Special Issue 2013 - University Library

Volume 6
Special Issue 2013
Stanislaus
Historical
Quarterly
Stanislaus County
Founded 1854
An Independent Publication of Stanislaus County History
Higher Education Comes
to Stanislaus County
MJC and SSC
Modesto Junior College
The Beginning, 1921-24
I
t has been stated at times that Modesto Junior College
(MJC) was the oldest junior college in California, being founded in
1921. But there is a problem with that claim because Fresno Junior
College was founded in 1910 and Turlock Junior College in 1916.
Why then the declaration that MJC was first?
of the first two university years. The instruction of these two years
is of necessity elementary and of the same general nature as the
work of the high school itself.”
In 1907, a California law was passed, allowing high schools
to form a “post-graduate” program or a “junior college,” having
lower division college curriculum. Surprisingly, no California high
Founding of Junior Colleges
Here is why. The early junior colleges in the state were school took advantage of the opportunity until 1910, when Fresno
attached to local high school districts and controlled by the districts’ School District Superintendent McLane formed Fresno Junior
boards. Their budgets were part of the high schools’ budgets. In College at Fresno High School. The junior college filled an important
other words, junior colleges were not independent institutions. In need in Fresno, because the city was 200 miles from the nearest
1921, a new California law was enacted to change this. It allowed institution of higher learning. McLane surveyed the community
first and found
j u n i o r
e n o u g h
colleges to
support
to
form their own
r
e
c
e
i
v
e
districts,
approval
from
having their
the
school
own boards
board.
Fresno
and separate
Junior
College
budgets that
became the
were funded
state’s first
t h r o u g h
junior college
d i s t r i c t
South Hall, first MJC campus building, occupied on December 10, 1923
with
20
taxation. MJC
MJC photo
students
and
3
jumped on the
instructors.
Being
spurred
by
Fresno’s
example,
18
junior
colleges
bandwagon immediately, forming its own district in 1921, being the
very first junior college “district,” and consequently, the first junior were opened at California high schools in the next decade, with
Turlock Junior College being one of them. By 1921, there were
college in California that was an independent institution.
The junior college movement began in 1883 at the 15,000 junior college students in the state.
The cost of the junior college program was paid from high
University of Michigan (UM), when a faculty member proposed
school
funds,
and it proved to be expensive. Junior college courses
that the four-year college experience be split into two divisions:
cost
more
than
routine high school courses, causing a hardship on
lower and upper. The first two years would be designated as lower
school
districts.
Because of this, junior colleges were limited to the
division, consisting of general college curriculum. The next two
number
of
courses
that could be offered. This resulted in less junior
years, or upper division, would provide specialized curriculum in a
college
students
taking
advantage of higher education in their
student’s chosen field of interest.
hometown.
To
rectify
the
problem, it was felt that junior colleges
A.F. Lange was a graduate student at UM at the time and
needed
their
own
districts,
which would generate their own tax
experienced the implementation of the two-division model. He
revenue
to
support
their
curriculum
and operational needs.
graduated in 1885 and became an assistant professor of English in
In
1920,
a
state
commission
was formed to study junior
1890 at the University of California (UC). He advocated to UC’s
colleges
and
to
report
to
the
California
legislature.
The commission
faculty and administration UM’s two-division structure, and in 1903,
completed
its
study
and
made
recommendations
to
the legislature.
UC adopted it. Dr. David Starr Jordan, President of Stanford
This
resulted
in
the
legislature
enacting
a
law
in
1921,
allowing the
University, was another proponent of the two-division model. Starr,
formation
of
junior
college
districts
separate
from
high school
Lange, and others delivered public addresses concerning the twodistricts.
Junior
college
districts
could
be
within
one
high school
division structure and published articles on the topic.
district
or
could
encompass
several
high
school
districts.
To qualify,
It was Dr. Jordan who coined the term “junior college” for
a
junior
college
district
needed
the
local
high
school
to
have an
the lower division curriculum. He wrote to Fresno Superintendent
assessed
property
valuation
of
$10
million
and
an
enrollment
of 400
of Schools McLane, who had expressed great interest in the junior
or
more
students.
These
requirements
constituted
community
college idea. His letter read in part:
strength to support a new junior college district. Local voter
“I am looking forward, as you know, to the time when the large high approval was required for the junior college district to organize.
schools of the state, in conjunction with the small colleges, will Having met these requirements, local representatives then submitted
relieve the two great universities [Stanford and UC] from the expense an application to the California State Board of Education for approval
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Special Issue 2013
Husband delivered the resolution at the board meeting
and advocated for a countywide junior college district and not one
just within MHS District. The board considered the issue and moved
to hold junior college classes at the high school in September. On
June 17th, Modesto School Board, School Superintendent Elmore,
Modesto Wants a Junior College District
and District Attorney Brown discussed the formation of a junior
The new law sparked intense interest in California. W.E.
college district. It was estimated that $10,000 was needed to fund
Faught, Modesto Superintendent of Schools, spoke to the issue at
the junior college in its first year.
a Modesto Rotary Club meeting
Brown investigated the legalities
on May 31, 1921, stating that 40
and that same afternoon ruled
of Modesto High School’s (MHS)
that a junior college could be
100 graduates would attend a
located temporarily at the high
Modesto junior college if
school. That night at MHS
available. He calculated that state
graduation ceremonies, Mr.
colleges would be established at
Guyler, Chairman of the Modesto
Stockton and Fresno in the near
School Board, announced that a
future, and consequently, a
junior college would open in
junior college should be placed
September at the high school. He
somewhere in between, with
remarked that it would remain at
Modesto being a logical
the site for one year, and the
location. Rotary supported
following year, the new junior
Faught’s argument and began to
college would have its own site
Modesto High School served as MJC’s home, 1921-23
study the possibilities.
and
faculty.
Guyler’s
th
MHS Photo
On June 9 , a combined
announcement was somewhat
meeting of the Modesto Progressive Businessmen’s Club, Modesto
premature, because the California State Board of Education still
Women’s Improvement Club, and Modesto Ministerial Association
had to approve the application for the formation of a new junior
was held at MHS auditorium. Also present were representatives
college district.
from Modesto Chamber of Commerce, Modesto City Council, and
Modesto School Board. In attendance as well were State
MJC District Approved
Assemblywoman Esto Broughton and State Senator L.L. Dennett,
A delegation from Modesto was appointed to present the
who explained the new law to those in attendance. Presiding at the
meeting was Baptist minister Rev. E.H. Gum. After some deliberation, application in Los Angeles to the California State Board of Education
J.W. Husband of Modesto Progressive Businessmen’s Club on September 22, 1921. Members of the delegation were: Mr. and
Mrs. W.E. Fraught, Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Guyler, and attorney J.M.
composed the following resolution:
Walthal. They met with the board and received approval to form the
“WHEREAS, Modesto is the logical location for a junior college to first junior college district in the state. They excitedly wired
Modesto, telling of the good news. Eight days later, the second
be located between Stockton and Fresno, and
junior college district was approved for Riverside, with thirty junior
WHEREAS, large sums of money are spent annually sending college districts being formed before the end of the decade.
