haworth --ing fine harness horses. I had a little mare once that...No. I never saw a moonlight dance. I wear number nine shoe. I do not think that physical exercise should be compulsory for faculty members.
dyche
By Hector Olave
There is a building on the KU campus who's name very few student-or faculty can pronounce with a close degree of accuracy — Haworth Hall.
The oldish • looking building was built in 1909 with an investment of $50,000. It was dedicated on Feb 25, 1910 on the same ground it stands today, between Robinson Gymnasium and Hoch Auditorium.
"Haworth", the vocal stumbling block, was the name of Prof. Erasmus Haworth who headed the KU Geology Department from 1902 until his reservation for "economic reasons" in 1920.
Erasmus Haworth was a very popular KU personality in the first years of the century. Due to paternal behavior, his students called him "Daddy". Erasmus.
His view of himself is revealed in an article which appeared in the University Daily Kansan on April 25, 1912. At that time Haworth was Kansas' State Geologist. Under the headline, "Two Minutes with Campus Celebrities", the article said:
"My full name is Erasmus Haworth. I do not believe in predestination. I weigh 235 pounds, and was born in Iowa. Yes, I was born in a log cabin, too.
"No, I never smoke. I love to stay at home with my family at night. My favorite hobby is raising fine harness horses. I had a little mare once that...No. I never saw a moonlight dance. I wear number nine shoe. I do not think that physical exercise should be compulsory for faculty members.
"I have been State Geologist of Kansas for about ten years. No, it is not a graft. I have a pretty rocky time of it sometimes. Oh, no, I am not addicted to the use of any drugs whatever. Until the summer of 1911, I have always maintained that the world was gradually becoming colder.
This man who answered with great humour the reporter's curiosity was very serious when he resigned from his position in 1920.
"I intended to resign my position at the University two years ago, he said,"but the war conditions had so disrupted the faculty then and last year, that I have waited until the present time to take action."
Following his resignation he went into private practice as petroleum engineer, living at Wichita and Hays. After his wife's death in 1931, he spent most of his time in Washington, D.C., and Ridgewood, N.J. Professor Erasmus "Daddy" Haworth died in Wichita on Nov. 18, 1932.
In its early years, Haworth Hall housed the geology and mineral engineering departments. The building was essentially a frame box with engineering equipment stored in the sloping south end.
When World War II began, the medical school replaced the geology department, which had been moved to the then new Lindley Hall. When the medical department moved to Kansas City, it took with it the cadavers for which Haworth Hall was most noted.
Today, Haworth Hall houses the departments of anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology. It is, as the Student Handbook 1965-66 says, "a convenient mid-campus point for 'socializing' during the day."
Three gargoyles sitatop Dyche Hall which are rarely noticed by KU students. Though thousands of students have passed the building for more than sixty years, it is doubtful if a dozen know that "the most famous college yell in America" is carved on the chests of the gargoyles.
Dyche Hall, housing KU's Museum of Natural History, was built in 1901, the gargoyles seemingly having been placed there then.
The gargoyle on the southwest side of the museum has "Rock Chalk" engraved on its chest; the gargoyle on the left side of and above the front entrance to the building says, "J. Hawk"); and the gargoyle on the right side of and above the entrance is engraved with "K.U." The three together signify "Rock Chalk Jay Hawk KU."
Halltoppers -and Hammerstein. The last production given in Fraser Theatre were two operas on May 1, 1957.
fraser ___
By Norma C. Romano
When Fraser Hall was torn down an era was closed. For generations the twin towers of the building overlooking the valley at the peak of Mount Oread were symbolic of and synonymous with KU.
Until a year ago, the "Jayhawk sentinel!" housed the departments of English, German, home economics, Latin and Greek; University Extension, Teacher Appointing Bureau, visual instruction division; correspondence study and the Wilcox Museum.
When first occupied in 1872, Fraser Hall, named University
Hall until 1897, was the largest educational building in the United States. It consisted of 54 rooms in three stories and a basement. Chancellor Fraser predicted that it would be adequate to meet the University's needs for 50 years. This second oldest building at KU cost $146,000 to build.
And it was Fraser Theatre, "the grand old veteran of some 650 performances between 1928 and 1957" that was "virtually junked" after University Theatre moved into Murphy Hall.
It had been the home of hundreds of successful plays ranging from Shakespeare to Rodgers
Fraser Theatre was the place where students, faculty and visitors wept and laughed. It was the place where famous speakers stood on its rostrum.
The first graduation exercises for four seniors, were held in Fraser Auditorium in June 1873. The solemn occasion, however, was interrupted when jokers lowered a skeleton belonging to the zoology department through an opening in the ceiling just as Chancellor Fraser was delivering the main address. Inscribed
on the skeleton was the word Prex.
The original 54 rooms of Fraser Hall had been divided into 70 by 1965. Electricity replaced the old gas lights in 1893, stone steps took over for wooden stairs, fire escapes were added from time to time and the old red tile roof became shingles in 1953.
Familiar to students and faculty were the American flag and the KU banner adorning the top of the twin peaks. In Fraser's earlier days, the Chancellor's flag was usually flown during registration week and weather flags were often displayed to let students know the latest report.
Finally in the summer of 1965, Fraser Hall, the "Jayhawk sentinel," the "Second home for KU students" stood proud and tall in its last semester on the KU campus sedately awaiting its destruction.
If Fraser Hall could have talked it could have told the history of the growth of a mighty state institution which has mushroomed from one building to the giant educational complex of 1966. But Fraser could not be heard, only felt in the hearts of those who knew it and who sadden to hear of its destruction.