I’ve got stuff, lots of stuff. And I know stuff.
But, most of the stuff I have and know is stuff most people don’t care about. Fair enough. Most of the stuff I have and most of the stuff I know is also Slippery Rock stuff.
The particular stuff pictured here is something I value greatly, and you should value it too. It is a very old photograph, one of the oldest of its kind in existence, entitled, “Students – Slippery Rock Normal.” It is dated April 1893.
Most of the students in the photograph don’t appear old enough, by today’s standards, to be college students. That’s because they weren’t. This time period was when Slippery Rock was a two-year institution and the average age of a student was 14-16 years old. Those appearing older in the photograph are probably faculty who just slipped into the moment being captured.
The building in the background is the original girls dormitory, North Hall, which burned to the ground during Homecoming weekend in 1937. It was one of three original buildings including the boys dormitory, South Hall and the Chapel. All were lost to fire.
You will notice that men and women are mostly separated in the photograph. That’s the way it was at that time. Separate dormitories, several classes and even the sidewalks were separated by gender.
Although not acknowledged, the photograph was probably taken by Billingsley, the town photographer. And, the individual who framed the photograph for posterity 132 years ago, took the time to record on the back that it was framed in a piece of American Chestnut, which was cut on campus.
It’s interesting that Dr. Albert Maltby, the Principal (president) is not pictured. The annual “all students photograph” in front of North Hall became a tradition during his 27 year tenure – the longest of any SRU president.
All of this historical information is important, but it is not why you should greatly value this piece of stuff.
You should value it because it is a photograph of students, the most important part of Slippery Rock University! Yes, that’s correct! Students were the most important part of Slippery Rock Normal 132 years ago and students are the most important part of Slippery Rock University today. Not the faculty, although they comprise the other half of the teaching – learning formula. Not the president and others in Old Main. Not the staff throughout campus. Not the alumni and friends of the University. Not even the townspeople whose ancestors founded Slippery Rock Normal in 1889.
It’s the students! They matter most!
