The Big Move: McEwen Library Opens
Randall Bowman October 11, 2013 The 1960s brought many changes to Elon College, not the least of which was a new library. With one reading room that could only seat one hundred students at a time, Carlton Library was now too small to serve the growing college of 1200 students. A new library, with space for a larger book collection, was needed. Plans for the new facility were drawn up by the architectural firm of Guy Crampton and Associates of Raleigh, North Carolina. Abrams Construction Company of Greensboro, North Carolina was the general contractor. McEwen Library, as it would later be named, cost $700,000 to build, and was part of a large campus expansion that took place in the mid-1960s. On Parent’s Day, Saturday, November 4, 1966, on the same day the Long Student Center and three other buildings were dedicated, the ground-breaking ceremony for the library took place. By…
Read MoreColonnades Literary Journal: Writing at Elon
Julia Mueller September 20, 2013 The first issue of the Elon Colonnades was released in May 1937. Elon College owned a printing press making the publication of the annual literary journal possible. Students exclusively contributed to the content, which included poems, fiction, non-fiction, and art. In 1951, the title was formally changed to Colonnades. There were several years in the 1950s when the journal was not printed, but in 1962, Professor Franke J. Butler and Mrs. Nancy Butler restored the tradition. From the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, Colonnades also published planners and calendars displaying art and photography. In 2002, the first issue with a theme was published. The theme was “Snapshots of Life.” Today, Colonnades is an award-winning journal and continues to be entirely operated by students. The goal of the journal is to promote creative expression among students. Students develop a theme in the fall for the upcoming…
Read MoreThe Story of Carlton Library
September 13, 2013 Randall Bowman Housed on the second floor of Elon College’s original Main Building was a one-room library and reading room, the first library on campus. The infamous fire on January 18, 1923, destroyed this room, along with most of the college’s library collection. But more than just books were lost that day; irreplaceable records of both Elon College and the Christian Church of the South, Elon’s parent denomination, were lost. A free-standing library was among the five new buildings planned to replace Main Building. The Carlton family of Richmond, Virginia, donated the funds to build the new library. On June 22, 1923, less than six months after the fire, ground was broken for the new library, which would be located next to Whitley Auditorium.
Read MoreElon’s First Radio Station
Julia Mueller May 3, 2013 The concept of the radio was developed in the late 1800s, where electricity allowed wireless communication. Elon College offered its first class about this new invention in 1922, which was described as experimental in nature. The class was taught in conjunction with electricity, and students focused on the practical and theoretical operation of the radio.
Read MoreThe Liberal Arts Forum: Its History and Progression
Julia Mueller September 27, 2012 In 1958, the Student Government Association established the Liberal Arts Forum. The purpose of this student-led group was to promote the arts and humanities aspect of Elon’s liberal arts campus, and they encouraged curiosity through scholarly lectures. Only a few students and professors were involved in the forum at its beginning – these people being Etta Britt, James P. Elder, Daniel Gee, and Professors William M. Brown, Clarence Carson, Richard Haff and James Hess. While presentations by noted professors of the time were the primary events hosted by the Liberal Arts Forum, other occasions included art displays, films, concerts, seminars, and debates.
Read MoreStudent Uniforms
Katie Nash August 24, 2012 What if Elon students were required to wear a uniform while on campus and/or attending classes? Today students have a choice about what to wear each day, but that was not always the case for Elon students. The first mention of students wearing uniforms appears in the 1890-1891 Bulletin of Elon College catalog publication. It states, “For economy and to avoid unpleasant distinctions in dress, young ladies will be required to wear a black uniform. The trimmings and scarfs to be determined by the individual’s taste. It is desired that the quality shall not be expensive, but heavy enough to hold the color and last through the winter. Young men need plain and substantial, but not expensive clothing. As a general rule, the more money a student spends on dress the less time is given to study.” It was understood that the uniform for men…
Read MoreThe first Faculty at Elon
Katie Nash August 16, 2012 As both new and returning faculty begin to arrive on campus this week and next, we thought it would be fun to look back at the first group of faculty at Elon. Elon opened its doors on September 2, 1890 and the faculty that taught the first students at the college included: Rev. William S. Long, Rev. J.U. Newman, Rev. J.O. Atkinson, Emmett L. Moffitt, S.A. Holleman, and Miss Alberta Moring.
Read MoreNASCAR and Elon
Katie Nash June 15, 2012 You’re probably wondering what NASCAR and Elon have to do with each other. It all started during a winter term session in January of 1994 when “The Business of NASCAR” class was first offered, taught by Dr. Janie Brown. This course was initially offered through the department of Health, Physical Education, Leisure/Sports Management. Since 2001, the course has been offered through the Love School of Business.
Read MoreCommencement Traditions: Academic Regalia
Katie Nash May 11, 2012 Academic regalia has been worn by faculty and students at Elon during Commencement and selected Convocations since the first Commencement at Elon in 1891. The wearing of academic regalia at modern colleges and university’s originated in medieval European universities and has not changed much since the 16th century. It signifies the wearer’s academic accomplishment and includes a robe, head covering, and hood.
Read MoreCommencement Traditions: The Elon Mace
Katie Nash May 4, 2012 Commencement at Elon is full of long-standing traditions. Over the next few weeks, we’ll highlight a few of these traditions, starting with the Elon mace. Have you ever witnessed Dr. Earl Danieley carrying a large silver item at university events such as Convocation and Commencement? Indeed, Dr. Danieley along with numerous faculty members have shared the privilege of carrying the Elon mace during campus events.
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