ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture:
MuhlenbergCollege
FourteenthEdition
SusanClemens‐Bruder
DepartmentofHistory
MuhlenbergCollege
Revisedin2012by
CarolShinerWilson
DeanoftheCollegeforAcademicLife,Emerita
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFutureisdedicated
tothememoryofLindaL.Bowers(1943—2007),
CollegeLibrarian,whosedeeploveoftheCollege
andremarkableknowledgeofitshistoryinspired
faculty,staffandstudentsalike.
Foreword
ThefollowingisabriefhistoryofMuhlenbergCollege,pre‐
sentedtoyouinanticipationofyourarrivalasamatriculated
MuhlenbergCollegeStudent.Ithasbeenespeciallywrittenforyou
byaCollegewithover160yearsofcommitmenttoexcellencein
education.
Wehopethatyouwillkeepthebookletasamementoof
yourfirstdaysattheCollegeandthatyouwillrefertoitinthefu‐
tureasyoucontinuetoexplorethecampusandreflectuponyour
rolehere.Likeanyhistory,especiallyonesobrief,ithashadtobe
selective.Weurgeyouthereforetotaketheopportunitytoex‐
ploremoreandtoaddnotesandcommentsintheback.
WehavecalledthishistoryConnectingthePast,Present,
andFuture.Wehopethatyoustarttomakethoseconnections
yourselfasyoulearnaboutthetraditionsoftheCollegeandthink
abouthowyouwillparticipateinthosetraditionsoverthenext
fouryears.Manyofthosetraditionsareconnectedtoourcommit‐
menttoexcellenceinteachingandlearning,insidetheclassroom
andbeyond,andtoleadershipopportunitiesinmanyrealmsfor
ourstudents.
Overthenextfouryears,youwillfindinfinitepossibilities
foryoureducationinsideandoutsidetheclassroom,laboratory
andstudio.Youwillgrowanddevelopinwaysthatyou’llnever
experienceagain.Seekthechallenges.Investigatenewareas.Re‐
flectuponyourexperiences.Learnfrommistakes.Commityour‐
selftobeingasignificantmemberofthecollegecommunityand
beyond.
AsyouembarkuponyourcareeratMuhlenberg,wehope
youwillrememberthoseinvolvedinsharingwithyoutheirsto‐
riesandattachmenttothisplace.Youwillbeaddingyourown
importantchaptertotheMuhlenbergstory.
CarolShinerWilson,Ph.D.
DeanofCollegeforAcademicLife,
Emerita
MuhlenbergCollege
MissionStatement
Muhlenberg College aims to develop independent
criticalthinkerswhoareintellectuallyagile,characterized
byazestforreasonedandcivildebate,committedtoun‐
derstandingthediversityofthehumanexperience,ableto
express ideas with clarity and grace, committed to life‐
longlearning,equippedwithethicalandcivicvalues,and
prepared for lives of leadership and service. The College
is committed to providing an intellectually rigorous un‐
dergraduateeducationwithinthecontextofasupportive,
diverseresidentialcommunity.Ourcurriculumintegrates
the traditional liberal arts with selected pre‐professional
studies. Our faculty are passionate about teaching, value
close relationships with students, and are committed to
the pedagogical and intellectual importance of re‐
search.Allmembersofourcommunityarecommittedto
educating the whole person through experiences within
and beyond the classroom. Honoring its historical heri‐
tagefromtheLutheranChurchanditscontinuingconnec‐
tion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
Muhlenberg encourages, welcomes and celebrates a vari‐
etyoffaithtraditionsandspiritualperspectives.
This history is designed to acquaint you with
Muhlenberg traditions during your first weeks at the Col‐
lege.Itisalso,wehope,akeepsakeyouwilllookatfrom
time to time over the next four years and even after
graduation. As you read this short history of the College
that highlights traditions, people, and activities past and
present,considerthatyouarenowanintrinsicpartofthe
continuing story and mission of Muhlenberg College. The
bookletaimstohelpyouconnectwiththepastasyoube‐
gintoshapethefuture.Forexample,canyouidentifyDoc
Shankweiler:thepersonandthebuilding?Whatbeautiful
landmarkatMuhlenbergwasdesignedafteratoweratOx‐
ford University? And why? What is Victor’s Lament?
WhichFirstLadyoftheUnitedStatesreceivedanhonorary
degree from Muhlenberg and dedicated a Peace Garden
here?Whatisa“dink”?Whatwasthemascotbeforethe
Mule?Thisbookletanswerstheseandotherquestionsfor
yousothatyouareabletolinkthepastwiththepresentto
prepareyouforthenextfouryearsatMuhlenbergCollege.1
Bestregardstoyouallasyoubeginwhatwillbean
excitingfour‐yearjourney.
SusanClemens‐Bruder
SeniorLecturer,History
“Thusthepast,withallitstraditions
sodeartotheoldcollegestudent,
wouldbelinkedwiththefuture
withallitshopesandpossibilities
ofdevelopment.”
Dr.TheodoreL.Seip
MuhlenbergCollegePresident
1892
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
1
PrecariousBeginnings:
EstablishingtheCollege
It’sdifficulttobelieve,asyoulookaroundandseeover2,000
students and numerous academic, residential and athletic facilities,
that Muhlenberg once had just four students and one all‐purpose
building.TheCollegebeganasaninstitutiontotrainteachers.Oneof
themenfosteringtheplan,theRev.SamuelK.Brobst,alsoenvisioneda
schoolthatpreparedministers,doctors,andlawyers.2Thenewschool,
named Allentown Seminary, occupied the property known as Trout
HallatFourthandWalnutStreets,Allentown.Thefirsttermbeganin
1848withfourstudents.Attheendoftheyearthestudentpopulation
grewtoelevenandcontinuedtogrowsothatby1853reportsassured
thepublicthatenthusiasticapplicantshadtobeturnedaway.Thenew
schoolwasasuccess.3
To ensure con‐
tinued success, the semi‐
nary nurtured good rela‐
tionswiththecommunity
by opening some school
organizations to the pub‐
lic. Students and local
AllentownSeminary
citizens joined commu‐
nityatchurchservicesandplannedexcursions.Theseminarywasbecom‐
inganintegralpartofthegrowingAllentowncommunity.4
Within a decade, financial strains led to administra‐
tive restructuring of the school. The new board of trustees included
many prominent men from Allentown. In 1864, they changed the
nameof the institution tothe AllentownCollegiate and Military Insti‐
tute(duringtheCivilWaritwasstylishtobemilitary).5TheBoardof
Trustees secured a charter from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
foralltherightsandprivilegesofacollegeandtheabilitytoawarda
new A.B. degree at the successful completion of a three‐year curricu‐
lum.6
2
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
The military nature of the College intensified. Its all‐male
populationwasrequiredtoparticipateinmilitarydrills.Thestaffin‐
cluded a Professor of Military Tactics, an Assistant Instructor in Drill,
and a Professor of Military and Civil Engineering, and Polytechnics.
OfficialU.S.infantryarmytacticsbecamepartoftheprescribedcourse
ofstudy.Butthisperiodwasshort‐lived.Theinstituteclosedin1867
andwasofferedforsale.7
Rev.Brobstcontinuedtobeanardentsupporteroftheinstitu‐
tioninbothitsmanifestations.Hesawanewpossibilityforthecam‐
pusofthedefunctcollege.AsaPennsylvaniaGerman,aLutheranmin‐
ister,andasupporterofthenewlyformedLutheranTheologicalSemi‐
naryatPhiladelphia,hebelievedthattheCollegeshouldrespondtothe
increased need for German Lutheran clergy in the eastern partofthe
state.AlthoughGettysburgCollegeandTheologicalSeminaryhadbeen
adequateinthepast,thenewseminaryinPhiladelphiamadeanother
Lutheran‐sponsoredcollegedesirable.8
Brobst sought the support of the local Lutheran synod, the
Ministerium of Pennsylvania and Adjacent States. Another Board of
Trustees was elected and the property of the defunct military college
was bought. It is notsurprising, after the history of the institution’s
financialdifficulties,thattheSynodbecamesqueamishoverthefinan‐
cial obligation of the new undertaking, so a joint stock company
formedtospreadtherisk.9
TogivethenewcollegeadecidedlyLutheranassociation,the
nameMuhlenbergwaschosen.Thename
commemorated the acknowledged eight‐
eenth‐centurypatriarchofLutheranismin
America, Henry Melchior Muhlenberg
(1711‐1787).10 To tap further into the
illustrious Muhlenberg family, the Board
of Trustees approached Henry’s great‐
grandson, Frederick Augustus Muhlen‐
TheReverendHenryMelchior
berg,D.D.toserveaspresidentoftheCol‐ Muhlenberg,Patriarchofthe
LutheranChurch
lege. After first declining, the Rev. Dr.
Muhlenbergacceptedtheposition.
OnSeptember1,1867theCollegeopened,andtwodayslater
theRev.Dr.Muhlenbergwasinaugurated.Onthatdaytheadministra‐
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
3
tion and faculty convened at St. John’s Lutheran Church, South Fifth
Street,Allentown,wheretheAllentownBandledtheacademicenclave
totheCourtHousefortheinaugurationceremonyandanotherhopeful
beginning.11Thisband,establishedin1822,istheoldestcivicbandin
thecountryandcontinuestoplayforMuhlenbergCollegecommence‐
ments.
FrederickAugustusMuhlenberg,D.D.
thefirstPresidentoftheCollege
MuhlenbergCollegecontinuesitsaffiliationwiththeEvangeli‐
calLutheranChurchinAmerica.Thestudentprofileofreligiousaffilia‐
tionhaschangedovertheyears,however.Inthefallof2011,6.6%of
thestudentbodyidentifiedthemselvesasLutherans,17%wereProt‐
estantsotherthanLutheran,31.3%wereCatholic,32.3%wereJewish,
and7%OtherFaithTraditions.Thebalancewerenonaffiliatedordid
notsubmitaresponsetothequestionnaire.12
FittingSettingfortheLifeoftheMind:
TheCampus
The ideal college campus provides a setting conducive to re‐
flection.ExceptfortherumorthatthefirstsiteofMuhlenbergCollege
washaunted,itseemsthatthelocationprovidedthenecessaryatmos‐
4
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
phere for calm study. Allentown Seminary was located in a mansion
knownasTroutHall,stillsituatedatFourthandWalnutStreets.This
distinguishedfieldstone building had originally belongedto James Al‐
len,sonofWilliamAllen,thefounderofAllentown.Asweepinglawn
extended from the house to the south, and a grove of trees bordered
thepropertytothenorth.Allaroundthepropertywerevacantfields.
