Historical Moments
Information contributed by the Lycoming College Archives. For more photos, please visit the Lycoming College Photo Archive
Lycoming College Archives
Mary Landon Russell
Mary Landon Russell, a 1933 graduate of Lycoming College, was presented with a rocking chair bearing the Lycoming College logo as the 1973 Outstanding Alumnus. Mrs. Russell, an associate professor of music at the college, attended Julliard and Eastman schools of music and received a master of arts in music from the Pennsylvania State University. She helped to organize the Williamsport Civic Chorus and Williamsport Music Club.
Kay Huffman, a friend of Mary Landon Russell, recently donated the chair to the Lycoming College Archives.
Commencement 1960
An excerpt from the May 12, 1960 issue of the college newspaper, The Bell:
“The one hundred and twelfth annual baccalaureate and commencement will be held Sunday, June 5, 1960, at 10:45 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. respectively. The Baccalaureate service is to be held in the Pine Street Methodist Church with Rev. Charles Yrigoyen speaking. Commencement will be held on the flag court at Lycoming College and the speaker will be Mr. Charles C. Parlin.”
Metzler Gates
Dr. Oliver Sterling Metzler was a member of Williamsport Dickinson Seminary’s class of 1880 and a trustee of the school from 1911–1944. These gates were dedicated in Dr. Metzler’s name on October 14, 1939. These gates are known as the Graduation Gates because they are opened only once each year, during Commencement weekend. Photo is a color postcard with caption: '36 Williamsport-Dickinson Junior College - from Metzler Memorial Gate.
Flag Court
According to Dr. John Piper’s new history of the college, “The Class of 1940 donated a flag pole for what became the Flag Court, and the Garrett Cochran American Legion Post presented a flag. Rich had conceived the space as the focal point of the campus and that is what it has become.” A bell that hung in the east tower of Old Main was dedicated as a monument on Homecoming Day, November 1949.
Preachers’ Aid Society
The Preachers’ Aid Society of the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church was chartered by the state of Pennsylvania on February 25, 1869. The Society, with approval of the Annual Conference, immediately bought controlling interest in the Dickinson Seminary, which guaranteed that it would remain a Methodist institution. In 1971, by mutually negotiated agreement, the Preachers’ Aid Society gave the college stock to the Board of Trustees of the college.
Biology Laboratory 1927
Nine male and two female students work in a biology laboratory; Professor Charles J. Markle is standing on the far left of the cabinet. The lab was located on the second floor of Old Main building.
Lycopoly
Lycopoly, the Lycoming College version of Monopoly, was played on the quad. It gave freshmen the opportunity to compete against each other for prizes such as pizza, an ice cream party and T-shirts. Faculty, advisors and Living Group Advisors (now called Resident Advisors) acted as team coaches. A team consisted of a banker, a runner, a dice roller and a board piece. Lycopoly, first played in 1979, became a campus tradition. Arrow yearbooks during the 1980s, available at the Lycoming College Archives website, include additional photos of Lycopoly at Lycoming.
Flood of 1936 in Williamsport
View of Williamsport during the flood. Comment from Alice Villinger published in the 1937 yearbook, the Dart: 'An unexpectedly early Easter vacation and plenty of excitement were furnished by The Flood of March 17 as well as the opportunity to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Our minds will always retain the picture of the muddy waves of the Susquehanna lapping the stone steps at the edge of the campus, and heroic efforts of members of our institution in the guise of boatmen and rescuers.' March 17, 1936.
Lady Archers In Action, ca. 1932
Seven female archers practice on the lawn between the stone gate and steps leading to Old Main, and the railroad tracks. Old Main and the 'bridge' leading to Bradley Hall can be seen in the background. Cars are parked in front of the building. Two girls have bows pulled and ready to shoot, and five others observe. Girls are dressed in skirts that fall below the knee and blouses or sweaters.
Campus Day, 1903
Six male students are 'hamming it up'. Photo is from Campus Day, February 14, 1903. Campus Day originated as a day set apart for cleaning and repair. In later years, it became a day for rest and sociability.
Civil War Chaplain, Benjamin Crever
Edwin Crever Dunning presenting to Lycoming College the signed document by President Abraham Lincoln naming Benjamin Crever as a Civil War chaplain.
A winter scene of Long Hall
A winter scene of Long Hall, viewed from between the Clarke Building and Chapel, left side of the photo, and Memorial Hall, to the right. A print of this photograph is in the 1965 yearbook.
1910 Glee Club
1910 Glee Club - Members of the Glee Club pose for a formal portrait. Dr. Will George Butler, in the middle of the front row, holding the baton, is the director. He started as a faculty member at Dickinson in 1904.
Ordination of Reverend Francis Asbury
Sketch of the Ordination of Reverend Francis Asbury. Asbury Hall at Lycoming College is named for Bishop Francis Asbury, the father of the United Methodist Church in America. He was a preacher serving the Susquehanna region in 1812, the year Lycoming College was founded.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is shown leaving Clarke Chapel, followed by Lycoming's president, Dr. D. Frederick Wertz and Philip C. Hamond, director of religious activities, in April 1958. At the time, King was president of the Montgomery Improvement Association., the organization that led the protest against segregated buses in Montgomery, Ala. His topic was "Facing the Challenge of a New Age."