Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Three Centuries On The South Campus, James A. Butler

Local History Essays

(Reprinted from La Salle: A Quarterly La Salle University Magazine, Fall 1998)

The story of the south campus begins, as any settlement of a new country must, with the land itself. Early in the eighteenth century, the horseback rider exploring his 500-acre "plantation" acutely felt what we in our cars scarcely notice: La Salle’s property, approached from the south, rises as a formidable hill. And the rider observed, as we no longer can, two pristine and swift-moving creeks--one following the line of present-day Belfield Avenue and the other that of Ogontz Avenue.

Charles Willson Peale At Belfield: "Your Garden Must Be A Museum", Kateryna A. Rudnytzky

Local History Essays

Famous colonial portrait painter Charles Willson Peale ("second only to Benjamin Franklin as Philadelphia’s 18^th century Renaissance man") lived at Belfield Mansion—still standing—from 1810 until 1821. Belfield Mansion, partly dating from 1708, is one of the oldest university buildings in use in the country.

Frances Anne Kemble (1809-1893), Natalie Karelis

People and Places

Frances Anne Kemble was born into a theatrical family in London, England, on November 27, 1809. Her roots in the theater were well established at her birth, her aunt being the renowned actress Sarah Siddons and her father, Charles Kemble, the renowned Shakespearean actor.

The National League For Woman's Service, Lydia Stieber

People and Places

St. Mutien’s Christian Brothers’ Residence, located on La Salle University’s South Campus, was once one of the busiest centers in Germantown. In 1917, this building was known as "Little Wakefield" and was a demonstration center for one of most active branches of the National League for Woman’s Service.

Sarah Logan Fisher Wister (1806-1891), Monica Shields

People and Places

Sarah Logan Fisher Wister was born May 18, 1806 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Her parents were William Logan Fisher and his first wife, Mary Rodman. Little, if anything, is known about her childhood because the authors of the greatest quantity of information known about her were her son and her granddaughter.

William Rotch Wister (1827-1911), Dave Stanoch

People and Places

William Rotch Wister, born on December 7, 1827, was raised along with his siblings at the Belfield estate. William derived his "Rotch" name from the Rodmans and Rotches, relatives in Massachusetts who were the first people to settle the island of Nantucket off the coast of Massachusetts.

Ella Eustis Wister Haines (1879-1969), Kristen Terranova

People and Places

Ella Eustis Wister was born on August 30, 1879 to William Rotch Wister and Mary Rebecca Eustis, at Mrs. Wister’s mother’s home in Milton, Massachusetts.

Sarah Logan Wister Starr (1873-1956), Jeff Thompson

People and Places

Named after her grandmother, Sarah Logan Fisher, Sarah Logan Wister was born in Pierre County, Duncannon, near Philadelphia in 1873. Her Father John Wister descended from the wealthy Wisters of Philadelphia, while her mother descended from James Logan, Secretary to William Penn during the early colonial period.

"Waldheim" And Its Inhabitants, Justin Cupples

People and Places

Remnants of the foundation of the former "Waldheim" mansion are still in existence. One can still trek into the small patch of woods between the Neumann Halls Dormitory and the La Salle University commuter parking lot, and take a gander at the ruins of the home of historically significant people.

John Caspar Wister (1887-1982), Andy Gwiazda

People and Places

John Caspar Wister, who was, as the Philadelphia Inquirer so aptly described him, the "dean of horticulturists" in the UnitedStates, was born on March 19, 1887, to William Rotch Wister and Mary Rebecca Eustis in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.

William Logan Fisher (1781-1862), Michelle Dillin

People and Places

William Logan Fisher, industrialist, author, and "Philadelphia patriarch" bought the "Belfield" estate from the Peale family in 1826. He lived at "Wakefield" and established the Wakefield Mills Manufacturing Company. In its prime, the Wakefield Mills, powered by steam and water, produced an estimated nine-tenths of all hosiery and fancy knit goods in the United States.