Severalstreamsfilledwithtroutflowednearby(hencethename).13All
ofthisishardtoimagineifyoustandtodayinthecenterofdowntown
Allentown.
The bucolic imagery of mid‐nineteenth century Muhlenberg
Collegeissomewhattarnishedbyotherrealitiesoftheperiod.Forex‐
ample,coaloilprovidednightlightingforthestudents.Coaloilisnoto‐
riouslydirtyandsmelly,especiallywhenmanystudentsstayeduplate
andliterallyburnedthemidnightoil.
In addition, the Muhlenberg campus housed hogs until 1869.
Inthispre‐refrigerationera,peoplestayedclosetotheirsourceoffood.
Since the meat of choice for Pennsylvania Germans of the Allentown
areawaspork,theCollegeraisedpigs.Pigsalsoservedaslivinggar‐
bage disposal units, roaming freely and gobbling up refuse to keep
streetsclean.14
The central Allentown campus sufficed in the early years of
the College, especially since the finances of the College were at times
rather shaky. Substantialdonations helped tocreatea stable endow‐
ment base. In 1879, the President of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, Asa
Packer, donated $30,000 for a professorship in natural and applied
sciences, and in 1881, James K. Mosser and Thomas Keck provided
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
5
$20,000 for a chair in Greek language and literature. These twogifts
set a precedent for financial support from outside the Ministerium.
Whenitbecameapparentthattheoldcampuswasinadequate,further
fundraisingyielded$200,000.Thepresident,Dr.TheodoreSeip,envi‐
sioned a large campus west of Allentown where buildings could be
added as necessary. He then promoted the idea of purchasing such
land15
In1900,AllentownBoroughendedat17thStreet,butonetrolleyline
continuedontoAlbrightandChew.Anothertraveledthroughthevalleyto
DorneyvilleandontoKutztown.Thismeantthattheextremewestern
suburbs of Allentown were accessible to day students. Amid some
grumblingandargument,theBoardofTrusteesagreedtobuyfifty‐one
acresoflandknownastheEphraimButzfarm.Thelimitsoftheprop‐
ertyranfromtheCedarCreektoLibertyStreet.Itwasborderedonthe
east by Henry
Leh’sfarmandon
the west by the
Dorney brothers’
property.16
The deci‐
sion to move was
brilliant. The
suburban setting OneofthetrolleycarsthatservedthewesternsuburbsofAllentown
in1905.OnetrolleylinewentasfarasPhiladelphia.
provided
ade‐
quatespacefornewbuildingsandroomtoconstructthepark‐likeat‐
mospherethatwepresentlyenjoy.Toblendtheoldwiththenew,the
cornerstone of the former college was placed in the main building
(1903) of the new campus and read “Muhlenberg College Founded
1848.” The building was gutted by a fire in 1947, the night before
Commencement.Rebuilt,itwasnamedtheEttingerBuilding.17
Other early structures were East Hall (1903) and West Hall
(1916). The latter housed a college preparatory school and then
served as a men’s residence hall. Renovated for the first class of
womenstudents,WestHallwaslaterrenamedBrownHall.
6
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
In addition to these structures, the John Peter Gabriel House
was built in 1905 as the President’s house. It currently houses the
Wescoe School of evening and summer studies, which celebrated its
hundredthyearofexistence2009‐10.Onetime‐honoredstoryasserts
that officials of the College planned for the house to be on the south
side of Chew Street. It has been reported that work began while the
Presidentvacationed.Whenhereturned,significantconstructionhad
been completed at the current location so the house remained there.
AsyoustandinfrontoftheJohnPeterGabrielMuhlenbergHouse,you
maywonder,“Whydidtheyputitthere?”Othershaveaskedthesame
questionwhich,mayexplainthestory.18
In January 1905, the College officially began its new term on
thenewcampuswithtenfacultymembersandninety‐fourstudents.19
The facilities served the structural needs of Muhlenberg College for
twodecades,butafterWorldWarI,moreyoungmenandwomenbe‐
cameinterestedinattendingcollege.By1928,enrollmentatMuhlen‐
bergincreasedsignificantlyto438students.Thefacilitiesalsoserved
nine hundred extension students, some of whom were female. In‐
creasedenrollmentseverelystressedexistingfacilities.20
A planning committee determined that three new buildings
would be essential to modernize the campus. Fund raising began to
finance the proposed library (currently the remodeled Haas College
Center),asciencebuilding(nowtheTrumbowerScienceBuilding),and
Mainpartofcampusin1930showingtheScienceBuilding,theLibrary,
andtheAdministrationBuilding.
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
7
achapel(theGideonF.EgnerMemorialChapel,partlyfinancedbyMrs.
AnnieJ.EgnerHartzellinmemoryofherparents).21
Egner Chapel (1929‐31) is a gem of Gothic architecture. The
structure connects withthe Christianarchitectural past butalsocele‐
brates the rich secular and ecumenical traditions of intellectual life.
The visitor walking deeplyintothe onehundredandninety‐four‐foot
sanctuaryseesartisticrenditionscommemoratingthesacredpast.The
ascendantChristdepictedinmarbleinlaidwithgoldadornsthemiddle
entrancetothenave.Stained‐glasswindowsofrichblue,reminiscent
oftheblueinChartresCathe‐
dral, commemorate saints
andkeyfiguresoftheProtes‐
tantReformationandmemo‐
rialize leaders of Luther‐
anisminAmerica.
The windows and
other art closer to the main
door and the outside world
fittingly depict secular life,
such as scenes from colonial
America and twentieth‐
century student life. The last
stained‐glass windows to
view before leaving the
building portray the tradi‐
tionalartsandsciencesstud‐
iedattheCollege.Inthehall‐
way at the back, on the way
InterioroftheGideonF.Egner
to the Chaplain’s Office, the
MemorialChapel
visitorcanseeastainedglass
windowdepictingafootballplayerfromtheearlydaysattheCollege.
The magnificent structure communicates the sacred and secular, the
traditionaland modern,and it invitesthe visitor to pursue thefuture
renewed by the chapel’s beauty. Music has always been important
here, the first organ was a 2,381‐pipe organ comparable to organs at
Yale and Princeton, donated by the Woman’s Auxiliary in 1931. The
Auxiliary, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2015, has
8
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
funded not only the organ but several student scholarships over the
years.TheChapelcontinuestobeafittingstructureforOpeningCon‐
vocation, Honors Convocation and other important gatherings of the
collegecommunity.22
Buildingcampaignstendtooccurinwavesofintenseactivity
followedbyfinancialretrenchment.TheDepressionandWorldWarII
slowed recovery from the flurry of construction that ended in 1930.
After the war, the demand for a college education soared partly be‐
causeofbenefitsprovidedbytheG.I.Bill.23Bytheearly1950soperat‐
ing costs rose, and the stated tuition charges became inadequate. To
cover increased operating costs and increased stress on the physical
plant, the administration and Board of Directors considered another
building program. Once again the problem of insufficient finances
threatenedtothwarttheplanbecausetheCollegeincurredasizeable
deficiteachyear.OfficialsappealedtotheMinisteriumformoresup‐
port.Lutheransfromwithinandoutsidethesynodofferedsignificant
support.TheU.S.SteelFoundation,GeneralFoods,andtheFordFoun‐
dation gave generous grants. A
terrifying crisis abated; a new
building program ensued, and
confidenceallowedtheCollegeto
raise tuition and faculty sala‐
ries.24
Theoneandahalfmilliondollar
buildingprogramyieldedMemo‐
rial Hall, a health center, Martin
LutherResidenceHall,andreno‐
vations to West Hall. The new
structures allowed the college
community to catch its breath
ThefirstyearMuhlenbergwasco‐ed,there
wasonlyonefemaleenrolledinthis
before the next, perhaps most
chemistryclass.
dramatic change occurred –
women as full‐time, on‐campus students. Financial support by the
Ministerium for construction had come with the additional price of
admittingwomen.Lutheranswantedtheirdaughterseducatedaswell
astheirsons.PastorLutherSchlenkerwasadrivingforceinthecam‐
paign to admit women, including his daughters, which mobilized
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
9
women in parishes to raise the
sorelyneededfundsfortheCollege.
Hearty supporters of coeducation
were faced with just as adamant
resisterstothechange.TheCollege
wasthefirstintheLehighValleyto
admitwomen(1957).25Womenhad
already attended the so‐called ex‐
tensionschoolofcontinuingstudies
established in 1915. Many of them
soughtteachingcredentials,andthe
BarbaraFretzCrossette’61,heldseveral
very first woman to receive a distinguishedpositionswiththeNYTimes
Muhlenberg bachelor’s degree did
soin1920.
An article in the MuhlenbergWeekly commented that an all‐
malestudentbodytreatedwomenlike“toystobeputawayuntilwork
was done.” The documentary evidence shows that, to the contrary,
female students were not toy‐like. Reviews of records show that
women consistently earned high academic honors and held positions
ofimportanceinstudentgovernment.BarbaraFretzCrossette’61,the
firstwomantoserveasfeatureseditoroftheWeekly,wentontohold
several distinguished positions with the NewYorkTimes, including
Bureau Chiefof the UnitedNationsand Chief Correspondent in South
Asia and Southeast Asia. (Ms. Crossette’s son and grandson were to
attend Muhlenberg College.) Today, women continue to excel in aca‐
demics, athletics, and service within and outside campus borders.
EarlyfemalefacultywereEnglishprofessors,Dr.JanetStammandDr.
Bessie Michael, and historians, Dr. Joanne Stafford (later Mortimer)
and Dr. Katherine Van Eerde. An early administrator was Dean of
Women, Ann Nugent.26 In 1996, Dr. Carol Shiner Wilson became the
firstfemalesenioracademicdeanattheCollege,andDr.MarjorieHass
thefirstfemaleProvostin2004.Dr.HassleftMuhlenberginJune2009
tobecomePresidentatAustinCollegeinTexas.TheSeniorAcademic
OfficerpositionatMuhlenbergwasheldbyDr.RobertC.Williams,an
African American, in the mid‐1980s. Most recently, Karen Green, an
African American, became the first female Vice President for Student
Affairs.
10
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
Withanincreasedstudentbody,newspacesforcoeducational
interaction were needed which in turn contributed to the need for a
studentcenter.In1963,theJ.ConradSeegersUnion(nowcalledtheJ.
Conrad and Hazel Seegers Union) opened and provided the central
space for the expanded social life of the 1960s.27President and Mrs.
