Tag Archives: Band

p. 275 – The Bryan Period, 1908-1922

12:00 evenings. Among the “Y’s” other activities were: a reception for freshmen which was primarily for orientation purposes, publication of the Hand Book which had expanded in size and content by 1922, and a student employment service for those who needed odd jobs.

Professor Hoerrner’s vigorous leadership gave new life to musical activities. The Glee Club flourished, an orchestra was begun, and occasionally in the fall, a band was organized, primarily to play at the football games. Informal singing of college songs continued to have a widespread appeal. New ones were written and Songs of Colgate, a 30-page compilation by Robert G. Ingraham, ’13, was published in 1912 and a revised edition came out in 1916.

Dramatics, too, was a popular activity. Members of the former Dramatic Club reorganized in 1914 as the Masque and Triangle Club with Anthony F. Blanks, Professor of Public Speaking, as their advisor and coach. The old Academy chapel in the Administration Building served as their “Little Theater” and nearly 100 tried out for their first production, She Stoops to Conquer. The organization even induced four professors to give them lectures on English, French, Latin and Greek drama. By the 1920’s Masque and Triangle was sponsoring a playwriting contest and producing some of the prize-winning entries.

Colgate debaters enjoyed a heyday during the Bryan period when interest in public speaking was especially keen. Enthusiastic student and faculty support comparable to that for athletic contests, the many able undergraduates who competed with each other to make the

p. 236 – Colgate in the 1890’s

1895 Editorial Board
Picture of Editoraial Board

band was organized; it consisted of 16 members and was directed by John W. Finch, ’97. Dramatics, too, captured enough student interest to warrant establishing in 1890 under Professor Thomas’s sponsorship the first Dramatics Club. Though it seems to have disappeared about six years later it had among the productions to its credit The Rivals and The School for Scandal, with students taking the women’s roles.

Academic garb was not yet accepted as a matter of course. Occasiona1ly a senior class would adapt cap and gown to be worn in the spring or fall and the Class of 1897 requested the faculty to appear similarly attired at commencement but that innovation had to wait until President Merrill’s administration. The Quartette and choir as shown in the Salmagundi of 1893 had mortarboards and wore gowns over evening clothes.

Outstanding in this generation of students was Harry Emerson Fosdick,.’00, who was destined to a great career as New York City