Even with approval, the formation of MJC District was
students away into crowded institutions to secure higher education,
still subject to local ratification, because the district needed revenue
and
to operate, which came largely through local taxation. This was the
WHEREAS, more than 40 students of the present graduating class process: (1) MJC would be located temporarily at MHS, which meant
of the Modesto High School have signified their desire to enroll in the junior college district would be within the boundaries of
Modesto School District. This required approval of voters within
a junior college next September,
the school district to signify they wanted a junior college district
THEREFORE, we petition the honorable board of education to take and taxation to support it; (2) the next step would be to seek approval
what ever steps may be necessary for the establishment of a junior from county voters to form a significantly larger junior college
district, having the same boundaries as the county and the taxation
college under Section 1750 of the Political Code of California.”
to support it; and (3) MJC’s permanent campus needed to be
The resolution was passed unanimously, with Husband purchased and buildings erected, which required voter approval of
being appointed to present it to the Modesto School Board at its the site, revenue to purchase the site (state legislature already
June 13th meeting. He was also to recommend to the board that approved $500,000), and revenue to fund the cost of the site’s
MHS be a temporary location for the junior college until a permanent preparation, construction of facilities, equipment, and landscaping.
campus was ready. Rev. Gum asked those present to attend the District bonds would need approval and private donations
contributed to cover the initial costs. The state would contribute
meeting to provide their support.
some revenue through special funding for some of the needs. The
to form a junior college district. The law provided junior college
districts with $2,000 in state funds a year, plus $100 per student
each semester.
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Stanislaus Historical Quarterly
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state would also assist yearly, as it did for all California school
districts, by providing revenue based on the number of students in
daily attendance, known as Average Daily Attendance (ADA).
Superintendent Elmore set Saturday, October 8th as election
day for the voters in MHS District to decide whether or not to allow
a junior college district to be formed within their district. It was
public knowledge that this would be a temporary arrangement, with
the junior college district’s boundaries to be expanded soon to
include the entire county. Husband spoke to Modesto Rotary Club,
explaining the plan. In support, club members volunteered to drive
voters to the polls if needed. The local newspapers carried editorials
in favor of the junior college district. A Modesto Morning Herald
editorial read in part:
“There can be no doubt to the merits of the junior college. It will
prove to be an economical and efficient way of caring for the first
years of college work. Such work must be paid by taxpayers whether
it is carried on at Berkeley or in Modesto. Furthermore, if it costs
over $1,000 annually for a student to attend college, it will prove
economical to parents as well as to the county to have the money
spent at home.”
Margaret Painter: Women’s P.E.
Lena Peron: French, French History
E.R. Utter: Chemistry, English Composition
Student registration was held on September 17, 1921, with
Monday, September 19th being the first day of classes, with 50
students in attendance.
Turlock Junior College
Now that Modesto had a junior college, how did that affect
Turlock Junior College that opened in 1916 at Turlock High School
(THS)? Foreign language instructor Murray K. Martin was its dean,
with the junior college’s enrollment being less than 20. Turlock
sought to form a junior college district under the 1921 law. Colburn
Cook was sent to the California State Board of Education by the
Turlock Chamber of Commerce and Turlock Progressive Club to
argue for a Turlock Junior College district. But he was unsuccessful,
causing Turlock Junior College to cease operation in 1922, because
THS could no longer fund the program. THS graduates would now
attend MJC.
Founders Committee
Dean Jum Morris
Proponents stressed to voters that MJC District would
bring significant revenue to the local area. Newly appointed MJC
Dean, Charles S. “Jum”
Morris, urged voters to
approve the new junior
college district, because it
meant substantial funding
from the state for the junior
college. Voters approved the
new junior college district,
with Modesto School Board
now serving temporarily as
the MJC District Board.
MJC Dean Morris
(analogous to a college
president) formulated the
curriculum and assigned
MHS faculty to teach MJC
courses the first year. MJC
First MJC Dean
courses were similar to those
“Jum” Morris
offered at Stanford and UC at
MJC photo
the lower division level.
These were the first MJC faculty and their instructional areas:
T.M. Alcorn: Agriculture
C.L. Anderson: German, Physiology, Zoology
Maude Barnett, Advanced Art
Florence Brown: Advanced Algebra, Engineering, Math
O.C. Crooke: English, History, Economics, Logic, Political Science
E.W. Hawley: Architectural Drawing, Descriptive Geometry, Lettering, Linear Drawing
Alice Lynn: Latin
Grace Melton: English Poetry, Shakespeare
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4
In accordance with the 1921 law, a “Founders Committee”
was appointed for MJC, consisting of 27 local citizens, who were:
R. Acker, Alice Appling, E.C. Baird, A.A. Caldwell, C.C. Carlson, C.F.
Carous, H.J. Coffee, W.W. Cox, J.V. Date, L.L. Dennett, H.T. Dolman,
D.H. Grant, J. Hancy, R. Hiatt, C.C. Horseley, M.L. Huff, W.T. Kerr,
F. McVey, O.S. Moore, J.W. Murphy, H.A. Perry, F. Reed, H.W.
Rickenbacker, George Sawyer, F.E. Smith, H.J. Turner, and E.R. Utter.
The Founders Committee was responsible for the creation
of a countywide junior college district and to see that appropriate
MJC leadership was in place. Also, the committee was to locate a
site for MJC, plan initial buildings, and see that the new institution
was properly established on its permanent campus.
Westsiders Want MJC Campus
Modestans became immediately involved in the selection
of a permanent site. W. LeHane led the “Westsiders” in promoting
a site in west Modesto. This group had been successful in bringing
MHS to west Modesto, relocating it from 12th and 13th streets to
Paradise Road. This group also saw success in securing a new
elementary school across the street from the high school. And
further, this same group led the campaign to pass a bond of $55,000
to purchase a 55-acre site for a county fairgrounds and aviation
field on the north bank of the Tuolumne River in west Modesto.
But, the Westsiders became disenchanted with the ongoing
use of the 55 acres. A hanger and airstrip had been constructed for
the airport, but the group now claimed that flying aircraft were an
endangerment to the nearby residential area. The group now wanted
the airfield removed. The fairground idea fell through, but baseball
enthusiasts were able to construct a playing field on the land. This
brought noise and congestion to the local area, which the Westsiders
criticized, wanting the ball field removed. Hence, the group now
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Stanislaus Historical Quarterly
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advocated placing MJC on the 55 acres. It argued that the high
school was nearby, which allowed for the shared usage of facilities,
especially for athletics, and would be convenient to faculty teaching
at both schools. A petition to locate MJC on the 55 acres was
circulated, signed, and forwarded to Modesto City Council, because
it was city property. The City Council set an election date of March
28, 1922 for city residents to vote on locating MJC on the 55 acres.
The location of MJC became a fiery issue. An editorial in
the Modesto Evening News cautioned about moving too quickly
on a location, because many California junior colleges had seen
slow growth in their enrollments. The editorial stated: “The hour to
make permanent plans for the
Modesto Junior College has
not yet arrived.” In a letter to
the News, J.W. Husband of
the Modesto Progressive
Businessmen’s
Club
disagreed with the editorial
and with the Westsiders. He
argued that the MJC campus
needed to be located a good
distance away from the high
school, so the new institution
could take on a college
atmosphere. He remarked:
Special Issue 2013
college institutions. In your case, 40 acres should be a minimum.