Seegers delighted in entertaining hundreds of students, faculty, staff,
alumni, and friends of the College. Mrs. Seegers is reputed to have
been a particularly warm and gracious hostess. Their hospitability
livesonasanimportantpartofthewelcomingspiritoftheCollege.
During Dr. Erling N. Jensen’s tenure as president, the John V.
ShankweilerBiologybuildingwasconstructed(1968‐1970).Dr.Jen‐
sen was a scientist who focused on strengthening the sciences at the
College. Dr. John V. Shankweiler—”Doc” Shankweiler—was a beloved
member of the Biology Department, noted for his untiring advance‐
ment of the sciences, excellent teaching, and Pennsylvania Dutch hu‐
TheCollegeLibraryinthe1950s,nowtheHaasCollegeCenter.
mor and accent. The building was the first academic structure to be
added in forty years. Construction of Shankweiler was quickly fol‐
lowedbyrenovationstotheoldsciencebuildingthatwasdedicatedto
the memory of Peter S. Trumbower, a noted college supporter and
trustee.28
A former English professor, Dr. John H. Morey succeeded Dr.
Jensenaspresident.Hisinterestslayinthearts,andPresidentMorey
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
11
strove to strengthen the arts on campus. Renowned architect Philip
Johnson designed the new Center for the Arts (1976), which then
housedMusic,ArtandEnglish.Johnsonboldlyarticulatedmodernism.
TheCA,controversialatthetime,pullsusintothelandscapesurround‐
ingit.TheglassceilingoftheGalleriasparklesinthesunandglistens
inthedark,invitingpeoplepassingthroughtobroadentheirperspec‐
tive. This Galleria is situated as a continuation of the walkway from
Seegers Union. On the way, walkers can stretch intellectually as they
contemplatethered,modernistsculpturetitledVictor’sLament(1979)
byMarkDiSuvero.TheDorothyandDexterBakerCenterfortheArts
containsthe Martin Art Gallery, the Paul C. Empie Theatre, a lecture/
recitalhall,andartstudios.29
Di Suvero’s monumental Victor’sLament is a “powerful con‐
structionofsteelandcable”that,accordingtothesculptorandothers,
“isacollectionofrelationships,whichspeakalanguageofweight,ten‐
sion,sizeandbalance”andcan“mean”somethingverydifferentasone
interacts with the sculpture over time.30 Like much art, it teases us
with questions: If, for example, the Victor is a victorious person, why
shoulds/he“lament”?
DuringMorey’sadministration,significantadditionstotheLife
SportsCenterwereaccomplished,includingatwenty‐fivemeterswim‐
mingpool,racquetballandsquashcourts,weighttrainingrooms,anda
32,000 square‐foot, multipurpose field house. The setting supports
healthy lifestyles, the Principles of Fitness and Wellness course, and
electivesthatenhancethecommunity’sphysical,spiritual,andintellec‐
tualwellbeing.31
TheHarryC.TrexlerLibrary,dedicatedin1988,wasaproject
that began during the presidency of Jonathan C. Messerli. Replacing
the Haas Library, the new library was designed to provide much
needed space for an expanding student body and an exploding infor‐
mation environment. Designed by Robert Geddes, the library com‐
binesclassicalandmedievalinfluenceswiththebeautyofrich,cherry
ThomasMoserfurnitureandcomfortableleathercouches.Itexempli‐
fiesMoser’shopefor“aquietplace,craftedofnaturalmaterialscater‐
ing to all the senses and providing access to that storehouse of
words.”32
12
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
Overthepast25yearstheTrexlerLibrarybuildinghasstood
the test of time by adapting to a rapidly changing information world.
At its opening, a ceremonial passing of several books took place as a
human chain stretched from the old library to the new. No longer
solelyastorehouseofbooks,thelibraryoftodayoffersspacesforac‐
tivelearning,interaction,andcollaborationalongwithquietreflection
andstudy.RecentlyaddedisanInformationCommonsthatcombines
current journals and cutting edge technologies with innovative infor‐
mationandtechnologyliteracyprograms.Faculty,staff,students,and
communityareenjoyingprogramsincludingvisitingauthorreceptions,
artexhibitswithCulturalCorridorcollaboration,andwirelessaccessto
a wide variety of information resources. A Writing and Information
ConsultationCenter,openedinthefallof2008,bringsWritingCenter
tutors and Public Outreach librarians together to assist students on
eachstepofthepublishingprocess.Theseactivities,alongwithexpert
guidancetocompletethecircleofinformationfromresearchtopres‐
entation,makethelibrarythevibrantplaceitistoday.Throughtime
the Trexler Library continues to serve as the academic heart of the
greaterMuhlenbergCollegecommunity.
The 1990s decade opened with major renovation projects to
createtheHaasCollegeCenterfromtheformerlibraryandtorenovate
the Ettinger Building. The facade of each building was untouched to
preserve the traditional appearance, but the interiors were refash‐
ionedtobecomemodern,spaciousofficesandclassroomswithstate‐of
‐the‐artequipment.33
Ettinger accommodates modern pedagogy with the ready
availabilityofmultimediapresentationsinclassrooms.Itsrenovations
celebrate the creations of the human mind with centers of advanced
technology. They facilitate engaged learning without losing the rela‐
tionship between professor and student. The interior renovation of
HaasCollegeCenterpreservedopenspacesandvisualaccesstohelpful
staffassoonasthevisitorentersthebuilding.34
Arthur R. Taylor succeeded President Messerli in 1992. His
presidencyusheredinaperiodofintensebuilding.In1996,becauseof
increasedenrollment,Collegeofficialsdecidedtoconstructanew,four
‐story residence hall. Kathryn P. Taylor Hall complements the sur‐
roundingbuildingswithbrickandtrimsimilartoBrownHall.Thenew
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
13
structure retains the traditional flavor of the College and combines
tradition with modern amenities. Large classrooms, a kitchen, and
loungesarehousedinthebuilding.35Whenyouwalkaroundthecam‐
pus,noticetheblendingofthepastandthepresentwithaneyetothe
future.
AgenerousgiftfromaFriendoftheCollegeandvigorousfund
raisingeffortsresultedinseveralmajorprojects.In1998,soccerfields
were upgraded for practice and play of men’s and women’s soccer.
Thesameyearamultipurposeturffieldandstateofthearttrackfacil‐
itywerecompleted;theScottyWoodStadiumwasnamedforfoodser‐
viceentrepreneurwhosefirstaccount(1947)wasMuhlenbergCollege.
IthousestheFrankMarinofootballfield,whichhonorsthememoryof
thelateandbelovedfootballandwomen’svolleyballcoach.
StudentsdoingscientificresearchintheCollege’sfacilities.
Another project, the Trexler Pavilion for Theatre and Dance,
linked to the current Center for the Arts, was completed in January
2000.CelebrateddancerGregoryHinesperformedattheopening,in‐
viting Muhlenberg College students to dance on stage with him. The
Pavilion houses rehearsal and performance spaces for theatre and
dance,aswellasfacultyoffices.ThePavilionis“oneofthemostinno‐
vativeandexquisiteexamplesofcontemporaryarchitectureinthere‐
gionandagreatcompaniontotheBakerCenterfortheArts.”Notethe
impressive “cascading exterior glass curtain wall which rises 45 feet
intotheairinagiantcurveembracingthelobbiesandpublicspaces.”36
Construction finished in April 2000 on Moyer Hall, an aca‐
demic building named for 1935 graduate Forrest G. Moyer, M.D. and
situated between Ettinger and Egner Chapel. Academic programs of
14
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
Psychology, Religion, Philosophy and Education are located alongside
theInstituteforJewish‐ChristianUnderstanding.Everyclassroomhas
advancedtechnologyto facilitate effective teachingand learning. But
remember, technology never replaces the human engagement and
knowledgeinteachingandlearning.
In2002,thenewlyrenovatedJohnandMargaretWalsonCom‐
munication Hall was dedicated. The Commons, as it was originally
known, was built in 1912 and once served as the college dining hall,
theater,andentertainmentcenter.
InJanuary2002thedoorsopenedtotwonewresidencehalls,
SouthHallandtheLoisM.andEdwardH.Robertson’42Hall.Located
westoftheTrexlerPavilion,theyofferaspectacularviewoftheCedar
Beachpark.Abletoaccommodate140upperclassstudents,thesenew
buildings are comprised of 35 suites, each containing four single
rooms, a small living room, bathroom, and galley style kitchen. The
Village, a cluster of handsome brick residences, was opened in 2007
and houses 145 students. The Village replaced Mac Gregor Village,
“temporary” and popular suite‐style housing that was built in 1981.
Anotherresidencehall,addednorthofChewStreetin2007,houses48
students.
Building momentum continued during the tenure of Interim
President James Steffy as construction began on an expansion to the
Life Sports Center. Opened in August 2004, the Center significantly
increased recreational, intramural, and intercollegiate opportunities.
The Brueckner Family Wing houses locker rooms,additionalcoaches’
offices,andajuiceandcoffeebar.Itwasprovidedthroughagiftfrom
Rich ‘71 and Laurie Brueckner ‘72. Adjacent to the Wing is the John
andBarbaraHefferHealthCenter,housingStudentHealthServicesand
CounselingServices.TheHeffer’sdaughter,AlisonJ.Heffer,graduated
in1996.
President Randy Helm continues the tradition of capital pro‐
jects and new academic programs to strengthen the College. The sci‐
ences and student support are just two of many areas recently en‐
hanced. Seegers Union was expanded to provide spaces for the Aca‐
demic Resource Center, the Office of Disability Services, the Career
Center, Student Activities, Leadership and Greek Affairs, Community
ServiceandCivicEngagement,andStudentGovernment.Studentpub‐
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
15
licationssuchastheCiarlawilltakeadvantageofaMediaCenter.In‐
cludedaretestingspacesforstudentswithdisabilitiesacareerlibrary,
and pre‐health and pre‐law advising resources. Seegers dining facili‐
ties were dramatically expanded and modernized to house beautiful
spaces where students may choose from a wide variety of meals—
traditional burgers and fries or Bagel Bombs, kosher, vegetarian, or‐
ganicandmore.TheIleneandRobertWoodDiningCommons,agrand
welcoming space that is flooded with sunlight during the day and
gracedbyaflickeringfireatnight,honorstwobelovedFriendsofthe
College.BobWood,nowdeceased,wasthesonofScottyWood(seepg
13).
A gracious, comfortable and vibrant site, the Multicultural
Houseincludesspaceforsocializing,studying,andexploringissuesof
diversity. It’s a popular destination for many students, and includes
opportunities for enjoying ethnic foods. The International Programs
Officeissituatedupstairsinthisfacility,whichopenedin2006.
