History Commons^™

A Changing Tradition Comes With A Strengthening Of Bonds, Kyle J. Shaffer

CAFE Symposium 2024

Gettysburg College has many traditions that make it unique. One tradition that may not seem unique is Family Weekend, but at Gettysburg College, there is a vast history associated with the tradition. The weekend started as two separate-day celebrations in the fall semester and spring semester.

Student Protest Publications At Gettysburg College, Audrey U. Bergan

CAFE Symposium 2024

Student protest publications written in the 1950s and 1960s of Gettysburg College history were generally regarded as passion projects, as the campus did not foster an activist culture. However, these publications had various missions. Black Awareness aimed to educate the predominantly white student population on the experiences of Black students both on and off campus. College Crier published polling information about opinions on school, national, and international issues. EATSIT wanted to challenge the status quo and attempted to shock readers with vulgar illustrations and sexual references. Overall, this project aimed to discover what Gettysburg College students were writing about, and …

Gettysburg College Life In Fall 1963, Mary Huegel

CAFE Symposium 2023

The 1960s were a tumultuous decade full of social change and political conflict. This project explores Gettysburg College life in the fall semester of 1963 from a variety of scopes.

Complacency And Conformity: The Female Experience At Gettysburg College, 1956-1966, Greer Garver, Emily B. Suter

Student Publications

Women at Gettysburg College from 1956-66 received unequal treatment at a predominantly male school. Despite the 1960s being seen as a time of radical change, the majority of women on campus were content with the rules and social norms which held them in place. Changes and complaints were not widespread or outspoken, but they did exist in organizations such as the Women’s Student Government Association. Examinations of campus policies, dress codes, and dorm regulations illustrate the different standards men and women were held to on campus. Meanwhile Greek life, beauty contests, athletics and first hand accounts of social life reveal …

Co-Education And Collaboration: Women At Gettysburg From 1945-1955, Olivia N. Taylor, Mckenna C. White

Student Publications

Women studying at Gettysburg College in the years following World War II (from 1945 to 1955) were given many freedoms and opportunities not previously experienced by female students of the college. The inclusion of sororities and co-educational social clubs open to both men and women expanded the social lives of female students at Gettysburg. Meanwhile, the dormitory environment and intramural sports teams helped women at Gettysburg create a sense of community through healthy competition. With all of these new social, academic, and extracurricular opportunities, there were still setbacks for women. Rules dictated how a woman could dress in certain settings …

Academic And Intellectual Life For Gettysburg College Women, 1960-1980, Theodore J. Szpakowski

Student Publications

The women of Gettysburg College, students and faculty, faced unique barriers in their academic life from 1960 to 1980. The college was making curricular and calendar changes to benefit all students, women, but was slower to fix the inequities facing women. First, women had a harder time getting into Gettysburg College, due to a 2:1 sex ratio in admissions that required women to have higher qualifications than their male counterpoints. Some women also struggled to convince family members that college mattered to them rather than just being an expensive way to acquire a marriage match. Once there, women were expected …

Ms-286: Elizabeth And Elmer Mckee, Class Of 1944, Jessica A. Cromer

All Finding Aids

This collection contains over 500 letters, 17 V-Mail, and 25 additional items, including Elmer’s college transcript, military documents, and personal narrative. The bulk of the letters are written by Elmer (Chuck) to Elizabeth (Diz), but there are over 100 letters written by Elizabeth in the closing years of this collection (1945-46). These letters provide insight into the Gettysburg College experience during the early 1940’s and the daily life of men stationed in Europe during World War II. Many of the letters depict Elmer and Elizabeth navigating their personal relationship, whilst simultaneously navigating the complex time period in which they lived. …

The Unfinished Sermon: A Tribute To Rev. John Vannorsdall, Devin Mckinney

Gettysburg College Faculty Books

This volume is collected tribute to Reverend John Vannorsdall, who served as chaplain for Gettysburg College, 1962-1976. It includes excerpts of Vannorsdall's writings and interviews, as well as reflections from students, colleagues, and family.

