Lyman Beecher Kellogg observes Founder's Day, 1902

On Saturday evening, February 15, 1902, at 9 p.m., about 100 local Kansas State Normal alumni gathered in the KSN gymnasium for the first annual Founders' Day Banquet. Afterwards they adjourned to the Philomathian Hall for speeches. Both locations were in the main building where the Sunken Garden now stands.

Lyman Beecher Kellogg, the first KSN president, and, in 1902, an Emporia attorney and judge, spoke about the first day of class on the morning of February 15, 1865, in a stone building at Seventh and Constitution owned by the school district.

(KSN at Emporia, along with the Kansas State Agricultural College at Manhattan, and Kansas University at Lawrence, were authorized by the legislature early in 1863, but, because of the Civil War, there was no funding until early 1864, and the first day of class occurred afterwards at each of the three schools.)

Kellogg, who was serving on the Board of Regents in 1902, attended every Founders' Day celebration until his death in the fall of 1918. In some years he spoke again of the first day of class or of other early events, and in every celebration he read the Parable of the Sower from the same Bible from which he had read that first day.

Alumni, some of whom were among the original 18 students, also reminisced in 1902 about their years at KSN and marveled how enrollment had grown to1500 in 1902.

Each year the celebration, usually including both musical numbers and speeches, became more elaborate. In 1903 there was a debate between those who had attended in the 1880's and 1890's, as to which decade was superior. The judges decided the 1870's were superior to both the 80's and 90's.

Kansas Governor Edward W. Hoch was the speaker in 1906. Among the speakers in 1907 was Mrs. George Plumb (Ellen M. Cowles), one of the original 18 on February 15, 1865. Kellogg presented, on behalf of Mrs. Jacob Stotler, a picture of the first building occupied by KSN. Mrs. Abigail Morse, who was described as a pioneer and "not strong enough to stand," charmed the audience with her "gentle manner and earnest words."

Her husband, Congregational minister, G. C. Morse, had journeyed to Illinois and hired Kellogg in December of 1864. Widowed since 1870, she had taught at both KSN and Emporia High School. Kellogg had roomed at their farm home southeast of Emporia upon his arrival and had walked the two miles from there to his first morning of class 42 years earlier,.

"My Love's Like a Red, Red Rose," sung by the Aeolian Quartette, opened the 1904 Founders' Day program, and William Allen White spoke of the "Relation of the Town to the School." After other musical numbers, the Emporia Ladies Quartette ended the program with "Kentucky Babe."

Emporia attorney Addison G. Procter addressed the 1911 banquet with "An Unwritten History." He was the youngest Kansas delegate at the 1860 Republican National Convention. He talked about the fight over the presidential nomination and how Horace Greeley had tried to get him to support a Missouri judge, and many others had supported Seward. He had voted for Lincoln, whom others had criticized as too inexperienced.

It was a delegation of Kentucky mountaineers, he said, who had turned the tide toward Lincoln. "For the first time since the election of Washington, the people had given the presidency to one opposed to the further extension of slavery."

In some years, in addition to an evening alumni banquet, there was a daytime observance by current students. In 1913, students marched to Albert Taylor Hall from the Gymnasium in the order of Congressional Districts. Kellogg and early former students, including President Joseph Hill (the only alumnus to become president), presented a program and gave student awards for various honors.

Founders' Day was part of a week of festivities built around the inauguration of Thomas Butcher as president in 1914. Former Governor Hoch, and Governor George H. Hodges were among the speakers. In later years Arthur Capper and other governors were among the speakers.

All of the original founders and pioneers of the nineteenth century are gone, but Founders' Day continues to be observed each February at a noon dinner. Alumni, current and retired faculty, and local friends and supporters continue to attend.

This year Founders' Day will be celebrated Friday, Feb. 14 at noon in the Colonial Ballroom of the Memorial Union. The program will include a brief talk, "Meal Time at the Normal," about the early boarding houses, often operated by impoverished Emporia widows trying to support their families.

Please join us.

Last Updated July 2, 2007>