#TBT in the Archives 9/28/17: World War I

In April 1916 after it became clear a policy of non-intervention was no longer possible, the United States declared war against Germany, entering what was then known as the Great War. Men and women across the nation mobilized in support of the nation's war effort, and the Cumberland Valley State Normal School was no exception.

Most young men entering the armed services were conscripted, though certainly a large number enlisted by choice. In October 1917, Principal Ezra Lehman reported 25 to 30 male students had been conscripted since the last school year. Additionally, several women had been pulled out of school by their local school districts to begin teaching before finishing their own studies - a move made necessary by the conscription of male teachers. Other women had not returned to school because of the need to make money for their families after the departure of men.

Additionally, football prospects for the 1917-1918 season looked dim because of a lack of players.

Not all was bad, according to the Normal School Herald. The student body readily embraced war work, patriotism, and rationing.

This article in the January 1918 Normal School Herald details the patriotism on display at weekly meetings of the Philo Literary Society.

This article from 1917-1918 reports the food rationing taking place at C.V.S.N.S. during World War II.

Students in sewing class eagerly completed items for men at the front.

By fall of 1918, the school had settled into the rhythm of the war, and regularly published lists of men serving in all branches of the armed service. In the October 1918 issue, four full pages contained the names of men in service.

Some of the men who served in the Great War.

The school was also beginning to experience the effects of the Spanish influenza epidemic that ravaged the world in 1918-1919. And, it soon became clear Shippensburg alumni and students were among those killed in the war: Frank Carbaugh, '17; Arthur D. Noll, '17; Charles D. Kell, '16; and Harry Taylor.

A poem written by alum Frank Carbaugh while convalescing in a military hospital in France. He died in August 1918.

The Class of 1917 donated a bronze tablet in honor of the Shippensburg men lost during World War I. Initially the plaque was placed in the Old Main Chapel. In 2017, it is in the lobby of Memorial Auditorium.

When the war ended on November 11, 1918, the campus (newly reopened after being closed for a few weeks for the flu) held a parade to celebrate, complete with class marches and musical selections. For the time being, there was peace.


Sources:
Cumberland 1919. Shippensburg, PA.
The Normal School Herald, October 1917-July 1919. Shippensburg, PA

'Ask Us Anything' @ Ezra Lehman Memorial Library

'Ask Us Anything' exhibit explores history of Ezra Lehman Memorial Library

‘Ask Us Anything’: 50 Years at Ezra Lehman Memorial Library, opening this week on the second floor of the library, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the library during the 2017-2018 academic year. The exhibit, featuring artifacts and photos from Shippensburg University Archives & Special Collections, traces the history of libraries on campus, the decision to build the new library, and the present library building. Also featured are images of the library as it appeared in 1968 compared to today.

In September of 1967, Shippensburg State College (SSC) students returning to classes were greeted by the hum of construction vehicles moving earth near the center of campus. Construction was nothing new, SSC was in the middle of explosive growth thanks to rapidly rising enrollments. But the building rising during the fall 1967 was to affect the campus for generations. The new Ezra Lehman Memorial Library was well under way.

The new building, a modular-style, three-floor space, dramatically increased the capacity of this campus resource. Since 1931, the library had been in what is today Huber Arts Center. That building, too, was purpose built for books and studying. Consisting of three floors, it had balconies, more than 100,000 books, and study space for students, but it wasn’t enough.

In 1961, librarian Alma Winton joined others on campus to form a committee to update the library. At first, the plan was to expand the existing library. However, that spring, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania announced Shippensburg would be one of five schools across the system to receive up to $2 million to build new libraries to accommodate expanding enrollment and the need to update to national library standards.

The groundbreaking was held in August 1966, and by September 1967, the new library was under roof and contractors worked on finishing touches. By December, Winton and her staff had control of the space and began filling it with shelves and furniture. In May 1968, the campus community came together for a Book Walk to transport nearly 75,000 volumes from the old library to the new, and the new Ezra Lehman Memorial Library opened as the 1967-1968 school year closed.

The exhibit is free to view and is located just outside the stairwell on the second floor. For more information, contact Archives & Special Collections via email: specialcollections@ship.edu or phone: 717-477-1123 (x3357).