Sororities At Gettysburg College During The Haaland Era, 1990-2004, Elizabeth C. Hobbs, Madeleine M. Neiman

Student Publications

From 1990 to 2004, Gettysburg College’s Greek system dominated student social life and, due to its prominence (and notoriety), attracted the attention of not only students but also faculty and administration during the era of President Gordon A. Haaland. Although fraternities were often the more influential and problematic Greek organizations on campus, Gettysburg’s sororities played a major role in the lives of female students -- offering women a chance to join a community of other women, participate in philanthropy events, and engage in Greek social life. Throughout the Haaland era, Gettysburg’s sororities consisted of a combination of Sigma Kappa, Alpha …

Expansion And Acquisition: The Built Environment Under Gettysburg College President, Gordon Haaland, 1990 To 2004, Hannah M. Labovitz, Lillian Shea

Student Publications

Gordon Haaland presided over Gettysburg College from 1990 to 2004. His goals included improving the national status of the college by increasing the student body, developing the academic departments, and creating a dynamic campus community. This paper outlines Haaland's attempts to fulfill these goals through a plethora of construction projects, ranging from building a state of the art science center and extensively renovating a historic theater, to updating dormitories and revitalizing the appearance of campus. Some of the construction included projects that were planned under the previous president and carried out by Haaland, as well as scandals that accompanied these …

Drinks, Hijinks, And Policy Change: Fraternities At Gettysburg College In The Haaland Years (1990-2004), Lindsay R. Richwine, Lindsay K. Waller

Student Publications

This paper establishes what the fraternity structure was like at Gettysburg College during Gordon Haaland's presidency. Between 1990 and 2004, we explore the roaring party dynamic that was continually threatened by the administration and examine how the switch to sophomore rush tried to tame it. With testimonies from fraternity brothers during this era we try to capture the good, bad, and ugly of fraternity life. While Haaland's administration did not get ride of the fraternity system, it certainly made it safer and reigned it in significantly.

A Tradition Of Bells: Glatfelter Bell And Hall, Shannon R. Zeltmann

Student Publications

Every hour, students and staff hear the tolling of a bell. Some students hear it and count the number of times it rings to see what time it is. Others hear it and realize they are late to class. And many come back after they have graduated and are happy to hear the bell toll once more. There are many times when the bell is rung today. The bell is rung at graduation, funerals in the Chapel, and alumni and donor recognition. The Glatfelter Bell has been part of the Gettysburg experience since 1892. This bell is housed in one …

A Monument To Culture And Achievement: The Samurai Suit Of Armor And Katana At Gettysburg College, Carolyn Hauk

Student Publications

Of the many artifacts found in Gettysburg College’s Musselman library, perhaps the most unusual and seemingly out of place may be the centuries-old replica of a samurai suit and katana standing guard over visitors and students from an oversized glass case on the first floor. Though hard to miss, their connection with Gettysburg College is not so obvious. A plaque located below the suit reads, “Samurai Armor and Warrior Katana; Late 19th Century; Gift of Major General Charles A. Willoughby; Class of 1914.” These artifacts represent hundreds of years of the ancient Samurai tradition in Japan, a crucial element of …

Bringing Stories To Life By Sharing Archival Material, Christina M. Noto

Student Publications

Last summer I researched the experiences of women at Gettysburg College during the pivotal decade 1965-1975 with the support of a college grant, the Koble Fellowship, a ten-week humanities based faculty-mentored research project. I tracked women's experiences at the college during this period and designed a digital scholarship project to share their stories. As a history major and as a feminist, a project about the history of women and their activism on campus nicely complemented by interests. (excerpt)

Turning Points: Women At Gettysburg College From 1965-1975, Christina M. Noto

Student Publications

This poster is a summary of Christina Noto’s summer research. The research focuses on the experiences of Women at Gettysburg College from the Fall of 1964 to the Spring of 1975. While women attended Gettysburg College, they faced discrimination in all aspects of college life-- in the classroom, athletics, activities, their social lives and housing. This poster focuses on the housing discrimination women faced. Women had much stricter housing regulations. For example, women had to sign in and out of their dorms. Women also had mandatory dorm hours (certain times they had to be in their rooms). While some students …

What's New In Preservation At Musselman Library: Student Workers And The Beauty Of The Book, Carolyn Sautter, Mary Wootton

All Musselman Library Staff Works

Musselman Library's Special Collections and College Archives at Gettysburg College involves student workers and interns in our preservation and conservation efforts. The recent addition to the staff of a half-time conservator position has opened up new avenues for training. This has also resulted in additional access points for our students, faculty and other researchers to interact with our collections. This presentation discusses our preservation activities and our new digital collection The Beauty of the Book. It also illustrates how we have engaged student workers in conservation and enhanced cataloging description projects giving them a deeper appreciation for and understanding …

