Throwback Thursday: A March Through The Past by: Delani Bauer
- HSU Brand
- Mar 28
- 2 min read
The trend of March being a busy and exciting month has continued throughout the Hardin-Simmons University campus since its founding in 1891.
This time of year is filled with opportunities for students to get involved and make a meaningful impact on campus. In March 1958, a student-led campaign, involving 175 HSU students was launched to raise funding for a new chapel and student union building. The campaign’s financial goal was $2.5 million. To support this effort, pledge cards were distributed to students, encouraging them to donate to the cause.
HSU’s senior class of 1858 contributed a pulpit to the chapel and helped increase the endowment for the HSU Richardson Library. The class sought to raise $1000, with a quarter of the funds allocated for the pulpit, and the rest directly supporting the library.
The endowment for the library was established by HSU’s class of 1957, who made an initial investment of $1,200. The method of collecting this money was as follows, “Each student is required to deposit $10 at the business office on admission to the university to cover any possible damages to the dormitories or breakage in the laboratories.” This amount was typically refunded upon graduation, but senior students were encouraged to donate their refunded sum to the Senior Gift Fund.
HSU’s current library (named in honor of Dr. Rupert N. Richardson, distinguished Texas historian and the ninth president of Hardin-Simmons University and his wife Pauline in 1976) has long been home to an impressive collection of documents, books, films and records. In 1958, it was one of the most well-equipped libraries in the Southwest. In the past, the library’s collection was recorded to be, “approximately 66,000 accessioned volumes and 25,000 government publications.” The library’s collection continues to grow, providing students with valuable resources.
HSU offered unique opportunities for students to learn. “A special feature of the library includes small collections in each of the five dormitories on campus. The collections are added to from time to time and rotated from one dormitory to another.”
From fundraising efforts for new buildings to the ongrowing growth of the library’s collections, the HSU community has shown a strong commitment to leaving a lasting impact.
(The Brand (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 21, Ed. 1, Friday, March. 14, 1958)
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