays (1896)

Eben Hardin, Pender Porter, and Osmond L. Barringer snuck into Dr. Henry Louis Smith’s lab to X-Ray: a cadaver finger wearing a ring and stuck with two pins; magnifying glass; a pill box containing two 22 cartridges, one pin, two rings, and six Strychnine pills; and an empty egg with a button inside.

2 Chambers Buildings

Original Chambers Building (1860 – 1921), before the fire of November 28, 1921.

New Chambers Building, completed in 1929.

and the First Woman President at Davidson College

Dr. Quillen receives the College mace (photograph from the Davidsonian).

Happy Holidays (and a merry winter break) from Davidson College’s Archives & Special Collections!

Filed Under: Alumni, Athletics, Campus traditions, College buildings, Digital collections, Staff

Thanksgiving 1913

November 26, 2013 By Jan Blodgett

It’s particularly appropriate to offer thanks during this week and Around the D is happy to thank a former faculty member and member of the class of 1951, J. B. Stroud, for sharing a family story that overlaps with Davidson history.

One hundred years ago– November 27, 1913, his uncle, Robert “Dutch” Witherington, played in a Davidson – Wake Forest football game.

Robert “Dutch” Witherington, class of 1916. Image from the scrapbook of classmate Roy Perry

The game was played on Thanksgiving in Charlotte and rated a few headlines.

Banner headline in Charlotte Observer on November 27, 1913

Article headline announcing the Great Annual Clash

Although Witherington would leave Davidson for Wake Forest in the spring of 1914, for the fall of 1913 he was pure Davidson as a full back. His running game was mentioned in post-game articles. The Sporting News reported that in the first quarter: “On a great run and good interference Witherington made thirty yards around right end. It was a great play.”

Headline from Sporting News, November 28, 1913

Unfortunately, Davidson lost 5 of those yards on a penalty. In the fourth quarter, Witherington ran for over 65 yards in various plays. In describing that last quarter, The Charlotte Observer noted, “Witherington showed more ability as a gainer of ground that he had displayed in all the rest of the game.”

As it turned out, the Charlotte Observer headline was right — the teams were evenly matched. The final score was Davidson 6 — Wake Forest 0 — with the winning touchdown happening in the 3rd quarter. That runs was completed by Witherington’s teammate, left end Wilson Cosby from Mount Airy, NC. (NOTE: if you enlarge the article below, you’ll see that in 1913 Davidson was known as the Presbyterians. The Wildcat name and mascot are 4 years in the future).

Charlotte Observer article recounting the 1913 Thanksgiving day game

The Thanksgiving rivalry kept up for only a few more years. In 1914, Davidson won a closely matched game again with Witherington playing for Wake Forest. According the Davidsonian account he made a “beautiful” run for 8 yards and later scored Wake’s only touchdown. Luckily for Davidson, the score came out 7 to 6 in Davidson’s favor.

In1915, the score was Davidson 21, Wake Forest 7. There was no game in 1916 or 1918. In 1917, the game was played on November 17 and the score was a blow-out–Davidson 72, Wake Forest 7. In 1919, the game moved to September. There was a brief return to Thanksgiving dates from 1930 to 1939 – in that decade Davidson won 5 games and Wake Forest took 5.

Filed Under: Alumni, Athletics

August Memories

September 3, 2013 By Jan Blodgett

Wildcat football practice August 25, 1980, a center snapping to the quarterback with the sun setting/glistening in the background

Golden moment at a Wildcat football practice August 25, 1980

A recent email exchange with Timothy Ebert, class of 1972 resulted in this week’s Around the D featuring a poem by Ebert and a bit of football photo history.

August Grass

I often recall the moist, green August grass,
The freshly mowed clippings, glistening on pristine fields
Awaiting the coming onslaught from hordes of cleated athletes.
“Two-a-days” prepare summer-laxed muscles for the grind ahead.

I can still smell the fragrance of the August grass,
The morning dew, sparkling with cool freshness,
That rises with the sun and heat, turning vapors into steam,
Filling the nostrils with that uniquely scented, most precious air.

I remember the comfort of the soft August grass,
Cushioning falls while staining arms and legs
With green that would have, otherwise, been red.
Giving all a brief, but welcomed respite

From the ceaseless, grueling drills
Driving beads of sweat from tiring bodies
Dripping steadily onto the trampled turf,
Which shares with me the longing for a morning rain.