Ms-152: Papers Of Harold A. Dunkelberger ‘36, Jenna E. Fleming

All Finding Aids

This collection includes materials relating to Harold A. Dunkelberger’s life and work in relation to Gettysburg College and the Lutheran Church, as well as his personal and family relationships. It contains notes and records used while he was a professor in and later head of the Religion Department, as well as information about aspects of College administration and alumni relations in which he was involved. Additionally, Gettysburg College publications for events with which Dunkelberger was not directly connected are present in the collection. Academic correspondence with faculty at Gettysburg and other institutions is included, as well as several pieces Dunkelberger …

Interview With Mary Margaret Stewart, March 13, 2014, Mary Margaret Stewart, Michael J. Birkner

Oral Histories

Michael Birkner continued his interview with Mary Margaret Stewart on March 13, 2014, covering her decades-long career at Gettysburg College, starting under the administration of Willard Stewart Paul in the 1950s and concluding in the 1990s. Topics covered include her academic activities, relationship with other members of the faculty, and thoughts on the college administration over the years.

Collection Note: This oral history was selected from the Oral History Collection maintained by Special Collections & College Archives. Transcripts are available for browsing in the Special Collections Reading Room, 4^th floor, Musselman Library. GettDigital contains the complete listing of oral …

Interview With Mary Margaret Stewart, December 18, 2013, Mary Margaret Stewart, Michael J. Birkner

Oral Histories

Mary Margaret Stewart was interviewed on December 18, 2013 by Michael Birkner about her early life in California and Nebraska during the Great Depression, undergraduate experience at Monmouth University and graduate experience at Indiana University, and early career in the English department at Gettysburg.

Collection Note: This oral history was selected from the Oral History Collection maintained by Special Collections & College Archives. Transcripts are available for browsing in the Special Collections Reading Room, 4^th floor, Musselman Library. GettDigital contains the complete listing of oral histories done from 1978 to the present. To view this list and to access …

Ms-135: George Currier’S Notes On The Lectures Delivered At The Medical Department Of Pennsylvania College At Philadelphia, 1849-1850, Karen Dupell Drickamer

All Finding Aids

The collection consists of George Currier’s three manuscript books of lecture notes on anatomy, clinical work, surgery, case studies, obstetrics, diseases and treatment, herbs, tonics, narcotics, etc. Currier also drew detailed illustrations of sailing and steam ships interspersed among the pages as well as sketches of professors, soldiers, flags, etc.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on our website http://www.gettysburg.edu/special_collections/collections/.

Interview With Karl Mattson, August 17, 2011, Karl Mattson, Michael J. Birkner

Oral Histories

Karl Mattson was interviewed on August 17, 2011 by Michael Birkner about his life and professional experiences and his connections with Gettysburg College.

Length of Interview: 94 minutes

Collection Note: This oral history was selected from the Oral History Collection maintained by Special Collections & College Archives. Transcripts are available for browsing in the Special Collections Reading Room, 4^th floor, Musselman Library. GettDigital contains the complete listing of oral histories done from 1978 to the present. To view this list and to access selected digital versions please visit -- https://gettysburg.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16274coll2/search

Interview With Karl Mattson, August 10, 2011, Karl Mattson, Michael J. Birkner

Oral Histories

Karl Mattson was interviewed on August 10, 2011 by Michael Birkner about his life starting with his earliest memories. This interview is part 1 of a 2 part interview.

Length of Interview: 46 minutes

Collection Note: This oral history was selected from the Oral History Collection maintained by Special Collections & College Archives. Transcripts are available for browsing in the Special Collections Reading Room, 4^th floor, Musselman Library. GettDigital contains the complete listing of oral histories done from 1978 to the present. To view this list and to access selected digital versions please visit -- https://gettysburg.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16274coll2/search

Ms-114: Elizabeth Peeling Lyon Collection, Laura Heffner

All Finding Aids

This collection consists primarily of 75 letters Betty wrote to her family during her two years at Gettysburg College. They date from September 18, 1950 through May 19, 1952, excluding the summer holiday. The letters chronicle Betty’s college activities, showing specifically her participation in band, choir, the Independent Women, Kappa Delta Rho (her brother’s fraternity), and dorm life. This collection also contains one scrapbook sheet of four photographs taken on campus and Lyon’s freshman name sign.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and …