Two otherareas were recently expanded or renovated: Hillel
HouseandtheRehearsalHouse.HillelenjoysaShabbatDinnerHall,a
dedicatedsanctuary,akosherkitchen,andastudent‐designedlounge.
Hillel is a vibrant student organization comprised of students from a
widerangeofJewishaffiliations,fromseculartoOrthodox.The10,360
square foot Rehearsal House, formerly a fraternity residence, adds
much needed practice space, studio space, and faculty offices for the
College’snationallycelebratedTheatre,DanceandMusicprograms.
The Princeton Review, in fact, rated the Theatre program #1 in the
Studentschedulefromthe1922“M”book.
16
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
countryin2011‐2012. Greatly enhancing faculty and student col‐
laboration, the New Science building provides classrooms, research
andteachinglaboratories,andinformal“hang‐out”spacesconduciveto
studyinganddiscussionforprogramsinBiology,Chemistry,Biochem‐
istry, Neuroscience, and Environmental Science. The renovation of
Shankweiler was completed in April 2007 and includes additional
classrooms and student‐faculty research spaces, a Science Reading
Room, the Acopian Center for Ornithology, a renovated greenhouse,
andnewanimalresearchfacility.
CompulsoryChapel,Dinks,andTugofWar
:
TheRules
DuringtheearlyyearsofAllentownSeminary,theCollegepaid
significantattentiontothemoralandreligiouslivesofthestudents.In
a fashion consistent with the times, administrators carefully molded
students with daily devotional exercises, Bible study, and character
building lessons. The faculty and administration sought to substitute
for parents’ guidance in nurturing the intellectual, social, and moral
wellbeingofthestudent.Infact,onefacultypositionwastitledProfes‐
sorofMentalandMoralScience.37
OncetheSeminarychangeditsfocustoincludemilitarytrain‐
ing,physicaldevelopmentbecameasimportantasmoralandspiritual
development.Keypartsofthecurriculumincludedmilitarydrills.Mili‐
tary discipline demanded “a ready and cheerful obedience to superi‐
ors; …an erect, manly and graceful carriage and politeness of de‐
meanor; and …health, habits of order, exactness and punctuality….”
PresidentHaasasheappearedinthe“M’Book
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
17
TheCollegewantedtoensuregoodhealthtothestudent“whoisoften
apt to neglect regular exercise until his constitution is fatally im‐
paired.”38
After1867,theemphasisoftheCollegechangedfrommilitary
training to training young men for the ministry with a curriculum to
promote a “high literary and religious standard.” Compulsory chapel
and church attendance continued, and the College recommended that
students volunteer for Sunday School teaching. College officials dis‐
couraged town amusements and promoted leisure activities that in‐
cludedwriting,oratory,theatricalproductions,andtastefulmusicper‐
formances.Initially,allstudentswererequiredtobelongtooneofthe
literarysocieties;later,approximatelythree‐fifthsofthestudentspar‐
ticipated. In the early years, the College discouraged secretsocieties.
Studentssometimesfellshortoftheloftysocialandmoralgoalsofthe
institution,andbilliardparlorownersrequestedthattheCollegekeep
the students out of their “establishment.” Occasionally, students re‐
leased water‐bags on unsuspecting pedestrians passing by the resi‐
dencehalls.39
Sincethe1920s,andconsistentwiththetrendsoftheculture
at large, Muhlenberg has documented community policy – hence the
‘M’ Book (now the StudentPolicyandInformationGuide). Early rendi‐
tions of the handbook were a tiny pocketsize booklet with minuscule
print that instructed the student on proper behavior. One of the first
included a friendly, fatherly address by Dean George T. Ettinger. He
wrote:
You’ve moved to college. You’ve broken off from the
familiarplanet.Youarepartofanewworld–aworldof
greaterfreedom.Youareratherstunnedbythechange.
Humanityhassuddenlycontractedfromtheglobetothe
collegecampus….40
TheDeanwantedtoadvisethestudentshowtoaccomplishthetransi‐
tionsmoothly.
Inthesame‘M’Book,PresidentHaas’saddresswasmorestern
thanfriendlyandfatherly.Hewarnedthestudents:
Our common life entails common duties. There is no
place with us for a self‐centered individualist; Muhlen‐
18
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
bergwantsnoknow‐it‐allFreshmenwhowillnotstrive
for the common good; no obstreperous law‐breaking
Sophomores; no socially intoxicated Juniors; and no
proud we‐run‐the‐college Seniors, but only just men,
honest,upright,pure,strong….41
TheCollegeassumedthatpublishingrulesofproperbehavior
wouldbeenoughtoassurecompliance.Butjustincase,stiffpenalties
accompanied infringement. For example, while at meals in the Com‐
mons and elsewhere, students were to behave like gentlemen. They
hadtowearstarchedcollars(attachedbybuttonstoshirts),coats,and
ties until May 15,when coats could be eliminated because of warm
weather. Unnecessary noise was prohibited, and the rules forbade
throwingfood,wateror“otherarticles”.Finesofonedollaraccompa‐
niedthefirstoffenseandtwodollarsthereafter.42
Thegeneralrulescoveredmanyaspectsofcollegelife.The‘M’
Book noted the maximum sets of tennis that could be played before
giving way to other players. The rules required attendance at Stunt
Students participating in the required obstacle course during the 1940s
Day. They forbade climbing ondormitory roofsandfined those tam‐
pering with automobiles and bicycles. Often the rules were merely
common sense reminders of living in a small community. Freshmen
rules, on the other hand, seem capricious and demeaning by today’s
standards. For example, the button on freshmen headgear, a dink
(beaniewithsmallbrim),hadtobetouchedwiththerighthandwhen
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
19
an upperclassman said “button.” The rules required that freshmen
carrystampsfortheconvenienceofupperclassstudents.Stipulations
barredfreshmenfromputtingtheirhandsintheirpockets.Freshmen
also had to show their socks or give matches to
upperclass members on demand. The penalty
for a matchbook infringement was to wear a
matchbookcoverontheirlapel.43Justwhatpur‐
posedidthese rules serve? Wasittheirintentto
Dink/Beanie
occupy the minds of freshmen so that they forgot
theywereadjustingtocollegelife?Perhaps,buttheyservedanotherfunc‐
tionbasedonthetraditionsofBritishboardingschools.Intheseschools,
recognitionofandacquiescencetoauthoritywasthoughttobeconducive
toacademicrigorandpreparationforworklife.
Bythe1930sthelanguageoftheruleshadsoftened,butfresh‐
men regulations continued
to single out beginners in
less than dignified ways.
Freshmenhadtomemorize
theAlmaMaterwithinone
week. They could not cut
acrossthegrassandhadto
enter all buildings from
basementsteps.Participa‐
tion was required in a
weeklong orientation to
Student in the pose of the
acclimate new students to
John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg statue
college life that included
completionofanobstaclecourse.TheyhadtowearadinkuntilChrist‐
masbreak,andtheystillhadtocarrymatches.44Bythe40sand50s,
freshmencouldearntherighttoremovetheirdinksatThanksgivingif
theyweresuccessfulindefeatingthesophomoresatthreeoutoffour
contests:aTug‐of‐WaroverCedarCreek,aFlagRushupagreasedflag‐
pole,atouchfootballgame,andapushballgame.
Someofthetraditionalrulescontinuedthroughoutthe1940s,
eveninthemidstofWorldWarII,butthenumberofrulesincreased.
Inadditiontotheregulationdinkandbutton,freshmentieshadtobe
red,andstudents’sockshadtobeblack.Theirpantshadtoberolled
20
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
upteninchesfromthegroundtodisplaythepropersocks.First‐year
studentscontinued to provide matches,but in addition, pipe cleaners
becameanecessaryitemforfreshmantofurnishondemand.Upper‐
classmen smoked inside buildings, but freshmen were not allowed to
smokeinanybuildingexcepttheirdormitory.45
In1942,theCollegeacquiredthestatueofGeneralJohnPeter
Gabriel Muhlenberg (1746‐1807) from the Capitol building in Wash‐
ington, DC. A new rule stipulated that all freshmen when asked the
timemustassumetheposeofGeneralMuhlenbergandanswer,“There
isatimetofight,andthattimehascome.Itisnow…”.GeneralPete,the
statue,arrivedoncampusduringthetwo‐hundredanniversaryyearof
hisfatherHenry’sarrivalinAmerica.TherealJohnPeter,asaminister
and patriot, grappled with the appropriateness of volunteering to
serveintheRevolutionaryarmy.OneSundayhewasreputedtohave
announcedtohiscongregationinWoodstock,Virginia:“Thereisatime
topreachandatimetopray.Butthereisalsoatimetofight,andthat
timehascomenow.”Withadramaticflourish,hesupposedlywhipped
off his clerical robes and displayed an officer’s uniform under his
gown.46A statue of General Pete is located in front of the Haas College
Center.
ThecommemorationyearofHenryMelchiorMuhlenbergpro‐
videdotherfreshtopicsfortheever‐increasingfreshmenregulations.
Students had to know pertinent details of famous Muhlenberg family
members. Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg (1750‐1801), for
example, was the very first speaker of the U.S. House of Representa‐
tives.GotthilfHenryErnestMuhlenberg(1753‐1815)wasacelebrated
scientist and the first President of Franklin (later Franklin and Mar‐
shall)College.Inaddition,freshmenhadtoreciteamemorizedspeech
thatrecountedtheapocryphalstoryofJohnPeterGabriel’ssermonin
favoroftheAmericanRevolutionaryCause.47
Duringtheearly1950sthe‘M’Bookhadafriendliertone,but
the rules for freshmen continued. Many of the traditional freshmen
rules remained, but one new regulatory invention should be noted.