#TBT in the Archives 9/14/17: Class songs

Hearing the opening notes of the Alma Mater never fails to inspire a twinge in the heart of proud students of Shippensburg University. The simple refrain and melody recall crisp fall days, favorite classes, parties, and football games.

Many students can even recall their high school alma maters, and grad students can probably sing the opening lines of their undergraduate anthems.

Shippensburg University's Alma Mater

In addition to the Alma Mater familiar to students today, past Shippensburg alumni composed special "Class Songs" to celebrate their time in the Cumberland Valley. Alumni enjoyed sharing these songs with each other both during their time as students and during reunions years later.



The Cumberland Valley State Normal School's Class of 1877 had both a "Class Song" and a "Tree Song" composed for their graduation.

Many of the historical lyrics expressed sadness that the class was about to graduate and expressed hope classmates would meet again.

Class of 1892 class song

The class of 1893 included their class song in their Class Day gathering during Commencement Week.

Class of 1893 Class Day program with class song.

Sometimes, class songwriters went so far as to write out the musical notation for the melody so classmates could play it at home for years to come.

Class of 1918 class song

And lest Cumberland Valley songsters felt limited to nostalgic lyrics mourning the end of classes, various other songs could be heard on campus especially during athletic games. Programs for homecoming games in the 1920s included a variety of yells and chants for fans to yell during the game.

School yells and songs from the 1925 homecoming football game.

Sources:
Class Files, Shippensburg University Archives & Special Collections, Shippensburg, PA.
Commencement programs, Record Group 4, Sub-group 1, Series 5, Shippensburg University Archives & Special Collections, Shippensburg, PA.

#TBT in the Archives 9/7/17: Red Raiders Marching Band

Falling temperatures and colorful leaves mean a return to classes and papers for most Shippensburg students. But fall also means the return of football games, and with them, the Shippensburg University Red Raiders Marching Band!

Weeks before classes begin, members of the marching band return to campus for band camp. While there, instrumentalists, percussionists, and color guard all work together to learn the year's field show, spruce up pep band music, and rehearse for hours. The result is the most important part of any football game - school spirit.

The Red Raiders Marching Band plays at the homecoming game in 2014.

In the service of growing school spirit, the Shippensburg band program was launched in 1924 at Cumberland Valley State Normal School when a band of students got together to play pep band music at home athletic games and pep meetings. They didn't have uniforms, practice space, or nice instruments. After the football season ended, they converted themselves to a concert band.

The 1923-1924 C.V.S.N.S. school band.

By the next year, the band had gotten uniforms and instruments, and was granted practice space.

The 1930-1931 college band.

Throughout the next 50 years, the marching band became an integral part of home athletic contests, providing a soundtrack to wins and consolation during losses. They changed their uniforms several times, and in 1937, fully admitted women to the band and created a majorette and color guard.

During the 1970s, band members had a once in a lifetime experience when President-elect Jimmy Carter asked the group to perform in the 1977 inaugural parade in Washington D.C. Carter and his wife saw the band perform in Harrisburg during the 1976 campaign and Mrs. Carter enjoyed them so much she asked her husband to invite them to the inauguration. Though the band represented Pennsylvania in the parade, they received no state funding for their trip.

The Red Raiders Marching Band in the January 20, 1977 inaugural parade in Washington, D.C.

A letter of appreciation to the band from President Jimmy Carter.

The marching band continues to provide support to the football team at home games during fall semesters in addition to traveling to exhibitions and performances in Pennsylvania and Maryland each year.

Shippensburg University Archives & Special Collections has a variety of photographs of band activities throughout the school's history, including in a full collection of school yearbooks. For more information and to do research at the archives, email specialcollections@ship.edu.

Sources:
Cumberland 1924, 107
Cumberland 1931, 160.
Cumberland 1977, 89, 91.
Cumberland 2015, 45
Shippensburg University Red Raiders Marching Band, "80 Years of School Spirit and Pride!," Record Group 18.6, File box 2, Folder 13, Shippensburg University Archives & Special Collections, Shippensburg, PA.
Slate, January 18, 1977.








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