Oh, and I still love the August grass
That now I mow, instead of wallow
For it reminds me of those glorious days I spent
Reveling there in its bittersweet sanctuary.

Tim Ebert
August 2009

Football practice on the grass between Phi and Eu Halls, c1900

Freshman football team in 1909, no clipped fields for practice then.

Players putting on their equipment in the locker room

Grass-stained uniforms

Pre-season training on the grass at Camp Carolina. Homer Smith illustrates his points on the turf

Football practice, players lined up in punt formation

August grass in 1980

A return to the green – members of the championship 1926 football team at their 1951 reunion.

Filed Under: Alumni, Athletics

Swimming and Diving History

February 26, 2013 By Jan Blodgett Leave a Comment

Congratulations to the 2013 Swimming and Diving Teams. The men won their third Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association Championship on February 23 and the women’s team placed 7th.

The first swim team was tagged the “Catfish.”

Swimming as a sport was a late arrival at Davidson. While students formed baseball and rugby teams in the late 1900’s, the college did not have a swimming pool on campus until the construction of Johnston Gym in 1949. The first team formed quickly enough, competing in the 1950-51 season.

Summarized in the 1951 yearbook, the Catfish “sank three out of ten opponents under the capable leadership of Silver Springs’ Bill Blue Ray.” The team set 5 pool records during a meet against the University of South Carolina. In that year’s Southern Conference Championship, Bill Ray took first place in the 50 yard freestyle and Frances Pepper placed fourth in the 1500 freestyle.

Davidsonian headline, "End of an Era", subheadline, "Davidson Swimming Is History--Too Little Cold Cash and Too Much Hot Water"

Headline from January 8, 1982 Davidsonian article reporting the end of the team.

The team faced difficulties in the 1980s, as the aging Davidson pool was declared unsafe for meets. The college rented the pool at UNC – Charlotte for meets but encountered additional problems there. The team was disbanded in the spring of 1982.

1991-92 Swimming and diving teams

Women began forming intercollegiate teams in the 1980s but would not form a swim team until the 1990s. One change for the college was the construction of the Baker Sports Complex in 1989 which included a new pool. The Charles A. Cannon Pool was dedicated on January 25, 1992.

Like the 1950-51 team, this group wasted no time in earning honors at competitions. At the Southern States Swimming and Diving Championships, the Wildcats placed 5th in the men’s division and 7th in the women’s.

These teams are known for quirky bonding rituals but the archives are sadly lacking in photographs of teams with their pink boas or unusual haircuts. If you have any photos of the teams having fun, please share them with the archives.

Filed Under: Athletics

Artifacts

September 25, 2012 By cachristianlamb Leave a Comment

Exploring the material culture of Davidson is an excellent way to get a sense of its history. As part of a larger Institutional Repository project, the Archives and Special Collections department is photographing some of our artifacts. The images below, paired with brief descriptions, provide a peak into different eras and areas of College history.

Fraternity Balling Box

A voting box or “balling box” used by Beta Theta Pi for voting in new members; a white ball indicated “yes” and a black ball indicated “no”—to “blackball” a potential member meant to vote to exclude them from the fraternity.

Baseballs from 3 Wildcats’ games in the 1920’s

These three balls are from Davidson Wildcats’ baseball games during the 1920’s. Larger images and descriptions follow.

Baseball from Davidson College with score from a 1923 game between Davidson and Clemson (DC 3, Clemson 2) written on it.

Baseball from a game against Guilford College in 1928, with team signatures and Pat Crawford listed as Coach.

Baseball from a 1923 game. Final score: Davidson College 9, N.C. State 6. The ball is inscribed with the score and with the words “the last ball caught on Sprunt Field.”

Davidson College ROTC Insignia and Patch, 1957

The card to which these items are attached indicates that they were designed by a three person student committee (all class of 1956) and that the ROTC Insignia and Patch were first used in 1957.

Filed Under: Alumni, Athletics, Student organizations

Rainy Days

May 15, 2012 By Jan Blodgett Leave a Comment

It’s been a rainy last few days in Davidson. Students are studying for finals with thunder rolling in the background and loading up cars between rain drops. It seemed like a good time to roam through our photograph database for images of rainy days past.