The freshmen had to participate in the Pajama Parade on the night
priortothehomecominggame.Pajama‐cladfreshmenwoundthrough
thecenterofAllentownledbythecollegeband.48
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
21
After 1957, when the College became coeducational, social
regulationstookanewturn.Forexampleinthe1961‘M’Bookunder
RulesofSocialConduct:
Studentriots,“pantieraids,”anddemonstrationsresult‐
ing in the commission of physical violence are strictly
forbidden.Participantsinsuchincidentsaresubjectto
suspensionorexpulsionfromthecollege.49
Themen’sdormitoryrulesdealtwithnoiseandsocialconduct,
but the women’s dormitory rules concerned houseguests, telephone
calllimits,andstrictcurfewhours.Skirtsanddressesweremandated
attire for coeds; slacks were forbidden on the front campus.50 One
stipulation for special permission events held on campus stated that
“girls” (1960s ‘M’ book language for women) had to be back in their
dorms fifteen minutes after any event. If the dormitory directress
deemed a woman overdue, the offender had to write to the Dean of
Womenexplainingthespecificdetailsofherlateness.51
Themen’sdormitoryrulesnotedspecificallythatalcoholpos‐
session in rooms was illegal, but the women’s dormitory rules never
mentioned alcohol since it was presumed that women would not use
alcohol.Campusruleswarnedstudentsabouttheiruseofthecampus
forleisureandrecreation.Forexample:
Muhlenberginthesnow
22
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
Snowballing is not permitted near the dormitories or
near other campus buildings. Sunbathing as well as
sportsisnotpermittedonthefrontcampus.Golfingis
allowedonlyonthesoccerfield.52
Consistentwithanationwidemoveawayfromstrictcontrolof
behavior—colleges had acted inlocoparentis, or in the place of par‐
ents—themostonerousoffreshmenrulesendedinthelate1960s.By
theearly1970stheremainingregulationsusedsofterlanguagetogive
them an aura of cooperation rather than obedience. The rules noted
thatstudents“maynotuseillegaldrugsornarcotics.”Alcoholwasal‐
lowed oncampus, butonly by thoseof legaldrinking age and only in
residencehalls.53Suchlatitudewasbeforethestrictregulationsofthe
Commonwealthlaws.
Duringthe1960sand1970scollegepolicygraduallychanged
from dictums to cooperative codes. Students in the 1980s were con‐
sideredcitizensofthecollegecommunity.In1980‐81,theCollegees‐
tablished, in consultation with students, faculty, and administrators,
policiesofself‐governmentandself‐responsibility.
Thetenorofthe‘M’Bookduringtheeightiesreflectedthebe‐
lief that students could be responsible for themselves. Policies and
procedures replaced mandates. Language became impersonal and
lackedtheadmonishingcharacterofthepast.Theruleshavebecome
basedoneveryone’srighttoequality,dignity,andprivacy.Theyvali‐
datediversitysuchasrace,religion,andsexualidentity.54
Beginningin1962,theCollegehadbeenunderastrictHonor
Code,wherebystudentswereexclusivelyresponsibleforpolicingaca‐
demichonestyandrequiredtoreportoffenders.Anyinfractionwould
leadtoexpulsionfromtheCollege.Upsetbytheamountofunchecked
cheatingthatwenton,studentsinitiatedactiontobringinanAcademic
Behavior Code with shared responsibility between faculty and stu‐
dents for identifying and dealing with academic dishonesty. Faculty,
students,andadministratorsarecommittedtothe1980Code,votedin
bythefaculty,andmostrecentlyupdatedin2009.Penaltiesaresevere
for violating trust and community inherent in the Code.55In 2011, to
focus on quality of character and mind, faculty renamed it the Aca‐
demicIntegrityCode.
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
23
Touchstones,Traditions,andLandmarks
AnarticleintheFall1993issueofMuhlenberg’salumnimaga‐
zinenotedthatitwassadtoseetheeliminationofmanyfineMuhlen‐
bergtraditions.ThearticlespotlightedDeanofFreshmenHapsBenfer
whoactivelypreservedthesurvivalofmanyMuhlenbergobservances
from1925to1965.
Benferhimselfbecameabelovedinstitution,andfortyyearsof
graduates recall his “positive, vigorous” manner and close, paternal
oversightofhisboys.Heisreportedtohaveperformedabedcheckat
night.Heexertedtoughloveattimes,butevenifhechidedastudent
for doing poorly, he worked hard with that student to see he suc‐
ceeded.56Youwillseeaplaqueinhishonorneartheeastentranceto
SeegersUnion.
The article’s author mourned the loss of customs such as the
waterfight,touchfootball,theflagrush,bannerscrapandmostespe‐
ciallythefreshmanandsophomoretugofwar.Theauthornotedthat
theVietnamyearsandarapidlychangingsocietydilutedtime‐honored
customs. This may be true, but traditions have a life span and go
throughanevolutionaryprocess.Althoughsometraditionsfadeaway,
otherscontinue,ifonlyinspirit.Thatspiritcanbeseeninthecollege’s
symbols,referencepoints,andcustomarypractices.
TomTower,ChristChurchCollege,
OxfordUniversityandthe
DavidA.MillerBellTower,MuhlenbergCollege
24
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
CollegeSymbolsandCeremonies
The Muhlenberg catalog usually features two touchstones of
theCollegeonitscover.OneistheDavidA.MillerBellTowerontopof
the Haas rotunda. Its struc‐
ture evokes the distinguished
British university traditions
by echoing Tom Tower at
Christ Church College, Oxford
Universityandcontinuestobe
an Allentown landmark. It
looks particularly impressive
whenyouwalktowarditfrom
the library on a snowy or
foggyevening.57
The second touchstone is the
StatueofGeneralJohnPeterGabriel
MuhlenbergduringWorldWarII
statue of General John Peter
GabrielMuhlenberginfrontoftheHaasCollegeCenter.GeneralPete
hasalong,colorfulhistoryasacenterofactivityandsymbolofcollege
life. In 1957, students dressed him in women’s clothes to protest the
decisiontoadmitwomen.
Whenwomenarrivedoncampus,hewasdustedandcleaned
by the new coeds for the cameras of Lifemagazine. A decade later,
againstcollegeregulations,studentsadornedhimwithsignstoprotest
U.S.involvementinSoutheastAsia.In1996,hehadawreathplacedin
front of him by the Lutheran Historians of Eastern Pennsylvania to
commemorate the two hundred and twenty‐fifth anniversary of his
father’sarrivalinAmerica.58
As you walk into Trexler Library toward the stairs, you will
noticethecollegesealimbeddedinthefloor.Thesealistheoldestex‐
istingsymbolof Muhlenberg Collegeand was designed in 1867 when
the College was named. No explanation accompanied its design, but
Robert C. Horn, Emeritus Professor of Greek Language and History,
later analyzed its content and meaning. The word TrinitatiSanctissi‐
mae inscribed on the middle ring of the emblem means “To the Most
HolyTrinity.”OnaribbonintheinnercircleiswrittenCruxetPatriaet
Calamus. This means “Cross and Country and Pen” signifying “Christ,
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
25
Patriotism,andLiteraryCulture.”Onthebottomhalfoftheinnercircle
in a band is written Instit1848‐Reconstit1867. It notes the establish‐
mentofthecollegeasAllentownSeminaryin1848anditsrenamingas
MuhlenbergCollegein1867.Thesymbolsinthecenteroftheemblem
include a cross and book entitled Biblia, which means Bible or book.
These references point to the founding of
the college as a Christian institution. The
eagle,asymboloftheUnitedStatesrepre‐
sentingstrength,standsontheBible,butit
has an olive branch in its claw represent‐
ingpeaceandafeatherpeninitsclawrep‐
resentingliterarypursuits.
ThesimilaritiestotheGreatSealoftheU.S.
Seal of Muhlenberg College
are evident and timely since our seal was
createdtwo yearsafter the Civil War ended. The Seal is displayedat
officialcollegeprocessions.TohonorthecelebrationoftheSesquicen‐
tennial Anniversary in 1998, two Muhlenberg staff carpenters volun‐
teeredtocarveabeautifulnewsealoutoffinecherry.59Theycarved
anothersealin2006fortheGreatRoominSeegers.
TheCollegemaceisanotherpowerfulsymbol.Carriedbythe
FacultyMarshalatacademicceremonies,theheavymaceis
a symbol of authority and has its origins in the medieval
weapon of the same name (French massé). Over 4½ feet
long, the Muhlenberg College mace was handcrafted in
1966 by C. Leslie Smith, a distinguished local silversmith.
Severalsignificantsymbolsappearonthemace,including
theCollegeseal,theLutherRose,HenryMelchoirMuhlen‐
berg,TroutHall,thedomeoftheHaasCollegeCenter,the
chapel,andthelampofknowledge.
Opening Convocationandthe Candle lighting ser‐
viceduringOrientationWeekendanticipatetwoeventsof
your graduation weekend four years from now. Opening
Convocation takes place Sunday evening after the all‐
College Barbecue. You will be seated in the lovely chapel
andseeadignifiedprocessionoffaculty,ledbytheFaculty
Marshal, in academic regalia whose design dates to the
garb of Oxford and Cambridge University scholars in MaceofMuhlenberg
College
26
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
the Middle Ages. An explanationof the shapesofthehood, designof
the sleeves, and color of hood will be in your program. For example,
thewearerofagoldrobewithblackstripesandadarkbluefacingin
the hood earned his Ph.D. in History from Johns Hopkins University.
Lookalsoforcrimson(Harvard),blueandwhite(Columbia),andoth‐
ers.PresidentHelmwearsredandgrayregaliaspeciallydesignedfor
CollegedignitariesandamedalliontobewornonlybythecurrentCol‐
lege president. As a link to his advanced academic studies, he also
wearsthehoodheearnedwhenhefinishedhisPh.D.inHistoryatthe
University of Pennsylvania. Provost John Ramsay, who speaks at spe‐
cial events inthechapel and who will read your name at Commence‐
ment,alsowearsthesignatureredandgrayMuhlenbergrobe.Notethe
Collegemaceandthreebanners:theMuhlenbergCollegeCoatofArms,
theLutherRose,andtheCollegeSeal.Youmaybehonoredonedayat
aDean’sListCeremonyorHonorsConvocationintheChapel.
Four years from now, on the College Green, you will receive
yourdiplomaatCommencement.You,theFaculty,Trustees,andhon‐
orarydegreerecipientswillwearacademicregalia.Youwillfollowthe
lead of the Faculty Marshal and see the College seal and Muhlenberg
bannershangproudly.Itwillbeathrillingdayforyou,yourfamily,the
friendsyoumadeatMuhlenberg,andthefacultyandstaffwhotaught
you. At Baccalaureate, the night before, you will have engaged in a
beautiful candle lighting ceremony which will recall that event from
OrientationWeekend.
LinkstotheWiderCommunity
Muhlenberg students have traditionally sought links to the
widercommunityinavarietyofways.DuringWorldWarI,manystu‐
dents delayed completion of their degrees by volunteering for organ‐
izedfarmserviceworkinconjunctionwithwartimefoodneeds.During
World War II, the College facilitated flight training efforts by offering
the campus for training to the Army and Navy.60 From July 1, 1943 to
June30,1945,theCollegewasatrainingsiteforover900meninthe
armed services. In the Orientation booklet for Naval Aviation cadets,
partoftheV‐12navalrefreshercourse,thecollegecampuswascalled
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
27
their“ship”.Rhetoricinthemanuallinkedthe“timetofight”speechof
General John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg and the World War II fightto
preservefreedom.61
Today,manyindividualstudentsandoverforty’Bergstudent
organizationsparticipateincommunityserviceopportunitiesassisting
142 local, national, and international organizations.62 They often
scheduleeventstoraisefundsforspecificorganizationssuchasTurn‐
ingPointorvolunteerinsettingssuchastheCaringPlaceortheSixth
Street Shelter. Alternative Spring Breaks have included building
housesinNewOrleansandruralareasoftheSouthandPennsylvania.