Land will never be cheaper in the neighborhoods of your growing
city, and no one can foresee the growth of our educational
institutions. Twenty years ago anyone would be startled at the idea
of 1,000 high school students in Modesto, but you are near that
mark today. Junior colleges depend upon the growth of high
schools.”
Selection of a Permanent Campus Site
It was announced on May 9th at a Modesto School Board
meeting that there were a number of sites from which to choose.
The significant ones were as
shown on the map:
1. Fairgrounds (voted down)
2. S.F. DeYoe offered a 40-acre
site that covered both sides
of Dry Creek, near the county
hospital, essentially the La
Loma Avenue region. It was a
picturesque site that the
College of the Pacific had
considered for a campus.
3. C.M. Maze offered to gift 20
acres of land at the northeast
corner of Laurel and Franklin
streets, provided the district
“I believe that for the best
would purchase 20 additional
interests of all the people we
acres just north of the site for
should vote this proposal
$16,000 and would construct
down [55 acres] by a good
a $75,000 junior college facility
majority and later on locate
within one year.
the junior college on a 40 acre
4. Messrs. Marshall and
site outside of Modesto,
Russel offered 40 acres for
away from the high school. . .
$42,000, located at the
. It will develop into a large
southwest corner of Stoddard
institution drawing its
and 10th Street (soon to be
students
from
the
named College Avenue).
surrounding counties, all to
5. Mr. Marshall offered 40
the betterment of our city, and
acres at the southeast corner
without detriment or injury to
of Stoddard Avenue and 10th
any group.”
Street (soon to be named
College Avenue) for $42,000.
There was enormous
6. Mr. and Mrs. Meilly offered
opposition to the west side
Modesto
map
showing
the
locations
of
the
offered
MJC
permanent
40 acres for $32,000, located
location. On March 28 th ,
campus sites. No. 4 was chosen.
RLS map
on the northeast corner of
Modestans voted the site
McHenry and Granger
down by a vote of 1,828 against to 819 for. Now that the west avenues (where McHenry Village is located today).
Modesto site was defeated, a number of other sites were being 7. Mr. and Mrs. Snedigar offered 40 acres for $28,000, located at the
offered. Modesto Morning Herald observed: “If a free site of 40 northwest corner of Bowen and McHenry avenues.
acres, properly located, can be secured by the junior college at this 8. Maggie Galvin offered 40 acres for $32,000, located on Waterford
time it would be great encouragement and help in developing the Road.
school.” On April 8th, California State Superintendent of Schools, 9. Ninety-nine acres were offered along the Tuolumne River, which
Will Wood, wrote Superintendent Fraught:
was land later occupied by Modesto Airport.
10. T.K. Beard offered a 40-acre site for $14,000 on the north side of
“I have consistently advised school boards to secure good acreage Waterford Road.
for building purposes whether elementary, high school or junior
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The MJC Board decided to wait on which site to select,
but did move to impose a 55-cent tax to provide $90,000 for the
construction of the first building on the permanent campus. On
June 25th, the Herald congratulated the board for its activity in
soliciting suitable sites, remarking:
“The price at which these pieces of land will finally be laid before
the board will doubtless be half or less than half of the actual sale
value of such property. . . . If the board cannot make the choice
without facing a storm of criticism and taking chances on loss of
support in securing the first building, then the choice should be left
to the voters at a straw election to be held as soon as possible and
the entire district should abide whole-heartedly by the result.”
Special Issue 2013
construction; was inside city limits; and in the long term, would be
the cheapest.
When the 3,850 votes were counted on August 3 rd
Marshall-Russel’s 10th Street site was the victor by 172 votes. An
analysis of the votes found that Modestans still voted for the site
nearest them. Since the 10th Street site had the most residents, it
captured the MJC campus.
First MJC School Year
During the first year, an average of 60 students attended
MJC at MHS, The student body was split equally male and female,
having ages ranging from 17 to 27, with the vast majority being 18
to 20. Most students were planning to transfer to Stanford, U.C.,
and San Jose State College at the end of their two years at MJC.
The MJC Board met on June 26th in which it eliminated all Many wanted to become teachers, with a number having an interest
but four sites. Those that remained were: DeYoe, Marshall-Russel, in engineering or medicine as careers.
Maze, and Meilly. The board set July 17th as election day, where
The first student body officers were: President Will Parke,
voters would eliminate two of those sites, and it called for another Vice President Helen Cooper, Secretary Ada Elliott, Treasurer Ian
election ten days later to vote on the two remaining sites. Prices of Mensinger, Student Manager Harry Meade, Newspaper Editor
the competing sites dropped: Marshall-Russel site was reduced to Richard Husband, and Yell Leader Nelson Collett. The first semester
$28,000, Maze site to $16,000,
students were known as “1-A
and DeYoe site to $15,000.
Class,” while those who
Supporters of the
entered in the spring semester
sites sponsored newspaper
became “1-B Class.”
advertisements and placed
The first student club
road signs at various locations,
was called the “Ancient and
advocating their sites. There
Benevolent
Order
of
were letters to the editor in the
Cephalopolypus” (head of
local newspapers, remarking
many faces) and was organized
that the Marshall-Russel site
by a group of male students in
was too flat and unappealing;
reaction to a teacher’s dress
the Meilly site was too far from
code. Instructor James Landthe city; and DeYoe’s Dry
Ellis advocated a more serious
MJC football team, 1923
MJC photo
Creek site was quite appealing
appearance by MJC male
with its scenery, but it was a taxpayer’s nightmare in that it needed students, wanting them to wear ties and dress coats. It was his
a bridge to cross Dry Creek. The site was also too close to the rule that students were ineligible to take his exams if they weren’t
county hospital, had mosquitoes and was a home to hoboes.
properly dressed. The male students organized in complaint, by
When the July 17th votes were tallied, the DeYoe and wearing high boots, jeans, shirts, bow ties, and derby hats, while
Marshall-Russel sites had been selected as finalists. Analysis of carrying a blue and white (school colors) striped cane. The
the results found that Modestans tended to vote for the site nearest Cephalopolypus Order lasted one year, because Land-Ellis decided
them. The newspapers criticized such narrowness and to go elsewhere.
recommended that voters carefully study the benefits of both sites,
MJC Drama Coach Allie Brooks produced two plays
before voting on August 3rd. The DeYoe site was now being referred during the school year, with 23 of the 60 students participating in
to as the Dry Creek site, and the Marshall-Russel site as the 10th them. The first play was “Mrs. Briggs and the Poultry Yard,”
Street site.
presented on December 16th and was a huge success paying off
Letters to the editor in the local newspapers took on a the Student Body Association’s debt, which included football
negative tone, where supporters were critical of the other site. uniforms. The second play was “The Tailor Made Man,” presented
DeYoe’s Dry Creek site received the brunt of criticism, claiming it on Friday, May 5th and Saturday, May 6th. The student newspaper
was too far from town; needed a bridge; needed landscaping; the Buccaneer proclaimed: “By far the best play ever presented in the
hospital was too close; no town growth there; and the Dry Creek auditorium of the Modesto High School. Too much credit cannot
was unclean, attracted mosquitoes, and was subject to flooding. be given to Miss Brooks and her assistants for the wonderful play
The proponents of the site pointed to its beauty and closeness to they produced.”
town. The opponents of Marshall-Russel’s 10 th Street site
The first football team was organized on October 20th by
complained that the site was too close to industrial facilities; too Coach Cap Campbell, with Merle Mensinger serving as the team’s
close to the railroad tracks; and too flat, lacking in beauty. captain. The first basketball team was formed on December 20th by
Proponents pointed to the fertility of the soil; easy sewer Coach Walter Keeley on December 20th, with Murl Schrock as the
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Stanislaus Historical Quarterly
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team’s captain. Unfortunately, both teams were winless during their
first season, but that would change as the institution grew in size.