Lacrosse in the rain, Spring 1980

It takes more than a few puddles to discourage our student athletes or their audiences.

Flickerball slip and slide, Fall 1977

Homecoming 1969

Rain also doesn’t deter getting to class, promoting events, fraternity gatherings or studying.

The members of Sigma Phi Epsilon in 1960 outside of their house holding umbrellas in the rain

A rainy–if not wet– rush for Sigma Phi Epsilon in 1960

A student studying in the rain with an umbrella near Oak Row in 1998

Studying near Oak Row in 1998

Two students holding an umbrella in one hand and a balloon in the other

Students keep balloons flying

This rain picture has a bonus – anyone remember what the sign the student is passing?

A student leaving Chambers in the rain holding an umbrella

Leaving Chambers Building

The Chapel sign is now housed in the archives – though we don’t have the boards that announced the next Chapel time.

and finally – this picture was taken before a rain storm. It is of Theodore Viehman, director of the college’s 1937 Centennial Pageant, telling everyone, “It ain’t gonna rain.” Sadly, it did rain and the pageant scheduled 75 years ago never happened.

Theodore Viehman- “It ain’t gonna rain”

Filed Under: Athletics, Student Life, Student organizations

This Week at Davidson – March 25-31

March 27, 2012 By Jan Blodgett Leave a Comment

1837-2012 ◊◊ Celebrating Davidson’s 175th anniversary

This week in Davidson’s history has more faculty decisions on athletes traveling, speeches and Deportment, March Madness in 2008, new fraternities and presidential daughters, French librarians, a relaxing of campus rules, more public speaking but no plays at Commencement.

March 25: 1846 – Faculty begin the practice of sending grade reports to parents covering scholarship, deportment and punctuality.

March 25: 1859 – Gamma chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity is founded on campus in 1859. It was the second fraternity on campus, Beta Theta Pi being the first. Both fraternities faded from campus during the 1860s. The faculty voted in July 1866 to ban any “Secret Club or association, other than the Literary Societies already established.”

AP. Ormond, winner of 1920 Junior Oratorical contest

March 25: 1920 – Faculty adopt new policies:
1) that athletic teams may not be away from campus for more than 10 days during a term (classes were held on Saturdays),
2) As a prerequisite to graduation, each member of the Junior Class is required to prepare and publicly deliver an original oration… Each speech shall be graded on the basis of matter, English, Memorization, and delivery. If any speech is unsatisfactory, the Faculty will grant one more opportunity to overcome the failure.
3) As a prerequisite for graduation, each Senior shall prepare a satisfactory dissertation of not less than two thousand words on a topic chosen not later than December the first in conference with Professor to whose department the dissertation relates, and the paper shall be handed in duplicate and neatly typewritten to such Professor not later than April the first. Each paper shall be read and graded by two Professors. If the paper is not approved, the student shall be given one month in which to revise it and present it anew.

March 25: 1961 – Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck famous for ‘Take Five’ performs

Minutes listing servant duties

March 26: 1855 -Faculty set the duties for college servants:
1.First in the morning – make fires in the Chapel and recitation rooms
2.Making fires in students’ rooms
3.Carrying water to students’ rooms
4.Making beds and cleaning rooms of students. Carrying water to students’ rooms in the evening.
He is required to back boots and shoes for the occupants of the Halls on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Saturdays, the blacking to be provided by the students.
He is not required to make fires for the students unless the wood is already cut and in their rooms
Mr. Alexander agreed to board and furnish lodging for the Servant and employ him about his premises when not engaged in College duties

March 26: 1930 – Monsieur Marcel Bouteron, librarian of the lnstitut de France and well known authority on Balzac and French Romanticism spoke on campus.

March 27: 1851– Trustee committee report; “ It is the opinion of your Committee that immediate steps should be taken by this Board to endow Davidson College with a permanent fund, affording an income sufficient to secure the permanent services of able Professors, and to elevate the Standard of education, so as to meet the demands of the present state of Society and the world. Experience has clearly shown us that unless such provisions are made, it will be difficult to sustain the present Faculty, and still more, to fill the Professorships now vacant, with men of ability.” The Board votes to create an endowment.

