University Archives News

Object Lesson: Rope Burns for the Alma Mater

A monthly feature highlighting the artifact collection of the University Archives.

Tug of War Team 1889

Five steely-eyed young men file forward with clenched jaws and veins bulging on their forearms to anchor their feet on wooden cleats. Their leathery palms grip a thick rope as they dig down into position to await the starting pistol. The crowd is wild with anticipation and raucous chants and cheers pierce the cigar-smoke-filled air of the arena. With a crack, "the pull" is on!

During the late 1880's and early 1890's, Northwestern University was a national force in the popular, inter-collegiate sport of Tug-of-War. Yes, you read correctly: Tug-of-War. And it was more popular than football on campus during its reign. Many colleges and universities during this era had traditions of class year tug-of-war battles; many times between freshmen and sophomores; often contested across a river or mud pit.

In the artifact collection, the Archives holds two gold medals won by NU teams in this struggle of muscle and will. The first is from April 23, 1888, when the school squad bested a team from the Union Athletic Club (then the largest private sporting club in Chicago) in a match at the Casino Skating Rink.

The second medal, from December 2, 1891, is inscribed to E.B. Fowler, who was the anchor of the NU team for several years. This medal is possibly from the National Inter-Collegiate Championship that Northwestern won that year by defeating Columbia. In 1892, Northwestern won the Hub Cup for the third consecutive time, giving them permanent possession of the cup and the title of "Champions of the Northwest."

Edson Brady Fowler (WCAS 1893, Medicine 1896) was also awarded a medal from the U.S. Government for his role in the Evanston Life Saving Crew's rescue of all 18 crewmen of the steamer Calumet, which ran aground on a sandbar during a blizzard on November 8, 1889. Fowler went on to practice as a successful physician and surgeon in Chicago and Evanston for many years. He is visible at the far left of both team photographs, anchoring the squad. The Archives holds the Edson B. Fowler Family Papers as Series 55/2.

Tug of War Team circa 1890

Daily on Dillinger

After infamous criminal John Dillinger was killed while resisting arrest on July 22, 1934, the Daily Northwestern published a commentary by Paul Ziffren in its "News Review" column. Ziffren objects to the graphic nature of other newspapers' coverage, particuarly the photographs of Dillinger's corpse, but finds Dillinger's end befitting of his actions.

One of the most flagrant violations of decency and good taste in journalism was afforded by the Chicago newspapers [sic] handling of John Dillinger's capture and death.

True, Dillinger was a notorious character, and the way he died substantiates the old maxim—"crime never pays." But the morbid accounts of his life and death and the sickening pictures plastered throughout the papers constitute a striking indictment of Chicago newspaper tactics.

It is not a matter of justice to the dead gangster that is objectionable, because he deserved no consideration. It is, however, a direct affront to the newspaper public of Chicago to print pictures of anyone's body on a funeral slab or anyone's body mutilated by shots being carried in the patrol wagon. Perhaps this can't be labeled "yellow journalism," but the difference is infinitesimal.

Betcha Didn't Know!

In the wee hours, at least once in your life, tossing and turning, you must have asked yourself, "What, pray tell, is the Class Yell of the School of Pharmacy Class of 1904?" Admit it! Well, here's the answer you were looking for:

Really. If you don't believe it, see it with your own eyes in the 1904 Syllabus. Just so happens, we have a copy waiting for you to look at in the University Archives. Quite a sales pitch, right?

In case you didn't even know NU had a School of Pharmacy from 1886-1917, let alone a yell, read more about it.

The Women's Fourth of July

Independence Day in Evanston in 1871 was marked by parades, bands, fireworks, a baseball game, and many speeches. Not an unusual way to celebrate the 4th—except that these activities were organized by local women and served as a fundraising event for the nascent Evanston College for Ladies—with the highlight of the day being the laying of the cornerstone for the new building (now the Music Administration Building).

The day-long series of events was masterminded by the Women's Educational Aid Association and trustees of the Evanston College for Ladies, led by its President, Frances E. Willard.

As she described in her autobiography, Willard "slept and woke 4th of July," spending months planning and promoting the event. Speakers included the President of Northwestern University, Erastus O. Haven (the man who had brought co-education to the University); Robert Cumnock, founder of the School of Oratory, read the Declaration of Independence; and there were several other prayers and orations throughout the day. Afternoon events included a "base ball match between the Ladies College nine and Northwestern University nine," a regatta on the Lake, and a "comic representation" at the chapel. The Women's Fourth of July in Evanston was covered in great detail in the next day's Chicago Tribune, and was considered a great success.
John Evans himself (then governor of Colorado) gave $10,000 to the new college; the Northwestern student newspaper, the Tripod, reported that a total of $25,000 was pledged that day, plus $2500 from the sale of tickets. The Evanston College for Ladies opened in September, 1871, with 236 students. However, many of the College's backers lost their money in the Great Fire in Chicago the next month. In 1873, the Evanston College for Ladies became the Woman's College of Northwestern, with Willard as the first Dean of Women.