There were no graduation exercises at the end of the school
year, because the students were freshmen. MJC student, Richard
Husband, decided to transfer to Stanford University, with Dean
Morris writing to the university’s registrar concerning the matter.
He received a reply, which stated, “I have your letter of July 25th
with the credentials of Mr. Richard Husband. I am sure we shall be
very glad to have him enter. As to the advanced standing, he will of
course get the year’s credit.”
Second School Year
Special Issue 2013
The 1923 Bulletin (college catalog) addressed the advantages of a
junior college, which are summarized as follows:
1. Student-faculty personal contact at MJC is much better than at a
four year college.
2. Living at home is cheaper than living way.
3. Living at home provides for continued home influence on a
maturing mind.
4. Lesser students at MJC allows for greater involvement in student
activities.
5. MJC lower division is superior to a four year college, thus enabling
the student to be more
effective scholar in upper
division curriculum.
6. Access to library,
laboratory facilities, and
services is better
proportionally
per
student than at a four
year college.
In the second
school year, 1922-23, MJC
now had freshmen and
sophomores
in
attendance. There were
150 students enrolled,
with
21
teachers
employed. Members of the
MJC Board were: Walter
The Bulletin
Johnson, Mamie E.
also
noted
that students
Surryhne, Carl A. Hansen,
paid
no
tuition,
and the
and F.E. Smith, with J.W.
MJC football rally parade, 1923
MJC photo
combined
cost
of
Guyler serving as
laboratory
materials,
president. Classes met in MHS gymnasium that was sectioned by
partitions into the various classrooms, while laboratory classes syllabi, physical education needs, textbooks, and notebooks would
utilized the high school labs. On October 9, 1922, the MJC site was not exceed fifty dollars per semester.
purchased, with students celebrating on October 13th, naming it
1923-24 School Year
“Acquisition Day,” which would become an annual event. The
student body marched around the boundary of the new campus or
The faculty for the school year of 1923-24 had changed
“Beating the Bounds,” as they called it. There was some pageantry dramatically from the first faculty, who had been primarily from
and a football rally.
MHS. The 1923-24 faculty were:
In April 1923, a contract was approved for the construction
of the first MJC building, to be known as South Hall. Controversy Margaret Andrews (BS), Women’s PE
arose concerning the type of utility to be used for its heating. Maude L. Barnett (Art Certificate), Drawing, Art
Would the building use natural gas from Pacific Gas & Electric, a Farnum Bishop (MA), English Composition, Public Speaking
private utility, or electric from Modesto Irrigation District (MID), a Overton C. Crooke (LLB), Economics, Political Science
public utility? It was argued that it was unpatriotic to use PG&E at Eugenio DeLucia (MA), French, Spanish
a public institution. The choice was MID, with electric heaters being William D. Fuller (MA), Education, Philosophy
installed, but everyone froze during the first winter. It took seven Vennis A. Green (BS), Chemistry, Physics
years to convince the MJC Board to replace electrical heating with Arthur W. Haupt (PhD), German, History
steam heat, powered by natural gas boilers.
Irene C. Hoch (MA), English Literature, English Composition
The first MJC commencement was held on June 15, 1923 Fredrick Knorr (BS), Agriculture
at Modesto Theatre with 17 students graduating. Will G. Wood, Edna B. Love (Conservatory Diploma), Music
State Superintendent of Schools, was the keynote speaker, who William F. Martin (MCE), Engineering
addressed the issue of “Achievements of a School System.” There E. Grace Melton (BA), English Literature
were musical presentations, with MJC Board President Guyler Lottie Milam (MA), Domestic Art, Science
presenting the diplomas to the following students:
John F. Pobanz (PhD), Mathematics
Kenneth Townsend (PG), Men’s PE
Ariette Bradley Ada Elliott
Harry V. Meade
Ernest Van C. Vaugh (PhD), History, English Composition
J. Bell Burgess Xenephone Ferugson
Merle Mensinger
Nelson E. Collett Evert H. Ford
William H. Park
MJC classes began in September 1923 without a building,
Ada Cornwell
Frances Gray
Alfred C. Ross
because South Hall wouldn’t be ready until December 10th. MJC
Fred Cornwell
Jared James
Murl R. Schrock
couldn’t utilize MHS facilities any longer, because of growth in
Robert Johnson
Austin Walther
high school enrollment. Until December 10th, classes were held at
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Stanislaus Historical Quarterly
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Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Christian Science churches
in Modesto. In December, South Hall was opened, but there was no
heat and chairs. Still, the consensus was “to tough it out,” because
this was their home and was better than commuting to the various
church venues. The campus grounds were inundated by
tumbleweeds, dust, and when rainy, mud. Dean Morris gathered
students and faculty occasionally for some applied horticulture.
They would cut down the weeds and water the bare ground to keep
the dust down.
A school song was composed by faculty members, Edna
Love and William Fuller, having agricultural images in its lyrics.
Blue and white were selected for the school’s colors. Finding a
mascot was another matter. Some students wanted to be known as
the “Gorillas,” but gave up when someone remarked out of derision
that they might be called “The Missing Links.” “Blue Devils” and
“Go-Devils” were tried, but those didn’t seem to fit. Finally, the
student body landed on the “Pirates.” The school’s yell, “Heil,
MJC,” featured its mascot in its lyrics: “Pirates, fearlessly we go;
Facing every foe; Searching far and near for fame; Glory to your
name: Modesto.”
College Atmoshpere
MJC’s development intensified with increased enrollments and more
faculty, with the campus taking on a college atmosphere. New
traditions were spawned, and now there were alumni recommending
the institution. Campus buildings were not yet numerous, and
landscaping was lacking, but the community supported its college
with a proud vision. This was the age of flappers, flivvers and
bathtub gin, a colorful era of post-Victorian America. During it all,
the junior college kept true to its mission of educating the
community’s youth, preparing them for four-year institutions or
training them for vocational careers.
Increased communication equipment was installed across
campus, connecting the various offices and departments. In 1926,
nine additional telephones were added linking North Hall, library,
four classrooms, and gymnasium, through a central switchboard.
The 1926 Buccaneer (college’s yearbook) claimed: “Great
has been the progress during the five years since the Junior College
was established. The enrollment has increased from an original 61
to 336 regular students, besides 284 specials. The faculty, formerly
consisting of part-time instructors, is now composed of one parttime instructor and twenty-two who give their full time to college
work.”