March 27: 1909 – Faculty agree that the student body be allowed to go Greensboro on special train for the Guilford-Davidson baseball game, and for the Wake Forest – Davidson debate on 12th April, to return the same night.

March 27: 1961 – Historian Arnold Toynbee gives the Reynolds Lecture 1961.

Davidsonian headline April, 2 2008, "Good Times", sub-headline, "Wildcats advanced to NCAA Elite Eight"

Davidsonian celebrates March Madness

March 28: 2008 – Davidson beats Wisconsin to advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

March 29: 1889 – The faculty repeal and abolish what is known in the government of the College as the College Rules. This action does not abolish Study Hours, nor the rule requiring permission to visit the depot at train time, or the leave the village on occasion. Its object is simply to abolish the rule requiring the student to ask permission to leave the campus in study hours. If, however, any student shall abuse his privilege by too frequent or long continued or improper absences during study hours, the matter shall be dealt with just as any other neglect of duty or offense against good order.

March 29: 1898 – Faculty minutes – The Senior Class, having asked for permission to give a play at Commencement, the Faculty replied that they were coming to the conclusion that for a College under the direct control of the Church, amateur theatricals are hardly advisable as a form of entertaining the visitors.

March 30: 1861 – William Wirt Thompson, in an 1861 letter to his relative Joseph Thompson, rudely declared that President Kirkpatrick’s “gals are decidely ‘hard eggs’ too fast too ugly and I have no earthly use for them.” Thompson wrote before he had yet earned his introduction to them.

March 30: 1883 – Faculty have an “animated and protracted discussion with regard to doing away with the “Deportment” column, and not allowing it to enter as an element in the general average of a student’s standing. The discussion lasts until April 6, when they vote to drop Deportment from the general average.

First Dean of Students, Mark Sentelle

March 30: 1920 – Professor Mark Edgar Sentelle elected the first Dean of Students at Davidson (He is elected from within the faculty).

March 31: 1903 – Faculty Minutes – the Track Team was allowed to go to Charlotte to contest with the YMCA team on some Monday this spring, only those contesting to be allowed to go.

Filed Under: Athletics, Faculty, Student Life, Student organizations

This Week At Davidson – March 18-24

March 20, 2012 By Jan Blodgett Leave a Comment

1837-2012 ◊◊ Celebrating Davidson’s 175th anniversary

This week in history features donors, Easter Mondays, concerts, absences, grade reports, the laundry, and Division of the Day established 91 years ago.

Baseball snapshot from scrapbook of William Buchanan, class of 1923

March 18: 1914 The Davidsonian is founded by students in 1914. First issue will be published on April 1st

March 18: 1921 – Easter Monday is declared a holiday so the students can attend the Davidson-Carolina baseball game in Winston.

March 18: 1925 – The first Division of the Day is established as the faculty approve a request by the Athletic Association that “from 4:05 pm to 6 pm each afternoon shall be given over to athletes, and that there shall be no formal holding of classes or reviews during this period, and that all students interested in Athletics shall be excused during these periods.”

March 19: 1999 The Black Comedy Tour performs on campus in 1999

March 20: 1854– Faculty adopt new policy: any student being absent from five college exercises, without a valid excuse rendered, to the Faculty, shall be admonished before the Faculty. And any student that incurs three admonitions shall be sent home.

March 20: 1896 – – The Davidson Monthly reported on a local fire. The reference to calico comes from a campus tradition of yelling “fire” to announce the presence of young ladies on campus.

The campus rang with the familiar yell of “fire.” This time, though, it was not a “calico” blaze, smoke and flame could be seen pouring out from beneath the roof of the depot. The train was due in a few minutes, and the usual crowd of students gathered to meet it, drowned out the fire with a bucket brigade before serious damage resulted. The fire is thought to have been started by rats gnawing matches.

Laundry description from 1921 college bulletin

March 20: 1920 – Faculty resolutions- “That hereafter the members of the Faculty will be expected to have their report of grades in the President’s Office within four days after the examination period has closed. Sundays and Christmas Eve not to be counted” and “That after the College Laundry is built and started, all students will be required to patronize it for hygienic and other reasons.”

