The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire: a history, 1916-1976

188 Pages·1976·59.353 MB·English

by  Hilda R. Carter, John R. Jenswold

The University of Wisconsin -
EAU CLAIRE
A HISTORY,
1916-1976

The University of Wisconsin -
EAU CLAIRE
A HISTORY,
1916-1976
By Hilda R. Carter
and
John R. J enswold
Published by the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Foundation, Inc.
Copyright © 1976 by University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Foundation, Inc.
All rights reserved
Printed by Worzalla Publishing Company
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Library of Congress
Carter, Hilda R
The University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire.
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Wisconsin. University--Eau Claire--History.
I. Jenswold, John R. , joint author. II. Title.
LD6149.5.E28c37 378.775'46 76-22638
"Complexity, he kept saying. Facts.
Relationships. Hypotheses. Contradictions.
Tentative synthesis kept open to modification or
reversal. Not the honeypots of assumption
and doctrine. Not 'must have been,' but 'wQ.$.'"
- Wallace Stegner, describing
the historical philosophy
of Bernard De Voto in
The Uneasy Chair (1974).
Chancellor Leonard Haat
FOREWORD
We are pleased to publish this history of the enable teaching to become a profession. Then, as
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire during its 60th the history unfolds, regional liberal education op
anniversary year. The authors have presented a portunities associated with the arts, letters and
warm and living story of the growth and develop sciences were to make life richer and more meaning
ment of an American institution of higher learning. ful for the many students who matriculated as well
The narrative is written within the background of as all members of the community who received an
the political, social and educational climate that cillary benefits and rewards. Subsequently, in re
existed during each of the significant periods of sponse to a statewide demand for professional
this growth. personnel, the writers trace the establishment and
This history of this university parallels that of growth of fully accredited professional programs.
several hundred similar institutions which evolved In this historical account, the learning advantages
from regional normal schools of the first quarter of a small college atmosphere, the enhancement of
of the 20th century to multi-purpose comprehensive instruction abetted by the commitment of dedicated
undergraduate universities (and in many instances teachers and staff members, and the unique recog
graduate and research institutions as well) during nition of the potentialities of each student are re
the third quarter of the century. The University peated again and again by anecdote and record.
of Wisconsin-Eau Claire was the last of nine state On behalf of the university I express appreciation
normal schools built in Wisconsin between 1866 and to Mrs. Hilda Richardson Carter and her associates
1916. In this 60th year of its operation it has for the preparation of a manuscript which provides
grown to be the largest of those original normal a wealth of vital information presented in form and
schools. Because of the foresight of the State of style to hold the interest of the general reader. Mrs.
Wisconsin in the late 19th and early 20th century, Carter writes with a background of many years of
higher education needs were met in this state with association with the University of Wisconsin-Eau
out the creation of any additional public four-year Claire as a community leader outside the university
degree granting institutions of higher learning until family and, more recently, as a valued member of
the year 1969 when new universities were created the faculty. Mr. Jenswold contributes to the knowl
at Green Bay and Parkside. edge and interpretation of the role of the university
Even as the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire from the point of view of the student and as a re
is representative of the national development of search scholar. The product provides a record that
these emerging universities (sometimes referred to will broaden the perspective of those who have been
as people's colleges to recognize the opportunities associated with this university. All who read this
made available to low income families and to en history will have a better understanding of the most
courage first generation college students), the in dynamic period of higher education history.
stitution also symbolizes the commitment of the
-Leonard Haas
people of the State of Wisconsin to higher education.
Chancellor
The reader is made aware of the simple but
significant beginnings of an institution created to April, 1976
vii
PREFACE
The history of the University of Wisconsin-Eau of "the school at Eau Claire." Her work coincided
Claire, an institution of higher learning sixty years with the histories of the nine Wisconsin State Uni
old in 1976, parallels changes in public education versities which Dr. Walker Wyman was assembling
beyond the secondary school which have taken place for publication from various authors in the different
throughout the United States. Starting as a State institutions. In May of 1964, Laura Sutherland
Normal School located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, met a tragic death in an automobile accident. The
a small city of West Central Wisconsin, which evening before, she had told close friends that the
opened its doors in the fall of 1916, the institution history of Wisconsin State University-Eau Claire,
passed through the stages of State Teachers Col on which she had been working for several years,
lege, Wisconsin State College at Eau Claire, and was finished. Her longer work was to be condensed
Wisconsin State University-Eau Claire, to its pres into a chapter for the book which Dr. Wyman was
ent position as one of thirteen four-year degree editing, and it was planned that publication of the
granting institutions in the University of Wisconsin complete history would be arranged by WSU-Eau
System, fourth largest system of higher education in Claire as part of the Fiftieth Year observance.
the United States. Invited to join the administrative staff of the
The fact that only three men - Harvey Schofield, University in February 1965 as public information
William R. Davies, and Leonard Haas - have oc officer, it was my privilege to prepare for the history
cupied the office of president of the Eau Claire of the nine state universities the chapter on Eau
school (president and then chancellor in the case Claire, building on the careful research of Laura
of Dr. Haas) makes the task of the historian of Sutherland. The chapter, entitled "Fifty Years of
the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire much sim Higher Education at Eau Claire," was reviewed in
pler than it might otherwise have been, since it is typescript by a committee of six professors appoint
possible to treat administrations persisting over long ed by President Leonard Haas - Dr. Richard E.
periods of years. Also, the 1916 to 1976 span rough Hibbard, Dr. William Cochrane, Dr. Edward Blac
ly conforms to certain decades in the history of the korby, Dr. Robert Gibbon, Dr. T. A. Barnhart, and
United States marked by distinctive social and Dr. Wilmer Pautz. Dr. Haas also read the manu
political phenomena, which are customarily treated script. Richard Beckman of the university's audio
by historians as significantly different from one visual services assisted with the selection of illus
another. trations. Published by the River Falls State Uni
In anticipation of the Golden Jubilee of Wiscon versity Press in August 1968, the book with its
sin State University in 1965-66, Laura E. Suther chapter on the history of the Eau Claire institution
land, distinguished professor emeritus of history, of higher learning has proved to be an authentic
was commissioned to research and write the history reference work.
Vlll