Modesto Mayor Sol P. Elias commented on the importance
of MJC: “If I had my way, I would make the Junior College a full
college of four years study. There is no doubt in my mind that the
small college is the most effective in the long run. I consider MJC
one of the most valuable and effective educational assets of Modesto
and Stanislaus County. [It provides a] collegiate slant to the
community as a whole, in that it brings the culture of a college to
the community.” Modesto had once been a frontier and railroad
settlement, serving a ranching community. It now was becoming
acculturated and prideful in its ability to offer an environment of
higher learning.
The student newspaper, Modesto Collegian, published
its first issue on March 4, 1926. Its editor was student O.W. Campbell,
while the assistant editor was student Leonard Bartlett, with Mr.
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Special Issue 2013
Persinger serving as faculty advisor. There were six students on
the newspaper’s staff. The newspaper grew from Persinger’s
journalism course offered each spring semester. At first the
newspaper was a semi-monthly, but before long, it became a weekly,
being stimulated by a demand for more campus news. Bartlett would
eventually graduate from Stanford University and return to MJC as
a faculty member, becoming the newspaper’s faculty advisor and
remaining so for a number of years. In 1937 and again in 1940, the
newspaper received an “All American” rating from the Associated
Collegiate Press, whose membership consisted of 550 universities,
colleges, and junior colleges.
Automobile
The automobile was the preferred mode of transportation
for MJC students. A campus census was taken by the Collegian in
December 1926, finding 91 automobiles on campus of which 61
were Fords or “flivvers” as they were called. The other brands
were Cadillac, Chevrolet, Jordan, Maxwell, Nash, Overland, and
Standard. The newspaper ran the headline: “MJC Campus Ruled
by Ford,” with the article remarking that “Two out of every three
cars are flivvers. In other words, when Matesky comes rolling up
the road in his Maxwell, closely pursued by Gus Bertram’s Jordan,
Bartlett’s Ford can’t be very far off.”
Faculty members were also proud drivers of the motorcar.
In May 1926, the faculty congregated at Don Pedro Dam for a
picnic to celebrate the end of the school year. Feeling their oats, a
racing contest developed on the way to Don Pedro, between the
campus dean and a faculty member. Collegian described the event:
“Mr. Bachman and Mr. Fuller were in charge of transportation to
the dam, and managed to get everybody there safely, in spite of a
spirited race, over bumpy roads, between Jum’s Nash and Mrs.
Love’s Studebaker, with the Nash being the winner by a few noses.”
Roadways were still being developed and could be
treacherous as seen in this March 4, 1926 article from the Collegian:
Kennedy’s Ford Beat by Puddle
A very dirty thing happened Monday noon near the campus of our
fair college. Gerald Kennedy’s twin-six Ford got stuck in the mud.
Here’s the story of it all. The twelve o’clock whistle, as well as
Kennedy’s inner sense, announced the hour of dining, so the
freshman orator jumped into his Leaping Luna and slowly but
steadily made his way towards the city. Not a long distance from
our institution he beheld a lovely maiden (in fact, a damsel very
dear to his heart) walking amidst the mud and the mire of our
unparalleled College Avenue. Kennedy, gallant as he was, left the
center of the road and went into what he thought was a small
puddle of water, so that he would be able to assist his lovely lady
on her muddy way. Well, the small puddle of water proved to be a
larger one, with a two-inch coating of water that became a 16-foot
mud-hole. Lizzie gave one dying groan and sank to her very hips, or
rather – fenders. A cry went up! In no less than two minutes there
were at least 50 collegians offering all types of aid, tow-ropes, and
advice. Two attempts were made by the congregation to help the
freshman orator out of his predicament and embarrassment, but all
to no avail. A third and final effort was organized. “Mike” Adams
(Con’t on back cover)
8
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Stanislaus State College
The Beginning
A
fter World War II, new California state college campuses
were placed in strategic locations throughout the state to meet the
rising demand for higher education institutions spurred by rapid
population growth. In 1957, northern San Joaquin Valley was
pinpointed by state educational officials as a region warranting a
new campus. The result of their vision was the installation of
Stanislaus State College (SSC) in Turlock. This article discusses
the founding of SSC, beginning first with a brief glimpse into
California state college history to provide background.
appropriate for a state college. On July 5, 1957, Governor Goodwin
Knight signed into law a $500,000 appropriations measure to
purchase land in Stanislaus County for the new state college. The
legislation was AB 166 and authored by State Assembly Speaker
Ralph M. Brown, a Democrat from Stanislaus County. Next in the
process was the selection of a suitable site in the county.
The State Public Works Board had the responsibility of
site selection for new state college campuses. There were three
Stanislaus County sites before the board: two west of Modesto
and one north of Turlock. Board members were: State Finance
Director, State Public Works Director, State Real Estate
Commissioner, two state senators, and two state assemblymen. On
September 1, 1957, the board announced the new northern San
Joaquin Valley campus would be located on 220 acres at the corner
of Monte Vista Avenue and Geer Road, north of Turlock.
State College History
The current California State University system was
founded in San Francisco in 1857, under the name California State
Weekly Normal School. Its purpose was to train elementary school
teachers for service in the state. In 1862, it was renamed California
State Normal School, with the campus moving to San Jose in 1871.
Criteria for Campus Site
Then the process of adding more campuses began. In 1887, Chico
Normal School was opened, followed by a new normal school in
This stunned competing interests in the county, especially
San Diego in 1897 and another one in San Francisco in 1899. In Modestans, who thought the new campus would surely be in their
1921, California State Normal
city. There had been a friendly
Schools was renamed once
rivalry between the Modesto
again, now being known as
and Turlock concerning the
California State Teachers
location of the new campus, but
Colleges that granted bachelors
now with this decision,
degrees in education. The name
Modestans were outraged and
was changed once more in 1935
harshly critical. Their general
to California State Colleges,
attitude was “Modesto had
conforming to a nationwide
more to offer than Turlock.”
trend of renaming teachers
After all they argued, Modesto
colleges as state colleges.
was the county seat, had a
After World War II,
significantly larger population,
California educational officials
and was home to a junior
placed new state colleges in Los
college. And because of this, it
Road-grader changing the landscape outside one of the fairAngeles, Long Beach, and
was more acculturated and
grounds’ exhibit buildings that was converted into SSC offices
Sacramento. There were now a
urbane than its southern rural
and classrooms
SSC photo
total of 11 in the state college
neighbor
Turlock.
system. Population growth during the war and the next decade Nevertheless, the board had to abide by official guidelines that
dictated the necessity of opening new campuses at Fullerton, went into effect on November 9, 1956. These were its basic tenets:
Hayward, Sonoma, and Stanislaus. Directing this expansion was
Dr. J. Burton Vasche, chief official for the Division of State Colleges (1) The site must be located near the greatest number of eligible
and Teacher Education of the California State Department of students in the region.
Education. Vasche was an Oakdale native, who was in his 40s, a (2) The site must be central to the greatest number of high school
gifted man with vision and unceasing enthusiasm.
graduates in the region.
(3) Junior college facilities must be built in the region before a state
college campus could be established.
Stanislaus County Campus Site
State officials studied population data, concluding that a (4) A new state college campus could not jeopardize the business
state college should be placed somewhere between Stockton and of private colleges already in the region.