Facultyandstaffassiststudentsinfindingopportunitiestobetterthe
community in which we live. Many classes have a service‐learning
component that highlights civic awareness, social justice, and obliga‐
tionstocommunity.
Since the late nineteenth century, the College has provided
speakerswhoselecturesweresharedwiththeMuhlenbergcommunity
andtheAllentowncommunity.Asinthenineteenthcentury,lectures
areheldinthe1933collegechapel.Achapelwasoncelocatedatthe
east end of the Ettinger building but that section was destroyed in a
firein1947.Inaddition,theMillerForumandLithgowScienceAudito‐
riumcurrentlyserveaslecturesites.Thevarietyofspeakershasbeen
impressive. Some talks have specifically included the wider commu‐
nity,somehavebeenheldatCommencement,andsomehavebeenen‐
joyedbytheinnerMuhlenbergcommunity.FirstLadyEleanorRoose‐
velt spoke at the College and received an honorary degree in 1942.
JustafterWorldWarII,in1947,journalistEdwardR.Murrowspokeat
graduation.In1988,civilrightsleader,CorrettaScottKinggaveamov‐
ing presentation at Commencement. Vice‐presidential candidate
Geraldine Ferarro spoke at Commencement in 1990; comedian Bill
Cosbysharedwit,andwarmthwiththoseassembledatgraduationin
1995;SenatorArlenSpecterspokein2003;andAfricanAmericanau‐
thor Lorene Cary held the crowd in awe of her rich poetic eloquence
andwisdomin2005.In2007,famous“Doonesbury”cartoonist,Garry
Trudeau spoke about living life with imagination and vigor. In 2011,
playwrightTonyKushner,knownespeciallyfortheprize‐winningAn‐
gelsinAmerica,deliveredawise,fast‐pacedCommencementspeechon
life and the liberal arts. All received Honorary Doctorates from
28
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
Muhlenberg,asdidworldchampionboxerandphilanthropistMuham‐
madAliin2009.
Literature has long been prominent at the College. An early
literarylandmarkattheCollegewastheeditingbyreturningveteran,
student, and poet, Thomas Cole ’50, of the distinguished modern po‐
etryjournal,Imagi.Coledevelopedcloserelationshipswithmanypo‐
etsovertheyears,includingEzraPoundandWilliamCarlosWilliams.
Intheearly1960s,anumberofcounter‐culturewritersspokeoncam‐
pus,invitedbyProfessorWilliamKinter.AllenGinsbergandLawrence
Ferlinghetti are perhaps the most notable, but one, Denise Levertov
composed a poem to Kinter entitled “A Letter to William Kinter of
Muhlenberg.”BlackactivistLeroiJonesspokeoncampusamidcontro‐
versy.PresidentErlingJensenshowedcourageoussupportoffreedom
ofspeechinthefaceoffiercecriticismforallowingJonestospeak.
In the 1970s, “big name entertainment” reached out to the
community in song rather than commentary. Among others, folk
singer Arlo Guthrie; folk ensemble Peter, Paul and Mary; and rock
groupsincludingTraffic,theGuessWhoandBillyJoelhaveperformed.
ConsumeradvocateRalphNadervisitedcampus,andwehave
enjoyed, among others, authors Maya Angelou, Joyce Carol Oates and
Adrienne Rich; comedy team Franken and Davis; oral historian Studs
Terkel; author of Schindler’s List Thomas Kenneally; and Michael
Moore, the creator of the documentary Roger and Me.63Alumni au‐
thors, including novelist Frederick Busch
’62, and poet Theodore Weiss ’38, have
alsoreadtheirworksattheCollege.
Athletics as a tradition evolved slowly
and, consistent with the times, revolved
aroundfootball.Allentownresidentsand
alumni flocked to the games. The team
inspired school spirit and community
support. Two landmark athletic events
occurredin1946whenthefootballteam
wontheTobaccoBowlinLexington,Ken‐
tucky, and the basketball team partici‐
A1928baseballuniformshows pated in the NIT (National Invitation
theCardinalmascot.
Tournament) at Madison Square Garden.
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
29
ThesevictoriesoccurredwhenmanyWorldWarIIveteransfilledteam
rosters,andopponentsincludedVillanovaandNYU.In1964theCol‐
legecompletedthetransitiontoDivisionIIIstatus.Thefootballteam,
under the leadership of Coach Mike “Duke” Donnelly, had an unde‐
feated10‐0seasonin2007andwontheCentennialConferencetitlein
2009, advancing to the second round of NCAA Division III champion‐
ship games. For the first time in Muhlenberg history, the 2008‐09
women’s basketball team, undefeated in the Centennial Conference
andCentennialConferenceChampionship,madeittotheNCAASweet
SixteenChampionship.
During the evolution of Muhlenberg’s sporting programs, an
additionalchangeoccurred.Itisreportedthattheoriginalmascot,the
Cardinal, became the better known Mule of today, in part because local newspapers
s h o r t e n e d “Muhlenberg” to “Mules” over time. The team with the strongest four‐ year win record at the College was the Field Hockey team, started as a women’s club in 1958, that had en‐ joyed30wins,0lossesby1962.
The College now fields twenty‐twovarsitysports.Football, RachelJakubowitcz’12and
soccer, cross‐country, basketball,
KellyKirkley‘12
wrestling,baseball,indoortrackand HomecomingQueenandKing2011
field, outdoor track and field, lacrosse, golf, and tennis comprise the
men’s roster; field hockey, volleyball, cross‐country, basketball, soft‐
ball,lacrosse,golf,indoortrackandfield,outdoortrackandfield,ten‐
nis, and soccer compose the women’s teams. Intercollegiate sports
nowsupplementthecollegefocusonwellnessandlifelongfitness.In
addition, the College hosts the popular Scotty Wood Basketball Tour‐
nament as an outreach to the community each fall.64Also in the fall,
students enjoy Homecoming celebrations and the athletic events sur‐
roundingit.
Two facilities that reach beyond the immediate physical con‐
finesofthecampusfosterexperientialeducationforstudentsandput
theMuhlenbergcommunityintouchwiththewidercommunity.First,
30
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
theConradW.RakerBiologicalFieldStationandWildlifeSanctuary,a
forty‐acre wooded area, provides biology classes with useful field
studyopportunities.Second,theLeeandVirginiaGraverArboretum,
locatedinBushkillTownship,providesmyriadopportunitiesforstudy
and research. The Arboretum is also the site of quiet walks and of
trainingforgroupssuchasStudentAdvisors.65
Mind,BodyandSpirit
Although the College has consistently sought to educate the
wholestudent,thelifeofthemindcomprisesthecoreofMuhlenberg’s
experience. Academic em‐
phasis has changed to some
extent since Muhlenberg’s
founding. At its inception,
Muhlenberg concentrated
on a strictly prescribed cur‐
riculumofclassics,including
thestudyofLatinandGreek.
Asinterestintheliberalarts
increased,theCollegeincor‐
porated a diverse curricu‐
lum across the spectrum of
Dr.JohnV.Shankweilerinfrontofa
paintingofTrappeChurch,oneofthe
liberal education. Recent
churchesservedbyHenryMelchior
additionsareNeuroscience,
Muhlenberg.ThepaintinghangsintheMiller
FilmStudies,JewishStudies,
Room,HaasCollegeCenter
and Finance majors and a
Public Health minor. The Environmental Studies minor has been re‐
named Sustainability Studies, and African‐American Studies is now
Africana Studies. Numerous programs that enrich academic life in‐
clude:First‐YearSeminars,Self‐designedMajors,Self‐DirectedInquiry,
honorsprograms,semestersinWashington,DCandabroad,theDana
Associates Program, the Muhlenberg Scholars Program, R J Fellows
Program,andthePresidentialAssistantsProgram.Facultyalsoteach
semester‐long MILA courses culminating in study trips to Costa Rica,
Bangladesh,ChinaandTurkey.Theseprogramsassistandexpandaca‐
demiclifeattheCollege.66
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
31
MentoringisatraditionatMuhlenberg.Itoccurseverydayby
faculty,administratorsandsupportstaff,andotherstudents.Mentor‐
inghasinfactbeencharacteristicofthecollegesinceitsinception.In
the nineteenth century, the school was so small and personalthat in‐
teraction among the members of the college community happened
automatically. Mentoring hascontinued,even thoughthe College has
growntoaround2150students.Althoughformerstudentshavenoted
many individuals for their concern and encouragement, one couple,
citedbymany,willserveasanexample.
JohnV.ShankweilerandhiswifeLelahcommittedmuchtimeto
the College. Serving for forty‐three years from 1921 to 1964, “Doc”
Shankweiler, Professor of Biology, founded the Pre‐Medical Society in
1931andcontinuallystrovetoputhisstudentsintouchwiththemedi‐
calfield.Hewasreportedtobepatientandenthusiasticforhisentire
career; he stayed late in the lab to assist students who needed extra
help;heevenpersonallydrovestudentstomedicalschoolinterviews.
His fatherly advice was delivered in a heavy Pennsylvania Dutch ac‐
cent. His wife Lelah nurtured the students, often baking cookies for
them.SheiscommemoratedintheJ.ConradandHazelSeegersUnion
in the dining space called Lelah’s Room.67The tradition of hosting stu‐
dents, alumni and others continues as faculty and staff open their
homesandothersitesthroughouttheyear.
Tonurturethewholeperson‐mind,body,andspirit‐physi‐
calactivityisamust.Thisphilosophyisconsistentwithclassicaland
Renaissance authors who articulated the importance of the “healthy
mindinahealthybody”goinghandinhand.Intheearlyyearsfitness
often meant unorganized activity. One of the most creative occurred
whenDeanEttingerwasastudent.Aheavycoalwagonwasdisassem‐
bled where it lay in front of a residence hall and reassembled on the
fifth floor of the building.68Most fitness efforts since those days have
been more positive. Intramurals have continued through the years.