Ms-115: The Notarangelo Collection Of The Louis A. Parsons Papers, Elizabeth M. Johns

All Finding Aids

The collection was created from two different sets of letters and papers related to Louis A. Parsons, obtained from Thomas Notarangelo in 2008. Notarangelo purchased the papers at auction. Both sets consisted of correspondence of both professional and personal nature; one set consisting of correspondence from Parsons’ life before he became a professor at Gettysburg, and the other focusing mainly around the issue of his dismissal from Gettysburg College in 1925. The entire collection consists primarily of the correspondence written and received by Parsons.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access …

Ms-108: Louise Ramer ’29 Chi Omega Collection, Jennifer A. Giambrone

All Finding Aids

This collection contains a number of different materials, including a scrapbook and photographs, newspaper clippings, letters, publications, and programs from both Tau Delta chapter and the national sorority. A majority of these materials are from the 1930’s and 1940’s, when Gamma Phi became Chi Omega. They focus on a number of events, including the installation banquet, a national conference, and an anniversary dinner, and many are associated with the Alumnae Chapter Ramer helped to establish in Gettysburg. Ramer was a national officer in Chi Omega at the time, and involved in planning a number of these events, and her scrapbook …

Ms-099: Robert H. Fryling Papers, Andrew D. Royer

All Finding Aids

The Robert H. Fryling papers consist of material related to his professional association with Gettysburg College, and include a wide variety of subjects and interests, in areas of student life and school governance. This collection does not contain any papers relating to Fryling’s research, personal life, or his time as an undergraduate at Gettysburg College.

Special Collections and College Archives Finding Aids are discovery tools used to describe and provide access to our holdings. Finding aids include historical and biographical information about each collection in addition to inventories of their content. More information about our collections can be found on …

Interview With Donald Gallion, August 6, 2008, Donald Gallion, Michael J. Birkner

Oral Histories

Donald Gallion was interviewed on August 6, 2008 by Michael Birkner about his time serving in the United States army during WWII and his return to Gettysburg College and after the war.

Collection Note: This oral history was selected from the Oral History Collection maintained by Special Collections & College Archives. Transcripts are available for browsing in the Special Collections Reading Room, 4^th floor, Musselman Library. GettDigital contains the complete listing of oral histories done from 1978 to the present. To view this list and to access selected digital versions please visit -- https://gettysburg.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16274coll2/search

Robert Fortenbaugh: Understanding A Man Through His Scholarship, Tracy E. Clifford

Hidden in Plain Sight Projects

On the second floor of Weidensall Hall at Gettysburg College hangs a picture of Dr. Robert Fortenbaugh. This portrait is hidden in plain sight, and countless people pass by it everyday on their way to an office, a classroom, or elsewhere. However, when one begins to notice the picture’s presence, the question begs to be asked, who was Robert Fortenbaugh? Why is his picture hanging in Weidensall Hall? What impact did he have on the history of Gettysburg College that makes him worthy of being remembered? The answer to those questions include many answers. Most formidable among these, however, was …

Interview With Robert O'Brien, January 9, 2006, Robert O'Brien, Michael J. Birkner

Oral Histories

Robert O'Brien was interviewed on January 9, 2006 by Michael J. Birkner about his military service during World War II and his years as a student at Gettysburg College. He discusses his childhood and time at Muhlenberg College, before he enlisted in the US Navy Air Corps and served at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida. After the war he came to Gettysburg on a basketball scholarship. He discusses his experience as a physics major, fraternity brother, and college athlete.

Length of Interview: 94 minutes

Collection Note: This oral history was selected from the Oral History Collection maintained by …

Interview With Arthur Bruce Boenau, June 9, 2005, Arthur Bruce Boenau, Michael J. Birkner

Oral Histories

Arthur Bruce Boenau was interviewed on June 9, 2005 by Michael Birkner about his life and time as a professor of Political Science at Gettysburg College. He discusses his childhood, his experiences during World War II and the Korean War in the Counterintelligence Corps, and finally his memories of the faculty, administrators, and students at Gettysburg.

Length of Interview: 94 minutes

Collection Note: This oral history was selected from the Oral History Collection maintained by Special Collections & College Archives. Transcripts are available for browsing in the Special Collections Reading Room, 4^th floor, Musselman Library. GettDigital contains the complete …