Merced to serve a six-county area, consisting of three valley (5) The site must have the minimum amount of commuting time.
counties and three Sierra Nevada counties. Using state college
guidelines for establishing new campuses, state officials determined
that Stanislaus County was the region’s center and therefore
———
Appropriate documents were submitted to the State Public
Works Board to review, with testimony being heard from the sites’
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Stanislaus Historical Quarterly
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proponents. Deliberations focused principally on these seven
issues:
(1) Center of service area population
(2) Center of service area for graduating high school students
(3) Road and highway access to the campus
(4) Soil consistency at the campus site
(5) Water table level at the campus site
(6) Site’s cost
(7) Location of junior colleges and other higher education
institutions in the service area
This was the basic discussion for each of the seven issues:
(1) Center of service area population
The State Public Works Board studied a map prepared by
the Division of State Colleges and Teacher Education, which was
under the authority of the California State Department of Education.
The map was entitled “Primary Service Area of Proposed State
College in Stanislaus County” and was part of the division’s
document “Factors in the Selection of a State College Site in
Stanislaus County,” printed in September 1957.
Division chief Dr. Vasche made this comment about the
document: “Selection of a site for a new state college requires a
clear statement of specifications and an evaluation of available
properties upon the basis of established standards and facts. Such
information is included in the present document.”
The map clearly presented the thinking of the division.
The map’s focus was entirely on Stanislaus and Merced counties,
leaving out the four other counties of Calaveras, Mariposa, San
Joaquin, and Tuolumne in the service area. This is why.
San Joaquin County was eliminated from consideration,
because Stockton Junior College (now San Joaquin-Delta College)
and the College of the Pacific (now University of the Pacific), a
private institution, served the higher education needs of Stockton
and San Joaquin County. The mountain counties were not
considered because of their sparse population. This left only
Stanislaus and Merced counties in contention, with Turlock being
located at the center of the two-county area.
The Turlock site was endorsed by these city councils and/
or chambers of commerce: Atwater, Ceres, Delhi, Denair, Dos Palos,
Gustine, Hilmar, Hughson, Keyes, Livingston, Los Banos, Merced,
Newman, Oakdale, and Patterson. These were communities south
of Modesto, with the exception of Oakdale. Their endorsement
centered on the easy access to the Turlock site by the counties’
roadways.
Population growth statistics were also considered. Since
1950, Stanislaus County had an 18.1 percent increase in population,
with Merced County having 32.4 percent increase. Turlock was
located near the Merced County boundary line. By all accounts,
Turlock was at the center of population, winning this issue.
(2) Center of graduating high school students
Turlock was the center of the high school graduates as seen in the
below table, which was included in the documentation provided to
the State Public Works Board. In the table, Modesto is considered
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10
Special Issue 2013
separately, because of its significant urban nature, while the other
Stanislaus County communities were bunched into another urban
area in a collective sense; hence, the board saw Turlock as the hub
of population, serving 53.6 percent of graduates to Modesto’s 46.4
percent.
Percentage of the 1955-56 High School
Graduates in Stanislaus County
Percentage
Outside of Modesto
Ceres
Denair
Hughson
Oakdale
Orestimba
Patterson
Turlock
Total
8.7
1.8
4.7
14.6
3.5
4.3
16.0
53.6
In Modesto
Modesto
Total
46.4
46.4
(3) Roadway and highway access to the campus
The Turlock site had road access from all corners. Just a
mile west was the four-lane Highway 99, soon to be a freeway. This
would provide access for Modesto and Merced students. Geer
Road provided access from Oakdale and smaller communities from
that area. Monte Vista Road provided west-east access for
communities in those directions. Lander Avenue, south of Turlock,
provided a direct link to the Los Banos area. Also, the Turlock site
was rural where commuters avoided the cumbersome urban streets
that existed in Modesto, with its stop-and-go traffic.
Statistics on commuter miles were presented in the
documentation. If all high school graduates from Merced and
Stanislaus counties were to travel to a Modesto site, there would
be a total of 48,642 commuter miles per day. For the Turlock site, the
figure was 43,508, or a savings of 12 percent. It was calculated that
an Oakdale commuter would travel 18.2 miles to the two Modesto
sites, while it would be 16.8 miles to the Turlock site. And the
commute was a straight rural route from Oakdale on Albers and
Geer roads. Therefore, the argument for the Turlock site was
convincing when looking at road access.
(4) Soil consistency at the campus site
The Modesto sites had deep loamy soil, good for trees,
shrubs, and other landscape vegetation. The Turlock site soil wasn’t
as rich, but agricultural experts testified that the soil could be
enhanced with proper treatment. Local Turlock farmers insisted
that the soil at the Turlock site could grow anything with minimal
effort, while Modestans claimed that nematodes (plant-destroying
insects) infested the Turlock site. Agricultural experts argued that
nematodes could be controlled. It was a stalemate between the
Modesto and Turlock sites concerning soil consistency.
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Stanislaus Historical Quarterly
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(5) Water table level at the campus site
Modesto sites had deep water tables that would not
interfere with site preparation; whereas, the Turlock site consisted
of a high water table, which was inches below the surface, dropping
to 7 feet in some places. Turlock supporters argued that buildings
of two stories or more could be set on pilings to give them stability
at a relatively inexpensive cost.
Central to the issue was drainage. The Turlock site’s water
drainage could be fed into the Turlock Irrigation District’s canal
system. This was not true for the Modesto sites, though supporters
claimed that an arrangement could be formed with the Modesto
Irrigation District if needed.
Related issues of sewage and drinking water were
considered. The Turlock site would be immediately annexed into
the city of Turlock, which
would link it to those services.
This was not the case for the
Modesto sites. Therefore,
Turlock was given the edge on
this issue.
Special Issue 2013
service to an area without any, and there were temporary facilities
available.
Turlock Gets Campus
On September 1, 1957, after considering all the
documentation and testimonies, the State Public Works Board voted
unanimously to establish the new regional state college at the
Turlock site. The unanimous vote came from these board members:
State Director of Finance, State Director of Public Works, and the
State Real Estate Commissioner. The other four members of the
board abstained from voting, because they were state legislators,
wanting the decision to remain independent from politics.
The following day the Modesto Bee reported on the
decision, which read in part:
“This action [site selection
decision] was preceded by an
hour of debate between
interests representing the two
sections of Stanislaus County.
Both Assemblyman Ralph M.
(6) Site’s cost
Brown of Modesto, Speaker of
Cost for either one of
the lower house, and Senator
the Modesto sites was
Hugh P. Donnelly of Turlock,
estimated at $480,000. The
veteran legislator, remained
Turlock site was offered at
A sign designating the future site of SSC at Monte Vista and Geer
neutral. First indication the
$330,000, or a savings of
roads. The photos shows the rural nature of the site SSC photo
scales were tipped in favor of
$150,000. Modesto supporters
Turlock came with the
claimed that preparation of the Turlock site for buildings would recommendation of Dr. Roy E. Simpson, State Superintendent of
cost thousands of dollars, while the Modesto sites had no need for Instruction. Although Simpson was not at the meeting, Dr. J. Burton
preparation.
Vasche, State Associate Superintendent, announced he was
However, the $150,000 savings played a significant role in authorized to say the department strongly favors the Turlock
the selection of the Turlock site. Board member, John Carr, State location. The unsuccessful case for Modesto was presented by
Director of Finance, remarked, “I am influenced mostly by the Milton Kidd, President of the Modesto Irrigation District, and City
savings. The Turlock site will cost $150,000 less than the ones west Manager Ross Miller of Modesto.”
of Modesto.”
