History of Iowa State: Time Line, 1925-1949

  Academic life:

Iowa State confers the first PhD in engineering to Douglas Vern Moses in chemical engineering. 

The national Mortar Board chapter is installed on campus, reserved for outstanding senior women student leaders.

  Campus:

The library is constructed for $626,474.

Thirteenth Street is extended to link the campus to Ames.
 

  University:

"The Music Shop" begins broadcasting on WOI. A sample program for 1931 includes works by Dvorak, Mozart, and Schubert.

  Academic life:

The Cardinal Key honor society is founded to recognize outstanding student leaders at Iowa State, focusing upon the cardinal virtues of leadership, service, scholarship, and character.

Iowa State College Journal of Science begins publication.

The first Honors Day is held.
 

  Campus:

A site for the Memorial Union is selected near Lake LaVerne, and the firm of Proudfoot, Rawson, and Souers draws up plans. Architect/designer W.T. Proudfoot incorporates the ancient symbols of the zodiac into the north entry floor, planning for them to be gradually worn away when walked upon. By 1929, a tradition has taken root that any student who steps on the zodiac will flunk his or her next exam.

Student life:

Iowa State's modern dance company, Orchesis 1, is founded.

The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps is established to offer college students the necessary naval science courses required to qualify them for commissions in the Naval Reserve.

The official rules governing student conduct state that any student intending to graduate must attend commencement, unless excused by the president.
 

  University:

W.I. Griffith (Class of 1899) is named director of WOI (1926-1946).
 

  Academic life:

Genevieve Fisher was named Dean of the Division of Home Economics, serving until 1944.
 

  University:

WOI Radio staff introduces "The Book Club," reading literary works on the air.  The program is aired until 2006.

Raymond M. Hughes, president of Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, is appointed President on September 1.  After retiring in 1936, he became President Emeritus.

  Campus:

The first section of the Memorial Union is completed as a memorial to the Iowa State men and women who lost their lives in World War I. Today's Gold Star Hall honors all those Iowa Staters lost while serving their country during times of war.

The "Gables" is donated to the University as a home for foreign students and headquarters for the Cosmopolitan Club.
 

  Athletics:

The athletic "A" letter award is changed to an "I."

Iowa State joins the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
 

 Campus:

Horse Barn remodeled for use by the Department of Landscape Architecture.
 

 University:

Mandatory Sunday chapel is discontinued in 1929 with the death of professor Orange H. Cessna, a member of the class of 1872 and college chaplain from 1902 to 1929.

Electric trolley services between Ames and the college is superseded by motor bus service.

 Academic life:

Dr. Jay Lush arrives at Iowa State. His research on animal breeding throughout the 1930s and 1940s revolutionizes scientific research.

University:

Harold Pride (class of 1917) is named the first director of the Memorial Union.

 Academic life:

The Veterinary Medical Research Institute is founded. Phi Zeta, veterinary medicine honor society, is installed on campus.

Iowa State establishes its first research farm, the Northern Research and Demonstration Farm (near Kanawha). Collaborating with local agribusinesses and farmers, the sites provide a testing location for specific climate, soil, or crop problems.

 Campus:

The cattle barn burns and is rebuilt using the original plan (current location of Soil Tilth Laboratory).

Student life:

The College Cossacks (a drill team on horses) is organized.

 University:

Jim Wilson, former ISC English professor, wins $100 from the Iowa State Club of Chicago for penning "The Bells of Iowa State."

 Academic life:

The Seed Laboratory is established by combining the Agronomy Seed Laboratory (1914) and the Botany Seed Laboratory (1906).

 University:

Charles E. Friley is appointed Dean of the Division of Industrial Science.  He later becomes president of the College in 1936.
 

 Academic life:

The Statistical Laboratory is established, with George W. Snedecor, professor of mathematics, as the first director.  It is the first research and consulting institute of its kind in the country, emphasizing agriculture data analysis - an emphasis that continues today.