Mary Channing Wister (1870-1913): An Unknown Legend, Eric M. Augenstein

People and Places

Most articles and stories about Mary Channing Wister start out like this: "Mary Channing Wister, the wife of the novelist Owen Wister, author of The Virginian. . . ." For some people, being affiliated with a famous spouse or other family member is a great honor. There is much more to Mary Channing Wister, though, than just having a famous husband.

Wisters And Fishers In The Civil War, Jen Merritt

People and Places

The Wister and Fisher families who lived on or near what is today La Salle's campus were prominent members of their community and many of them served diligently during the Civil War.

Frances Anne Wister (1874-1956), Bob Delp

People and Places

One of the first leadership positions that Frances Anne held was as vice president of the Women’s Civic Club of Philadelphia (c. 1907). She served as vice president for the rest of her life, except for a period of seven years (1922-29), when she served as its president. It was her sister, Mary Channing Wister, who founded the Women’s Civic Club, but when she died, Frances Anne continued it and kept it running. The Civic Club was responsible for bringing about electric street lighting to the city of Philadelphia.

Introduction To The Second Edition, Kali Tal

Vietnam Generation

Introduction to the second edition, reissued to "preserve the history of an event which has become shrouded in myth."

Preface To The First Edition, Susie Erenrich

Vietnam Generation

Introduction to the 1990 issue on Kent State and Jackson State. Reprinted for the second edition.

Four Students: Address Delivered At Kent State, May 4, 1974, Peter Davies

Vietnam Generation

Address delivered on the fourth anniversary of the shooting at Kent State, by Peter Davies, author of The Truth About Kent State (published 1973).

Address Delivered At Kent State, May 4, 1987, Tom Grace

Vietnam Generation

Address by survivor Tom Grace, delivered on the 17th anniversary of the Kent State shootings.

A 1990 Postscript, Peter Davies

Vietnam Generation

Sixteen years after his 1974 address at Kent State, author Peter Davies reflects on the years that followed.

Kent And Jackson State: 1970-1990

Vietnam Generation

Second edition of a special issue on the shootings at Kent State and Jackson State, issued in 1995. Originally published in 1990. Special editor Susie Erenrich.

A Tribute To Arthur Krause: Delivered At Kent State, May 4, 1989, Kendra Lee Hicks

Vietnam Generation

An essay in honor of Arthur Krause, father of Kent State shooting victim Allison Krause.

Anniversary: May 4, 1988, Elaine Holstein

Vietnam Generation

An essay in honor of Jeffrey Miller, killed at Kent State.

Statement By The Parents: January 4, 1979

Vietnam Generation

Statement by the parents of the victims of the students killed at Kent State, released following the settlement of the civil suit against the Guardsmen.

Our Beloved Sandy Is Gone Forever, Martin Scheuer

Vietnam Generation

An essay in honor of Sandy Scheuer, killed at Kent State.

Twenty Years Later, Holly Near

Vietnam Generation

Lyrics for a song written in response to the Kent and Jackson State shootings, by singer and activist Holly Near.

Statement By The Governor, The Generals, The Command Officers, And The Guardsmen

Vietnam Generation

"Statement signed by the defendants, as a part of the settlement of the Kent State trial."

The May 4 Memorial At Kent State University: Legitimate Tribute Or Monument To Insensitivity?, Alan Canfora

Vietnam Generation

On the controversies surrounding the memorialization of the killings at Kent State on May 4, 1970.

Lynch Street: The May, 1970 Slayings At Jackson State University, Tom Spofford

Vietnam Generation

An overview of the events, including four eyewitness accounts presented at the civil trial.

Save The Pooch, Robert Stamps

Vietnam Generation

A campus protest is recounted.

Address Delivered At Kent State, May 4, 1984, Tom Grace

Vietnam Generation

Address by survivor Tom Grace, delivered on the 14th anniversary of the Kent State shootings.