A Modesto supporter angrily responded that $150,000 was
From another article of the same day:
peanuts when the decision actually involved hundreds of millions
of dollars in the long term. Seeking immediate economizing, the “Beyer Says Protest Move Is in Order – Fred Beyer, County
State Public Works Board found the $150,000 savings attractive.
Superintendent of Schools, said today, ‘There would be a complete
(7) Location of the junior colleges and other higher education
institutions in the service area
As noted above, state officials concluded that San Joaquin
County was already sufficiently served by a junior college and a
private four-year college. It was argued by Turlock supporters that
Modesto was within commuter distance of those two institutions,
besides Modesto had a junior college of its own. Modestans
contended that it would be an advantage to MJC students, who
came from central California, to transfer to a state college found in
the same city.
Turlock supporters declared that they had the Stanislaus
County Fairgrounds to house the new state college until the
permanent site was ready. Modesto had no such offering though
some pointed out that MJC might allow usage of its facilities. The
Turlock site won this issue, because it provided higher education
———
investigation as to why this decision was made and to what
possibility there is for reconsideration. All implications of the
decision should be reexamined.’”
Superintendent Beyer was criticized for taking such a
position on the issue, because his office represented the entire
county. Modesto Mayor Don Hammond wrote to the state governor
protesting the Turlock selection. The governor wrote a lengthy
reply on April 6, 1958, containing this comment: “The State Public
Works Board and its staff are impartial experts with great
experience.”
Modesto City Council invited the members of the State
Public Works Board to attend any council meeting to discuss the
selection, but no one responded. One Modestan was so upset that
she declared, “Faculty would hate Turlock, because there is nothing
to do there.” It was claimed the decision was political by some,
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Stanislaus Historical Quarterly
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between Turlock Republicans and Modesto Democrats. Aside from
all the arguing and contentious commentary, Turlock celebrated
“State College Day!” the day after the board’s decision.
Modestans continued their public aversion for a time
though. Becoming tired of the rancor, Oakdale Leader editor
pleaded for reconciliation:
Special Issue 2013
Mr. Enoch J. Haga (Business)
Mr. James C. Hanson (Science)
Miss Lola V. Johnson (English)
Dr. Paula K. Loeffler (Physical Science)
Mr. Richard B. Reinholtz (Art and Education)
Mr. Ernest E. Rives (Business Manager
“Let’s bury the old Bowie knife, Modesto, and stick out a paw to
the Turlockers, wish them all the luck in the world and offer all the
congratulations they deserve. Our esteem for our big neighbor and
county seat has suffered a severe blow, because of its
unsportsmanlike attitude over the state college affair. It is hoped
future action will banish the unpleasant feeling now inhabiting the
pit of our stomachs.”
Establishment of SSC
On May 13, 1960, it was announced that Dr. Vasche would
serve as SSC’s first president. His appointment was important,
because of his broad administrative experience and his keen interest
in education. It was his goal to develop SSC into a notable institution
of higher learning. With that in mind, he set out to select the best
President Vasche addressing general faculty at the first meeting on September 1, 1960 at the fairgrounds
SSC photo
Dr. Vasche’s remarks at the meeting in part were:
“It is with pleasure that I welcome you to Stanislaus State. This is a
most important day, for it signifies the beginning of what will become
one of California’s and the nation’s outstanding institutions of
higher learning. This day will forever stand high in the history of
SSC, because it marks the first time that faculty has assembled to
start to work in earnest to build the wonderful college that is to
follow. I know that you have come here in large part, because you
see the tremendous challenge which lies before us, and you are
determined to make your contribution to the achievements that are
to come.
SSC’s first staff and faculty, September 1960, standing in
front of a fairgrounds’ hall. President Vasche is in white coat
front row
SSC photo
faculty and staff he could find. In the college’s infancy, it was
necessary for faculty to serve as administrators and administrators
to serve as faculty. The workload required this, because the student
body was small and courses many, while typical services found at
all colleges needed proper dispensing.
The first general faculty meeting was held September 1,
1960. President Vasche convened, and those present were:
Dr. J Burton Vasche (President)
Dr. Lloyd E. Bevans (Education)
Dr. Joseph E. Bruggman (Music and Education)
Dr. Mary L. Brynes (Education)
Dr. John E. Caswell (Social Sciences)
Mr. Gerald J. Crowley (Campus Development)
Dr. Tom Emmons (Admissions and Records)
Mr. Charles R. Farrar (Education)
Mr. R. Dean Galloway (Library)
———
“You were selected as a member of the faculty, because of your
training, experience, viewpoint toward your field, and toward higher
education in general, and because of your professed desire to work
with your associates at the college on behalf of the common
purpose. The college will require for its development a sharing of
time and thinking, the like of which no other institution has probably
experienced. We must build from scratch. We must live together in
quarters which fall far below accepted standards for college
instruction. . . . All of our attention must be focused upon the kind
of teaching and other influences which we exert upon the student
group. The college this first year will have as its students many
mature and professionally experienced men and women. There will
be wide interests, abilities, objectives, and needs, and I urge you to
give every consideration to personalizing and individualizing your
instructional services. . . .”
Members of the first support staff hired by Dr. Vasche
were: Leona Anderson, Yvonne Baptiste, Barbara Benjamin, Barbara
Bullard, Marjorie Channing, Maude Edmonson, Mildred Eshnaur,
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Stanislaus Historical Quarterly
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Mary Jo Ferrise, Christine Frederick, Irene Hatfield, Harry Hlad,
Lorraine Johnson, Patricia Moore, Esther Noda, Milard Ortman,
Ruth Petit, and Ernest Rives. Lorraine Johnson was the college’s
secretary, having served in a similar position at Turlock High School.
Fairgrounds Campus
It would take five years for the permanent campus to be
completed. In the interim, Stanislaus County Fairgrounds provided
temporary quarters, with SSC occupying the exhibition buildings
being 19 and the oldest 66. There were twice as many women as
men. Students came from 38 cities and towns, which are listed below,
along with their number of students:
Atwater 48, Ceres 41, Delhi 11, Denair 15, Escalon 7, Hilmar 9,
Hughson 10, Keyes 5, Livingston 34, Los Banos 9, Manteca 31,
Merced 56, Modesto 233, Newman 7, Oakdale 19, Patterson 18,
Ripon 5, Sonora 9, Stockton 4, Tracy 13, Turlock 157, Waterford 7,
and Winton 6. There were two each from Empire, Cressey, Hickman,
and Riverbank, and one each from Banta, Crows Landing, Dos
Palos, Farmington, Groveland, Gustine, Lockeford, Pinecrest, Salida,
San Pablo, and Tuolumne.
The first student body officers were:
President
Dick Brown
V. President
James E. Lynch
Secretary
Kay Norton
Treasurer
Robert Turnbow
Attorney General
Owen O’Callaghan
Coord. of Stud. Activities Thelma Keenan
Justices
William Green, Douglas
Hendricks, Louise Stewart
Carpenters constructing offices and classrooms inside one of
the fairgrounds’ halls
SSC photo
on the south side of the fairgrounds. Before moving into them,
offices and classrooms were constructed in their interiors. Local
carpenters and campus employees designed and configured the
new work space and installed equipment.