 Campus:

The Genetics Laboratory is built for $13,296.

 Student life:

The student journal Sketch begins publication.

 University:

The Twenty-Five Year Club is organized on June 9 with 41 charter members.

Christian Petersen moves to Ames to begin work on a sculpted mural for the Dairy Industry Building, sponsored by Grant Wood's Public Works of Art Project. President Raymond Hughes names Petersen sculptor-in-residence, with responsibilities in teaching and creating art for the campus. By the end of Petersen's life, he will have completed The Gentle Doctor, the Fountain of the Four Seasons, The Marriage Ring, and Library Boy and Girl, all still on the Iowa State campus.

 

  Student life:

Edgar W. Timm, class of 1936, is named the first Rhodes Scholar from Iowa State. Future Rhodes Scholars would include William H. Hartmann (1965); Jon Peacock (1979); Modupe Labode (1988); and Lia Pierson (1995).

 University:

Two swans, Sir Lancelot and Elaine, are presented to the college by the VEISHEA Central Committee during VEISHEA.

Herman Knapp, Class of 1883, dies.  He served his alma mater as acting president, treasurer, business manager, vice-president, purchasing agent, registrar, assistant professor, and superintendent of the College book store.

 Academic life:

John V. Atanasoff, while attempting to develop a faster method of computation, conceptualizes the basic tenets of what will become the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) during a drive to Illinois. These include the use of a binary system of arithmetic, the separation of computer and memory functions, and regenerative drum memory, among others. The 1939 prototype would be constructed with graduate student Clifford Berry.

  Student life:

Student enrollment: 5,423

 University:

The oval shaped fountain in front of the Memorial Union is presented to the University by the VEISHEA Central Committee during VEISHEA.

The ISU Agricultural Foundation is established.
 

  Academic life:

The State Board of Education authorizes publishing of books by Collegiate Press, Inc., under the imprint of the Iowa State College Press.

Clarence Lane and Bernard Hammer, professors of dairy microbiology, patent a process using homogenized milk that becomes a standard for the blue cheese industry.  Maytag Blue is still produced at the Maytag Dairy Farms in Newton, Iowa.

  Athletics:

Veenker Golf Course, the college golf course, is constructed with WPA and Athletic Council funds at a cost of $122,373.

  Campus:

Central Building is renamed Beardshear Hall, in honor of former President, William Miller Beardshear.

Margaret Hall, graduate women's dormitory, is destroyed by fire.


  Student life:

The Veterinary Student begins publication, and in 150, becomes the Iowa State College Veterinary.
 

  University:

The Iowa State Research Foundation is incorporated. ISURF's current goal is to "protect, enhance and manage intellectual property developed at Iowa State University to ensure its effective use for the benefit of the university and its researchers and for the public good."

  Academic life:

The Division of Industrial Science becomes the Division of Science (currently the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences).

  Campus:

The north section of Friley Hall is built at a cost of $198,233, and connects with Hughes Hall, built in 1927. Eventual additions in 1942, 1951, and 1954 make it the highest-occupancy residence hall with approximately 1,400 students. A permanent house system is implemented, with names honoring deceased Iowa State staff members.
 

  Student life:

The VEISHEA "Nite Show" is performed outside at Clyde Williams Field and becomes "Stars Over VEISHEA." 

   Campus:

The fountain statuary by Christian Petersen in front of the Memorial Union was presented to the University by the VEISHEA Central Committee during VEISHEA.

Streets on the campus were named, but no street signs were put up.

College Park, 40 acres north of campus, was dedicated as a memorial to L.H Pammel, professor of botany, as a memorial.


 

   Academic life:

A History of Iowa State, by Earle D. Ross, professor of history, is published.

Maria Roberts, Class of 1890, dies. She has been a professor of mathematics, dean of the Junior College and director of the Student Loan Committee.

