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Daily Kansan Thursday, September 15, 1966
Second century is begun
Kansas had been a state only five years as the University of Kansas prepared to open its doors 100 years ago, yet KU was only the third state-supported institution of higher education.
Kansas then had less than a tenth of its present population, nearly all living in the eastern third. Westward expansion, triggered by the Civil War's end, was just beginning. The cross-state railroad was little past Manhattan.
Beyond Salina was Indian and buffalo country. The sod house and dugout were the homes of many of the new settlers. A visitor to Salina reported; "Owing to the sarcity of lumber—a scarcity growing out of the want of more mills more than the lack of timber—a great many of the settlers live in caves excavated on the banks of the river and covered with earth; these earthen roofs are very popular hereaway and I was surprised to find the quarters at Fort Ellsworth covered with them."
Leavenworth was the state's metropolis with 14,000; Lawrence second with 6,000. Topeka had trouble finding 4,000 inhabitants. But the first Kansans, though few and far between, were willing to spend tax dollars for education. Taking advantage of the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1852, the State accepted the 120 acres and one building of Bluemont College, a Methodist school, to establish the Kansas Agricultural College at Manhattan. K-State received its first students, 26 men and 26 women, Sept. 2, 1863.
The Emporia State Normal School was opened Feb. 15, 1865 with one teacher and 16 students in the upstairs room of the village school house. The only outside connection for Emporia's 500 citizens was a tri-weekly stage to Lawrence.
The churches antedated the state in open colleges. Baker (Methodist) was first in 1858, closely followed by Highland University (Presbyterian). Ottawa University (Bapist) and Lane University, Lecompton, (United Brethren) were chartered in 1865. Lincoln College (Congregational), later renamed Washburn, opened in Topeka in January, 1866.
Smallpox is Bass study
Smallpox struck an Indian village in the middle of the 18th century and the survivors fled their home in what is now central South Dakota.
This prehistoric village—so termed because no documentary records mention it—may be one of the very few to be excavated showing evidence of a smallpox plague.
Now in the mid-20th century, this same Indian village shows promise of yielding its secrets to a KU anthropologist and will take its place in the history of the American Indian.
"We know that smallpox began to spread among the Indians in the early 1700's," said William M. Bass, associate professor of anthropology. "We know that a plague hit the piains in the 1740's so it is possible this village was abandoned then."
NATIONAL CHEERLEADING FINALIST Miss Karen Dunaway returns to her second year as a KU Pom Pon girl after taking National honors for her cheerleading ability.
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Pom Pon girls back
Sporting mini skirts and smiles KU's Pom-Pon girls, eight all together, will debut for the second year at KU this fall.
Appearing at football and basketball games, the girls create enthusiasm from an already "booming" student body.
The girls selected this year from a large field of aspirants are: Dorothea Davis, Shawnee Mission junior; Cynthia Dickson, Leavenworth senior; Karen Dunaway, Topeka junior; Karen Rensstrom, Omaha junior; Parmelee Bates, New York City junior; Shirley Gossett, Prairie Village sophomore; Nancy Miller, Topeka junior, and Diane Atteberry, Kirksville, Mo., senior.
There are also four active alternates named; Diane Farmer, Pratt sophomore; Dena Smith, Prairie Village sophomore; Jill Marsh, Leawood junior; and Judy Whitaker. Toneka junior.
Inactive alternates are Martha Lanning, Lawrence junior; Laurel
Bells to peal
KU's 53-bell carillon in the Memorial Campanile will play a concert throughout the year at 3 p.m. on Sunday and 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Albert Gerken, assistant professor of Theory, is the carilloneller.
Wedell, Ofallon, Ill., sophomore; Sally Viola, Abilene junior, and Kendall Herrick, Shawnee Mission junior.
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