125 Years of Friends University

Still dealing with financial problems due to the Great Depression, Dr. Edwards formulated a Ten Year Program that had the goals of increasing the endowment to $1M, increase enrollment to 500 students, and improve the physical plant. Along with that, plans were made to have a Loyalty Day (October 12)..Read More

Irwin started producing annual holiday concerts. The first concert was a collaborative effort between the Singing Quakers and Wichita’s First Presbyterian Church Choir. The 130-member chorus and five soloists performed sections of J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.

“Mexico invades United States!” the December 11 issue of Life reports. Though not a literal invasion, the Friends University basketball team had a unique opportunity to play a team from the University of Mexico at Mexico City. The Fighting Quakers had the victory, scoring 38-21, though the rest of their..Read More

Still feeling the detrimental effects of the Great Depression, the university hosted a Friends of Friends Benefit Banquet on May 28 in order prevent a deficit, which was estimated to be about $6,000. Within a week, Friends boosted had raised $6,124.

For the second time, Friends University was dropped from the North Central Association list for having insufficient income and an inadequate physical plant. But the examiners listed five points of strength: 1. a college maintained on the basis of New Testament values; 2. a competent faculty; 3. a serious-minded and..Read More

The YMCA and YWCA has had immeasurable influence on the university and its students for 43 years. Now, members voted to combine forces under a new organization called the Student Christian Movement.

Waldo Neilsen took over leadership of the Singing Quakers for one year. Coming from an A Capella background, Neilsen wanted to start an additional ensemble that would be voices only. He named this touring choir the “A Cappella Choir” to distinguish it from the Singing Quakers.

Charles Finney became director of the Singing Quakers. Due to global and economic stress of World War II, music tours were difficult to organize and support as the country’s attention focused on the war effort. Finney replaced the spring tour with a spring opera, planned during a Music Department Music..Read More

Because of the shortage of teachers due to World War II, the university gave special attention to the training of elementary teachers in the summer of 1942. The State Department of Education ruled that non-renewable, emergency certificates would be issued for 1943-1944 on presentation of at least four semester hours..Read More

President Young announced a new wartime major, Reconstruction, that combined history, sociology, political science, psychology and language courses with the hope of preparing students for the problems they might face at the end of the global conflict. Other new courses included War Issues and Post War Problems.

Friday, August 13 at 10:30 a.m., The Explosion! A buildup of heat under the old hot water boiler in the Davis Building, generated growing pressure that spewed the top of the boiler off. The result was a large hole in the library stack room, shaking the sub floor under the..Read More

Because of World War II, male students were forced to join the war effort, making the Singing Quakers a nearly an all-women ensemble for a number of years. While Finney remained the Music Department head, voice faculty member, Elsa Haury directed the women’s chorus. Haury kept the ensemble busy, performing..Read More

With the return of servicemen, enrollment swelled to 410 with 222 men and 188 women. The enrollment total boosted further in the second semester at 526. The Singing Quakers was once again a mixed ensemble! The campus was rejuvenated.

At the end of WWII, enrollment increased from 192 to 410 making the Singing Quakers a large, mixed ensemble, once again. John Duro, who replaced Haury and Finney, led the ensemble for just a year.

Juliet Reeve’s history book, Friends University – The Growth of an Idea is printed. A recollection of 50 years of history, English professor Reeve was assisted by 14 students who helped with research.

In its 50th Anniversary Year, Friends University welcomed Sheppard Arthur Watson as fifth president of the university. Coming from Wilmington College in Ohio, where he had been president for seven years, Watson was thrilled to be “getting home,” for his boyhood days were spent near Hesper, Kansas and he was..Read More

The golden anniversary events continued into 1948 with a special 50th Anniversary Chapel on September 22 that honored eight Wichitans who were members of the 1898 student body: Mr. And Mrs. James Cox, Grace Reed, Birtha E. Wentworth, Mabel Woodard, Omie W. Davis and Herbert Smith.

In June, a portion of the “Appreciation Night” concert was conducted by Noble Cain, a 1916 graduate of Friends University who had become a nationally renowned choral conductor and composer.

With the addition of Sumpter Hall, the campus now included six buildings: Davis Administration, East Hall Women’s Dormitory, Music Hall, Stanley Gymnasium, and Industrials Arts Building. Sumpter Hall housed the home economics department, cafeteria, bookstore, art department.

On June 30, Friends University received a telegram noting that it finally met accreditation standards of North Central Association of Colleges and Universities and was being officially reinstated. Additionally, Friends was granted membership into the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education. The university was one of very few liberal..Read More

On August 31, 1952, President Watson announced his resignation. The Board unanimously voted for the installation of Bible professor Lloyd S. Cressman to assume the presidential position.

September 19 Hoyt Field, a newly rebuilt athletic field named after Fred N. Hoyt (missionary, Friends museum director, and former star athlete from 1900-1904,) was dedicated. Senator Andrew F. Schoeppel was the principal speaker at the ceremony.

Following a tour through Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, the choir began rehearsing for a spring Appreciation Night concert named “Symphony of Spring.” It featured show tunes performed by the choir, ensembles and soloists. The unique performance showcased the choir’s versatility. Proceeds from the concert provided scholarships for voice students and..Read More

An Ampex tape recorder was installed in the Watkins Rehearsal Hall, making it possible for ensembles to record their rehearsals and performances. The machine was also used to help students prepare solos for recitals and Symphony of Spring.

Groundbreaking ceremonies for two new dormitories were held on December 10, 1957. Notable participants included Rev. Robert Cope, pastor of University Friends Church; Paul Brown, Board Chair; Luis Casado, member of the building committee; and Rev. Merle Roe, superintendent of Kansas Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends. The residence..Read More