The radio program, "Children's Corner,' is broadcast, hosted by Edith Sunderlin, Class of 1924, as the Storybook Lady.
 

   Student life:

The V-12 Program is implemented to train enlisted personnel in specialized and technical areas such as electrician and diesel mechanics. The V-12 unit at ISU trains thousands of amphibious firemen, cooks and bakers, diesel mechanics, and electricians.

  University:

IBM service on campus is inaugurated.

Frank Spedding and Harley Wilhelm develop a uranium purification method necessary for a self-sustaining atomic reaction. The Ames Project produces more than 2 million pounds of high-purity uranium metal for the Manhattan Project.
 
 

   Campus:

Twelve stained glass windows, designed by Harold W. Cummings, class of 1918, are installed in Gold Star Hall of the Memorial Union.
 

   Student life:

The Curtiss-Wright Cadettes Program is established at Iowa State during World War II, to train college women to function during the war as assistants in the Engineering Department. Sponsored by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, the course consisted of work in methods, mechanics, drafting, and processing.

Fraternity houses are used as girls' dormitories while service men occupy some of the girls' dormitories.

 

   Athletics:

The Iowa State men's basketball team reaches the Final Four of the NCAA tournament, where they lose to Utah, 31-40.
 

   Student life:

The first Barjche (pronounced bar-shay) modern dance concert is presented. The name comes from a scrambling of the first names of the founding dancers.

  University:

Iowa State University's retirement annuity program with the Teachers Insurance Annuity Program (currently TIAA-CREF) becomes effective on July 1.
 

   University:

The Ames project is awarded the Army-Navy E Award with four stars signifying 4 1/2 years of excellence in industrial production of a vital war material

 

   Athletics:

The 630 Club is created to foster athletic support for Iowa State teams, after the football team is beaten by Oklahoma at Homecoming, 63-0.

   Campus:

The first Christmas tree lighting ceremony is held, planned by Dean Maurice D. Helser.
 

   Student life:

Pammel Court is established as a 'temporary" housing facility for veterans and their families.  The majority of residential housing in Pammel Court is demolished by 1997 – more than 50 years later.

   University:

The Information Service (currently University Relations) is established with C. R. Elder, Class of 1929, as the first director.

The Ames Laboratory receives the Chemical Engineering Biennial Award for its part in the atomic bomb project. A similar award is received in 1957 for work done with uranium, thorium, and the rare earths.

ISU acquires 1,433 acres of land at the Des Moines Ordnance Plant near Ankeny for experimental purposes.
 

   Campus:

Agriculture Hall was renamed Curtiss Hall in honor of Dean Charles F. Curtiss, Class of 1887, who that position, 1902-1932.

   Student life:

The student newspaper name is changed from the Iowa State Student to the Iowa State Daily in September.

   University:

The United States Atomic Energy Commission formally announces the location of one of its major research facilities at Ames, to be known as the Ames Laboratory. Frank H. Spedding is named its first director.

  Athletics:

Athlete of the Year: Glen Brand, Olympic wrestling champion.

   Campus:

The College begins discussions with the City of Ames to construct a road (extending 6th Street) directly from downtown Ames to campus.

   Student life:

Student enrollment: 9,878

   University:

The 90th anniversary of the founding of the University is celebrated.

The Iowa State Safety Council was organized to coordinate various activities.

The first issue of News of Iowa State was published, now known as Inside Iowa State.

The Bomb yearbook and the Iowa Engineer are named the best in their fields.
 

   Academic life:

The College Film Production Unit is established.

   Campus:

The Sixth Street extension to connect downtown with campus is completed.

A record album, "Bells of Iowa State," is issued on the 50th anniversary of the Stanton Memorial Carillon.
 

   Student life:

VEISHEA theme: "VEISHEA Salutes Science"

   University:

WOI-FM begins transmitting on July 1, Monday-Friday from 4:45 p.m. through 10:00 p.m.