StudentsandfacultynowmaybeseenrunningattheLifeSportsCen‐
terandintheneighborhood.Inthefallandspring,Frisbeegolfaficio‐
nadosreemergetotestthetimehonoredcourseacrossthecampus.
32
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
SelectedShorts
Allhistoriesareselective,andhistoricalrenditionsshouldnot
beconstruedasrepresentingeverythingthathappenedinagivenpe‐
riod or even the most significant events of any period. Landmark
eventsarereportedatthediscretionofthepersonreporting,whichof
course means that agreement over what is most noteworthy varies.
With that disclaimer in mind, the following events should have some
relevancetoyouryearsatMuhlenberg.
In1893,theCollegepublishedthefirstCiarla(yearbook–the
titleisItalianfor“chat”or“conversation”).Currentstudent‐managed
editionshavebeentheenvyofotherliberalartscollegesinthearea.69
In1933,aformalplantoopentheCollege’sregularsessionstowomen
was proposed but avoided until 1957, when one‐hundred and three
first‐year women students enrolled and nineteen transfer students
arrived.TheNationalCouncilgrantedaccreditationtoMuhlenbergin
1965fortheTeacherEducationprogram.In1967,theCollegesuccess‐
fullysoughttheestablishmentofachapterofPhiBetaKappa,themost
prestigiousacademichonorsocietyinthecountry.
In1989,studentserviceswereextendedasofficesofMinority
(now Multicultural) Affairs and Academic Support Services (now the
AcademicResourceCenter)werestrengthened.TheInstituteforJew‐
ish‐Christian Understanding (IJCU), established the following year,
promotesinterfaithdialog.EachyeartheInstitutesponsorsinterfaith
study groups, invites distinguished scholars to campus, and coordi‐
nates an annual program on “Youth and Prejudice” for students from
20 area high schools. Since then, its reputation and scope have ex‐
pandedinternationallyundertheleadershipofdirectorPeterPettit.In
1990, the London Theatre Studies Program extended Muhlenberg’s
StudyAbroadofferings.Studentsininternationalbusinessnowstudy
regularlyattheCenterforEuropeanStudies,Maastricht,intheNether‐
lands, and many other students enrich their education by studying in
countriesasdiverseasFrance,SouthAfrica,Argentina,andIndia.Me‐
diaandcommunicationstudentscanstudyforaMuhlenbergprogram
inDublin.Facultyhaveledshort‐termstudyprogramstoChina,Spain,
Bangladesh,Paris,Rome,andTurkey.Dr.RichNiesenbaum,Professor
of Biology and director ofthe Sustainability Studiesminor, pioneered
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
33
theMILA(MuhlenbergIntegratedLearningAbroad)programswithhis
triptoCostaRicain1998.)
Other programs intellectually enrich Muhlenberg students.
Forexample,theFirst‐YearSeminarProgramintroducesenteringstu‐
dentsto“thelifeofthemind–towhatitmeanstothinkdeeply,totalk
and write critically about ideas…” with an emphasis on writing and
thinkinganalytically.70Therearealsofourvalue‐addedprogramsfor
cohorts of students, beginning at their freshmen year and lasting
throughthesenioryear:DANAScholars,RJFellows,MuhlenbergSchol‐
ars and, most recently, Emerging Leaders. The Living Writers series
bringstocampusoutstandingpoets,essayists,andwritersoffictionto
conductworkshopswithstudentsandgivepublicreadings.TheCen‐
terforEthicsandothergroupshaveregularlysponsoredopportunities
forcampus‐widediscussiononthemessuchas,“HungerintheMidstof
Plenty,” “Politics of Identity,” and “Science and Sensibility.” The Insti‐
tute for Public Opinion, established in 2001, polls individuals nation‐
wide on current issues of importance to the public good — political
races, environmental or health care policy, for example. The founder.
Dr. Christopher Borrick of the Political Science department, is fre‐
quentlyquotedintheregionalandnationalpress.
These symbols, traditions, and landmark events help define
whattheCollegehasbeeninthepastandisinthepresent.Butitisyou
whowillhelpdirectitsfuture.
Inthe1990s,theCollegegainedinvisibilityandprestige,with
articlesinForbes,Time,U.S.NewsandWorldReport,TheWashington
Post, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Barron’s, an
influential guide to colleges and universities, pushed Muhlenberg’s
rankingupto“HighlySelective.”Applicantpoolscontinuetobestrong
inbothnumberandquality.
Students are also increasingly competitive for graduate and
professionalschoolplacementandforprestigiousawards.Becauseof
thePrestigiousAwardsInitiative,Muhlenbergstudentshavecompeted
successfully for awards including the Harry S. Truman Scholarship in
studiesforpublicservice,BarryGoldwaterScholarshipinscienceand
mathematics,theWilliamJ.Fulbrightawardforteachingorstudyover‐
seas,theRotaryInternationalFellowship,theHowardHughesMedical
Instituteaward,theJackKentCookeundergraduate
34
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
award,theNationalScienceFoundationScholarship,theJamesMadi‐
son Fellowship, the Medical Scientist Training Award, the U.S. Envi‐
ronmental Protection Agency NNEMS Fellowship, the National De‐
fenseScienceandEngineeringGraduateFellowship,theSt.Andrew’s
Scholarship,theMorrisUdallFellowship,theJacobJavitsaward,and
the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering & Technology.
“The Prestigious Awards Initiative is keen evidence of Muhlenberg’s
commitment to helping students identify and realize their dreams
duringorafterundergraduatestudy,”notesDeanCarolShinerWilson,
whocreatedtheprogramin1998.Foundationsforthesehighlycom‐
petitive scholarships subsidize postgraduate study for up to $50,000
peryear.
Student research has become increasingly important at the
College.Typically,around400studentsayearengageinresearchor
independentstudy.Someofthatresearchisfundedthroughfounda‐
tionssuchastheNationalScienceFoundationorfundsfromgenerous
alumni and other Friends of the College. In addition, the College es‐
tablished undergraduate summer research grants, available by com‐
petitive application, to deepen a student’s knowledge in a particular
areaofinterest.Grantshavebeenawardedacrossthecurriculumin
areasincludingbiology,chemistry,photography,psychology,theatre,
communication,andliterature.
Becausetuitioncoversonly85%oftherestofaMuhlenberg
education, the College Development and Alumni Affairs Office works
hardtosolicitgiftsfromgenerousdonors—individuals,foundations,
andcorporations—inordertopayforeverythingfromstudentschol‐
arships ($28M in 2011‐2012) to zebra fish for scientific research to
MACs for the Media and Communication program. Every student,
whetherafull‐payerornot,receivesasubsidyofatleast15%.Donors
givetheirgiftsbecausetheyknowthatthesegiftsareaninvestment
inthefutureofourstudentsourcommunities,andourcountry.
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
35
Transitions
A new era began on July 1, 2003 when President
Peyton Randolph (Randy) Helm began his tenure as
Muhlenberg’s eleventh president. He came to Muhlenberg
fromColbyCollege,whereheservedasVicePresidentfor
CollegeRelations.AgraduateofYale,wherehemajoredin
Archaeology,PresidentHelmearnedaPh.D.inAncientHis‐
toryfromtheUniversityofPennsylvaniain1980.Heisun‐
abashedly in love with history and with teaching and has
taught HomerandtheHomericEpic.HiswifePat,teachesin
theMusicDepartment.TheHelmshavetwosons,Burtand
Alec.
It is fitting that this volume ends with heartfelt
wordsfromPresidentHelm.
36
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
AMessagefromthePresident
Bythispoint,youreyesaretiredandyourmindis
crammedwithinformationaboutyournewalmamater.I
empathize!AsPresident,letmereassureyouthatyouare
going to love your years at Muhlenberg. This is an ex‐
traordinarily warm, welcoming community, full of inter‐
estingpeoplefromwhom,ifyoumaketheeffort,youwill
learn a great deal. If you embrace this opportunity, em‐
bracethiscommunity,youwillundertakeoneofthemost
stimulating,satisfying,andrewardingperiodsofyourlife.
Make it a point to meet people different from yourself,
throw yourself into your classes, experiment with new
ideasandextracurricularactivities,volunteerinthecom‐
munity, offer your friendship to others on campus. In
short,packasmuchasyoucanintoeverysingleday.You
will be astounded, as I have been, by the opportunities
thatawaityou.Seeyouaroundcampus!
PeytonR.(Randy)Helm,President
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
37
NOTES
1Dr.CarolShinerWilsoncontributedsignificanttimeandeffortinedi‐
torialconsultationforalleditionsofthisbooklet.Manythanks!Oth‐
erscontributedsignificantlytotherecentrevisions:MichaelBruck‐
ner,RichBrueckner,KellyCannon,BarbaraCrossette,EdDavis,Mi‐
chael Falk, Lona Farr, Connie Kunda, Ted Lithgow, Frank Marino,
Tom and Harriet Mendham, Joanne Mortimer, David Nowack, Phil
Secor, Scott Sherk, James Skidmore, James Steffy, Nelvin Vos, and
HaroldWeiss.
2 James E. Swain, A History of Muhlenberg College, 1848‐1967 (New
York:Appleton‐Century‐Crofts,1967)6.Dr.Swain,professorofhis‐
tory and political science from 1925 to 1967 resided at 23rd Street
next to the student parking lot. Robert Chisolm Horn, “Muhlenberg
College: History of One Hundred Years, 1848‐1948” (Unpublished
manuscript,c.1948)8‐9.
3Horn,20‐21.AbriefchronologyofMuhlenbergCollegehistorycanbe
foundintherotundaofHaasCollegeCenter.Checkitout!
4Horn,23‐25.
5Swain,6.
6Swain,6‐7;Horn25‐26.
7Swain,6,Horn;26‐28.
8Swain,6‐7;Horn,32.Inadditiontotheincreaseddemandforcollege
educated Lutheran men for the ministry, the Lutherans had split
overissuesofdoctrine.ThePhiladelphiaseminaryadheredmoreto
German cultural and confessional Lutheran traditions, while the
seminaryatGettysburgcontinuedamovementtoembracethemore
homogenizedAmericanProtestantismoftheSecondGreatAwaken‐
ing.
9Swain,7‐8;Horn,32‐34.
10 Other famous members of the Muhlenberg family include: General
JohnPeterGabrielMuhlenberg,whowinteredwithGeorgeWashing‐
tonatValleyForge;GotthilfHenryErnestMuhlenberg,whowasrec‐
ognized as a famous early scientist and first president of Franklin
andMarshallCollege(aspeciesofturtlewasnamedforhim,astatue
ofwhichmaybefoundbetweenNewScienceandSeegers);andFre‐
derickAugustusMuhlenberg,whowasfirstU.S.SpeakeroftheHouse
ofRepresentatives.