March 20: 1945 -The Davidson College Band and Glee Club presented a joint concert.
The Band played a varied program, including: Prelude and Fugue—Bach; Intermezzo from Othello Suite—Coleridge-Taylor; Landsighting—Grieg; Processional and Children’s Dance from the Miracle Suite Huttlperdinck ;Cherubim Song —Bortninansky; See, the Conquering Hero Comes— Handel ; and several of those rousing marches that are the features of the military band. The Director was Mr. James Christian Pfohl.

Minutes recording the gift of Jane Lide

March 21: 1838 – Trustees learn of $1100 bequest from Mrs. Jane D. Lide for scholarships.

March 21: 1870 – Faculty resolve: That whenever a student shall in study hours, engage in sport, or disturb the quiet of his room or building, or the campus, by music, shouting, loud laughing, etc., or be found in a group of idlers, he shall be reported to the Faculty. If marked, he may, in the discretion of the Faculty, receive no notice of it otherwise that in his circular letter at the close of the term. In case of doubt as to the offender, the officer must give the student the benefit of the doubt.

March 21: 1918 – Faculty rule that “No student shall be excused by the College Physician on account of sickness where the illness is of such a nature as not to require confinement in the Infirmary for 24 hours, and if sick to such an extent, much have been seen by the Physician during his sickness.” No excuses for absences will be given by the College Physician in his office.”
On the Waterfront is screened 1958

March 22: 1838 – Trustees vote to set inauguration of President Robert Hall Morrison and Professor of Languages Patrick Sparrow for August 2, 1838.

March 22: 1869 – It was resolved that the time for the regular meetings of the Faculty be changed from Friday afternoon, to Friday evening after tea, and that the meetings be held at the President’s study.

March 23: 1888– A Joint Committee from the two literary societies asked the Faculty to receive at least for a few years, the rent of the dormitories made out of the rooms formerly occupied by the Society. Faculty replied that they had no control in this matter and referred it to the Trustees.

Howard Banks, class of 1888

March 23: 1893 – The Chautauqua Circle of Davidson has lately given the students and townspeople an intellectual treat. Mr. H. A. Banks, A. B., graduate of Davidson, class of 1888, and now on the Charlotte Observer staff, was invited by the circle to deliver an address on this date in 1893. His subject, “The Passion Play at Oberammergau,” was an attractive one, and he handled it in a scholarly manner.

March 24: 1894 – An evening of entertainment, hosted by the Davidson juniors in 1894 was controversial, for featuring a “Negro Ministrel” (a well-kept secret until the performance), yet was well carried out and greatly enjoyed by every one present. The Davidson Monthly proclaimed the event “a howling success.”

Davidsonian headline in 1915, "Forty-Five Juniors To Speak Next Week"

Davidsonian headline in 1915, Junior orations continue.

March 24: 1910 – Faculty resolve “That those Juniors that fail to prepare and deliver a Junior Oration, except as excused or respited by the Faculty, be informed that the Junior Oration is a part of the required Junior Courses, and any failure detracts from the completed work of the year, just as in the case of any other college duty.

Filed Under: Athletics, College governance, Faculty, Student Publications

This Day in Davidson – February 29

February 28, 2012 By Jan Blodgett Leave a Comment

1837-2012 ◊◊ Celebrating Davidson’s 175th anniversary

Happy Leap Year – Finding February 29th activities was tricky but faculty did have meetings and Davidsonians did publish on a few of the extra days.

Alcohol banned — even off campus!

1864- Faculty adopt resolution: That, in future, every student getting permission to go to Charlotte, or any other place away from College, on any pretext whatever, shall be required before such permission is granted to pledge his word of honor not to purchase or transport, or in any way use any kind of spirituous liquors during his absence from College.

In 2012, Davidson’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter will initiate 60 members, in 1940 only 7 were chosen.

1940 – Davidsonian Headlines:

Scholarship Group Bids Seven Men: Colvin, Hulen, Menius, Perdew, Pope, Sitterson and Tenney Are Chosen

Dean Mark E. Sentelle with his portrait. The painting was the class of 1940s senior gift

Senior Gift Is Subject of Smoker: Several Suggestions Discussed but No Decision Is Reached – the ideas included a sidewalk to the fraternity courts and a curb around the track in Richardson Stadium. The final choice is a portrait of Dean Mark Sentelle.