To provide a college atmosphere the buildings were
accorded appropriate names. The classroom building became
“College Hall,” which housed eight classrooms, business office,
president’s office, and a snack bar. The building for student
activities was “Pioneer Hall,” while a third building became “State
College Library.” Off campus, Turlock High School’s auditorium
and gymnasium were used for special events and sport activities.
The college was a guest at the fairgrounds; therefore,
accommodations were taken to ensure a healthy partnership between
the college and fairground’s personnel. Parking was kept orderly;
streets were one-way to control the flow of traffic; and maintenance
was performed by both parties. In August, when the county fair
was held, it became necessary to move parts of the college to
Turlock High School facilities.
Besides the perennial fair, each December the fairgrounds
hosted the Far West Turkey Show, where turkey growers exhibited
their prize birds and competed for various awards. It was a time
when turkey gobbling penetrated the serious collegiate atmosphere.
To the chagrin of some, the college acquired the nickname “Turkey
Tech,” a colorful agrarian appellation that stuck for several years.
Early Student Body
Until the college was located on the permanent campus
just upper division and graduate curriculum was offered. SSC’s
first registration was held September 15-17, 1960, garnering an
enrollment of 752. Of this, 124 students took 12 or more units; 61
students took six to 12 units; 567 students took six units or less.
Fees were $17 for six units or less and $33 for seven units and more.
The average age of the student body was 37, with the youngest
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Special Issue 2013
13
First School Year
Opening day (first day of classes) ceremonies took place
on September 19, 1960, at 11 a.m. Participating were: State
Assemblyman Ralph M. Brown, State Senator Hugh P. Donnelly,
Castle Air Force Base Color Guard, and Turlock Junior Band. A
formal ribbon-cutting ceremony took place earlier at 8 a.m. in front
of College Hall, with President Vasche and E.B. Leduc, Chairman of
the County Fair Board, cutting the ribbon to officially open the
college.
The college colors chosen by the student body were: rich
red for the California Indians, gold for the Gold Rush, and light
green representing agriculture. The mascot was the “Warrior,” the
school yearbook “The Legend,” and the student newspaper “The
Signal.”
The first graduation commencement was held at 8 p.m.,
Saturday, January 28, 1961, at Turlock High School auditorium.
President Vasche spoke on “This Pioneering Year,” with graduating
students Patricia Hillier, Frances Weir, and Norman Bruce Weston
also addressing the commencement assembly. Twenty-five students
received the college’s first bachelor’s degrees.
Permanent Campus
The 220-acre permanent campus at Monte Vista and Geer
roads was purchased for $371,150. This is a listing of the land’s
ownership at the time of purchase:
Abner Crowell, 40 acres, with buildings
Coleman Crowell, 10 acres, with buildings
Loren Crowell, 20 acres
Orvan Crowell, 20 acres
Darpinian and Sons, 90 acres, with buildings
Frank George, Jr, 10 acres, with buildings (Con’t back cover)
———
————————
Stanislaus Historical Quarterly ————————
(Con’t from p. 13)
Roy Hedstrom, 10 acres, with buildings
Tony Ferreira, 20 acres
On December 13, 1960, President Vasche issued this
statement:
“The college hopes that it may occupy its first building on the
permanent campus site in the fall of 1963. This means that the work
which was done this fall will in turn be translated into a legislative
program to be considered in Sacramento by the legislature shortly
On May 8, 1961, it was announced that the State
Department of Finance had received a request for $56 million for
construction and equipment at the new campus. Of that amount,
$46 million was for construction and $10 million for equipment.
These were the necessary steps taken for construction:
Draft the educational specifications needed by the college
Review by State Department of Education
Review by State Department of Finance
Draft preliminary plans by the architect in cooperation
with the college’s administration
Budget from the state legislature for construction
Working drawings from the architect
State Public Works Board approval of architectural plans
Construction
Equipment installations
It was projected that the campus would reach its maximum
service capacity of 10,000 students in the year 2020. Dr. Roy Simpson,
State Superintendent of Public Instruction, was responsible for the
projection, which was contained in an official state document of
August 19, 1960. (As of 2013, 8,900 students enrolled.) For a complete history of CSUS during its seminal years, consult the author’s
book, Fairground Years, which is found at the CSUS Library.
SSC students in class at a fairground’s hall
SSC photo
after the first of the year. During the spring semester, the legislature
will make its decisions, and then faculty will be required to work in
earnest on formal details next summer, and during the 1961-62 college
year. It is our objective to make our permanent building program
one which will be well suited to meet the needs of the college both
now and for many decades to come, and to have our final college
plant the finest of any college development in this country.”
(Con’t from p. 8) backed her 8-cylindered gas buggy up, hitched on
a tow-rope, Professor Lundkvist offered a sturdy shoulder, ‘Doc’
Fuller some advice, a dozen or more did the shouting – and with a
terrific jerk and an equally terrific tug the mud-bedecked Lizzie was
again on dry land. With a word of thanks to all, Kennedy assisted
his lovely lady into the front seat, hopped in beside her, and with a
rattle and a bang was once more on his way to town.”
And thus, Modesto had its junior college. The story
continues through 1948 in Stanislaus Stepping Stones articles, by
Robert LeRoy Santos
Sources: besides MJC’s publications, local newspapers,
the following were used: “A Historical Analysis of Vocational
Education: Land-Grant Colleges in California to California Junior
Colleges, 1862-1940,” a dissertation by Walter Comm; “A History
of the California Public Junior College Movement,” a dissertation
by Alban Elwell Reid; and “A History of the Junior College
Movement in California,” by Carl G. Winter, a California State
Department document.
Written by Robert LeRoy Santos
Sources: SSC Campus Digest and SSC official press releases found
at CSUS Library, Special Collections, and local newspaper articles.
Also consulted were: “How Turlock Won a College” and “Mr. Carr:
the Figures Favor Turlock,” by Stanley Wilson, and “Factors in the
Selection of a State College Site in Stanislaus County,” by the
Division of State Colleges and Teacher Education of the California
State Department of Education.
Written by Robert LeRoy Santos
Front cover photos: top, MJC’s North Hall; below, SSC commencement, Saturday, January 28, 1961, at Turlock High School
auditorium; and SSC ribbon cutting ceremony in front of College Hall at the fairgournds on September 19, 1960, left to right
are SSC President Vasche, State Senator Hugh Donnelly, State
Assemblyman Ralph Brown, and Stanislaus County Fair Board
Director E.B. Leduce.
Stanislaus Historical Quarterly
Stanislaus Historical Quarterly is published four times a year,
featuring freshly researched articles on Stanislaus County
history. Currently, there is no charge per subscription or individual issues, but readers must notify the editor to be placed
on the mailing list. Ideas for articles or historical information
concerning topics of county history may be sent to the editor.
This is a non-profit educational publication. Stanislaus Historical Quarterly is edited, copyrighted, and published by
Robert LeRoy Santos, Alley-Cass Publications, Tel:
209.634.8218. Email: blsantos@csustan.edu. Ellen Ruth Wine
Santos is assistant editor and proofreader.