11Swain,8;Horn,32‐36.
12MuhlenbergCollegeSourceBook:2008ed.byNicoleHammel,
(October2008)
13Horn,29‐31
14Horn,43‐47.Nowstreet‐sweepingmachinespatroltheAllentown’s
roads.Watchthesignstotellyouwhennottoparkon23rdStreet.
15Swain,17;Horn,50‐51.
16Muhlenberg,Winter,1986,Vol.8Num.5(takenfromDailyCity,Janu‐
ary3,1905);Swain,32‐35;Horn,60‐61.
38
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
17Swain,78.
18Wordonthestreetandhearsayfrompeoplewhoworkinthebuild‐
ing.
Ibid.; “MuhlenbergCollegeFactBook,” ed. by Roland W. Dedekind,
(October,1996)4.
20Ibid.5.
21Ibid.SeealsoMichaelSalvatoreTripaldiMuhlenberg’sLivingStones,
(2003).
22Swain,151‐2.
23 The G.I. Bill provided financial aid for returning World War II veter‐
ans, since they had delayed their careers and education for up to
fouryears.CongresspassedtheG.I.Billtogivethemahead‐startin
resumingtheirlives.
24Swain,85‐91.
25Ibid.,90‐94.
26Ibid.,93.
27Swain,80‐84;FactBook,6.
28 FactBook, 7; Conversation with Dr. Edwin Baldrige, Professor Emeri‐
tusofHistory,July3,1997.
29Ibid.,33.
30ScottSherk,emailMay29,2003.
31FactBook,8,35.
32 Thomas Moser, “Dedication of the Harry C. Trexler Library,” pam‐
phlet,October1,1988,10.
33FactBook,9.
34Ibid.
35“MuhlenbergAnnualReport,1995‐1996,”19;BrochurefortheDedi‐
cationofNewWestHall,FridayOctober11,1996.
36ConversationwithCurtisDretsch,January2000.
37Horn,27.
38Ibid.
39Swain,24‐27;Horn,44‐62.
40.CardinalandGreyAnnualofMuhlenbergCollege,Allentown,Pennsyl‐
vania,1922‐1923,Volume III, Horace S. Mann, Editor (Young Men’s
ChristianAssociation,1922)8‐10.
41Ibid.,7.
42Ibid.,61
43Ibid.,62‐63.
44 The Students’ Handbook of Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA., Vol‐
umeXVI.FrederickJ.C.Gregorious,’37,Editor(MuhlenbergChristian
Association,1936)53‐54.
45 The M Book:The Students’ Handbook of Muhlenberg College, Allen‐
town,PA.,1942‐1943,Volume XXII, Edward O. Lukens, Jr., ’44, Editor
(MuhlenbergChristianAssociation,1942)70.
19
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
46Ibid.;
39
TheStudents’HandbookofMuhlenbergCollege,Allentown,Penn‐
sylvania,1971‐1972,VolumeXLVIII(OfficeoftheDeanofStudents,
1971)13.
47Ibid.
48 The‘M”Book:TheStudents’HandbookofMuhlenbergCollege,Allen‐
town,Pa.,1951‐1952,Volume XXVIII, David H. Black ’53, Editor‐in‐
Chief(MuhlenbergCollege,1952)48‐49.
49 The‘M’Book:TheStudents’HandbookofMuhlenbergCollege,Allen‐
town,Pa.,1961‐1962, Volume XXXVIII. Robert Karl Bohm, Editor
(MuhlenbergCollege,1961)23.
50TomandHarrietMendham,letterJune8,2003.
51“M”Book1961‐1962,30‐31.
52Ibid.,23.
53The‘M’Book,1971‐1972,80‐81.
54The‘M’Book:TheStudents’HandbookofMuhlenbergCollege,Allen‐
town,Pennsylvania,1981‐1982,VolumeLVIII(OfficeofStudents,
1981):MuhlenbergCollegeStudentHandbook,1990‐1991,Volume
LXVII(MuhlenbergCollege,1990).
55MuhlenbergCollegeWeekly,February23,1961,Ibid,October12,
1961;MBook,1961‐1962,pp.40‐42.
56MuhlenbergMomentum,OfficeofDevelopmentandAlumniRela‐
tions,May,2003.
57FactBook,34.
58Muhlenberg,Winter1992.FramedpagesoftheLifeMagazinerendi‐
tionofMuhlenbergcoeducationmaybefoundinthehallwayjust
pasttherotundaofHaasasyouwalkdowntheright‐handsteps.
59 Horn, “The Meaning of the Seal,” 1‐2. Dennis Gambler and Barry
Herman,PlantOperations,carvedtheseal.
60Horn,75.
61OnBoardatMuhlenbergCollege,July26,1945.
62 Muhlenberg College Office of Community Service and Civic Engage‐
ment website, http://www.muhlenberg.edu/studorgs/service, June
30,2005.
63 Horn, 53; Muhlenberg, Volume 1, Number 1(Fall, 1989); Ibid., Vol‐
ume 5, Number 2 (Winter, 1994); the M Book, 1971‐1972; Muhlen‐
bergDoortoDoor, Volume 11, Number 1(Summer, 1988); Ibid., Vol‐
ume 12, Number 3 (Winter, 1990); Ibid., Volume 12, Number 4
(Spring, 1990); Ibid., Volume 13, Number 3 (Winter, 1991); Ibid.,
Volume17,Number1(Fall,1994).
64 Fact Book, 3‐9. Muhlenberg College Catalog, 26‐27; Swain, 133;
“ScottyWoodTournamentCatalog,”November22‐23,1996.Scotty
Wood,founderofthefoodserviceWoodCompanyandaMuhlenberg
CollegeHonoraryDegreerecipient.
65 MuhlenbergCollegeCatalog,1996‐1997, 208‐209. Conrad Raker re‐
ceived an honorary doctorate of divinity in 1956; the Gravers re‐
ceivedhonorarydoctoratesofsciencein1995.
40
66FactBook,
ConnectingthePast,Present,andFuture
14. One turn of the century anecdote highlights the fact
that enthusiastic intellectual query may have fallen short at times.
Professor Dowell, during chemistry class, while performing an ex‐
perimentstated“Nowaddhydrochloricacidandwatchtheresults.”
Heexpectedthestudentstoreportthespectaculardetailsoftheex‐
periment’s outcome in their carefullykept notebooks. Instead they
allwrote,“Nowaddhydrochloricacidandwatchtheresults.”
67“MuhlenbergDoortoDoor”,volume16,Number3(Summer,1994);
ConversationwithGraceSchneck,retiredsecretary,July12,1997.
68Horn,95.
69FactBook,4.
70First‐YearSeminarbooklet,2012,1.
PlacestoKnow
DorothyandDexterBakerCenterfortheArts(1976)
PaulC.EmpieTheatre
JohnD.M.BrownHall(1916)
D.FlorenceButzMemorialGarden(1942)
GideonF.EgnerMemorialChapel(1930)
GeorgeT.EttingerBuilding(1903,1948,1991)
JohnPeterGabrielHouse(1905)
JohnPeterGabrielMuhlenbergStatus(1942)
GraverArboretum(CollegeGift1993)
JohnA.W.HaasCollegeCenter,formerLibrary(1929,1990)
Hillel/Sociology/Anthropology(2010)
LifeSportsCenter(1982,1991,2004)
BruecknerFamilyWing
John&BarbaraHefferHealthCenter
MartinLutherHall(1957,1977,1989,1994)
MemorialHall(1954)
ForrestG.Moyer,M.D.’35Hall(2000)
TheMuhlenbergTurtle(1991)
MulticulturalHouse(2006)
NewScienceBuilding(2007)
TheRakerWildlifePreserve(CollegeGift1989)
RehearsalHouse(renovated2010)
LoisM.andEdwardH.Robertson’42Hall(2002)
J.ConradandHazelJ.SeegersUnion(1963,1998,1999,2006,2010)
SerenityGarden,donatedbytheclassof1999
JohnV.ShankweilerBuilding(1970,2006,2007)
SouthHall(2002)
KathrynP.TaylorHall(1996)
HarryC.TrexlerLibrary(1988)
TrexlerPavilionforTheatreandDance(2000)
DorothyHessBakerTheatre
PeterS.TrumbowerScienceBuilding(1927,1971)
Victor’sLament(MarkDiSuverosculpture)(1979)
Vigilance(VictorRiusculpture),donatedbytheclassof1973
TheVillage,studentresidences(2007)
TheJohnWalson,Sr.andMargaretWalson
CommunicationsHall(1912,1977,2002)
CanyoufindalltheMCsonbuildings?
AndwhereisthereaGreenMan?
WherearetherosewoodCollegeSealsnormallydisplayed?
Whatotherquestionswouldyouask?
PresidentsofMuhlenbergCollege
PeytonR.Helm(2003‐present)
JamesB.Steffy(InterimPresident2002‐2003)
ArthurR.Taylor(1992‐2002)
JonathanC.Messerli(1984‐1992)
JohnH.Morey(1969‐1984)
ErlingJensen(1961‐1969)
J.ConradSeegers(1953‐1961)
MorrisS.Greth(ActingPresident1952‐1953)
Quintity(Five‐ManCommittee1951‐1952)
LeveringTyson(1937‐1951)
RobertC.Horn(ActingPresident1936‐1937)
JohnA.W.Haas(1904‐1936)
WilliamWackernagel(ActingPresident1903‐1904)
TheodoreLorenzoSeip(1886‐1903)
BenjaminSadtler(1877‐1885)
FrederickAugustusMuhlenberg(1867‐1876)
EarlyMembersoftheMuhlenberg
Family
SeetheirnamesintheMuhlenbergRoom,justtoyour
leftasyoucomeintheTrexlerLibrary.
EveElizabeth1748‐1808
JohnPeterGabriel1746‐1807
MariaSalome1766‐1827
GotthilfHenryErnest1753‐1815
MargaretHenrietta1751‐1831
HenryMelchiorMuhlenberg1711‐1787
AnnaMariaWeiser1727‐1802
FrederichAugustusConrad1750‐1801
MariaKatharine1755‐1812
MuhlenbergCollegeAlmaMater
Ilovetositandthinkanddream,
Andoftconspire.
Andyetamidtheswellingstreamoffonddesire,
MyheartstilleverturnstoThee,
AlmaMater,AlmaMater.
TheewillIeversing,
ToTheemyheartshallcling.
OfTheemypraisesring
OMuhlenberg,AlmaMater,
OmyMuhlenberg.
E.H.Kistler,1895