Senior classes still give gifts but Smokers have faded away.

Cabinet Holds Joint Session: Y Group Discusses Race Relations with Johnson C. Smith Delegation – these meeting had been going on for a few years. The YMCA is no longer but a new group called Common Ground is keeping up the dialogue.

Leap year editorial from the davidsonian with a heading of, "Coeds Challenge Our Masculinity And Ruggedness"

Leap year editorial humor in 1952

1952 – Davidsonian Headlines:

3 Hats in Ring for Little’s Job – This Little doesn’t have anything to do with the library. The job in question belongs to head football coach Crowell Little. None of the candidates listed in the article got the job – it went to William Dole who would hold the post until 1965.

Pygmalion Film at ULFS Opener – The United Literary Film Society started the spring season with Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller version. Next up was the Mikado. There have been several film societies and film series since.

Letter to Editor: Simmons Advocates Excused Vesper Cuts for Off Campus Church Attendance

Editorial (in fun) – Coed Challenge Our Masculinity and Ruggedness

Filed Under: Athletics, Faculty, Student organizations

This Day in Davidson – February 15

February 14, 2012 By Jan Blodgett Leave a Comment

1837-2012 ◊◊ Celebrating Davidson’s 175th anniversary

1855 – The Trustees vote to repay Professor Daniel Harvey Hill $430.00. This being the amount Hill took from his own funds to supplement the salary of Professor Clement Fishburne. Hill taught at Davidson from 1853 to 1858; Fishburne taught at Davidson from 1855 to 1860.

Trustees also vote to allow students to eat at boarding houses. With students no longer required to eat at the college hall, an important tradition in the town is launched. It will be almost 90 years before the college opens a student dining hall again.

1856 – Davidson student John A. Fleming writes home of college life – mentioning Professor Fishburne and the cost of board:

Davidson College

Feb 15^th 1856

Dear Uncle,

I have looked for some time, in hopes of receiving a letter from you but it has been two months or more since I received a letter from home, in fact I have received but one from home sin I have been here, & I am getting anxious to hear from home as well as to receive some funds. There was an examination here this week we all got through pretty well, some of the students will be turned back. I was up to see Professor Fishburn to night my average in Logic, & Chemistry is about 80. There was a meeting of the trustees on Wednesday a board is raised to 9 dollars a month, & our other expenses are in proportion You must not then think me extravigant when I write for more money. I have been looking for some for a week but have been unable to find any in the office for me.

You will please send me some money as soon as possible, we cant go on in college till we show a receit for board. Everything is required in advance, & it takes a good deal of money to keep any one respectible here, for Colleges are tolerable extravigant places. We have a vacation now till monday onley. I have been well, except so much snow has caused me eyes to pain me a goodeal. Tell Grumbler, Wordie & Sammy howdy for brother, & all little cousins. & a portion for yourself & Aunt.

No more your affect nephew

J. A. Flemming

Program description for Prague Symphony Orchestra

1965 – Artist series -Prague Chamber Orchestra performs in Chambers Auditorium during their first US tour. Tickets are $2.00.

2008 – First “Think Pink” women’s basketball game honors breast cancer awareness. A crowd wearing pink T-shirts watches Davidson’s team win over UNCG 76 to 50

Filed Under: Athletics, Faculty, Student Life

The Twelve Days of Davidson

Thanksgiving 1913

August Memories

Swimming and Diving History

Artifacts

Rainy Days

This Week at Davidson – March 25-31

1837-2012 ◊◊ Celebrating Davidson’s 175th anniversary

This week in Davidson’s history has more faculty decisions on athletes traveling, speeches and Deportment, March Madness in 2008, new fraternities and presidential daughters, French librarians, a relaxing of campus rules, more public speaking but no plays at Commencement.

This Week At Davidson – March 18-24

1837-2012 ◊◊ Celebrating Davidson’s 175th anniversary

This week in history features donors, Easter Mondays, concerts, absences, grade reports, the laundry, and Division of the Day established 91 years ago.

This Day in Davidson – February 29

1837-2012 ◊◊ Celebrating Davidson’s 175th anniversary

This Day in Davidson – February 15

1837-2012 ◊◊ Celebrating Davidson’s 175th anniversary

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