Purdue University
Introduction
This section will familiarize you with Purdue University, some of its
history and traditions, important people and places. Knowing more about
your university is an important part of becoming an Alpha Zeta active.
Study this information well.
History
Purdue Campus
Purdue University is the Indiana link in the chain of 68 land-grant
colleges and universities which owe their origin to the Morrill Act signed
by President Lincoln on July 2, 1862. the main purpose of this college
would be the teaching of agriculture and mechanic arts.
In 1869, the assembly accepted $150,000 and 100 acres of land from John
Purdue for the site of the college. In appreciation for his gift, the
legislators determined that the university should be named Purdue
University.
Two years before Purdue began to function, a plan of organization for the
university was worked out by Richard Owen, the first president. On
September 16, 1874, classes began with six instructors and sixty-four
students.
Today, Purdue's campus buildings dwarf the three original structures and
enrollment has increased to more than 30,000 on the Lafayette campus and
about 12,000 on the regional campuses. It's 75,000 graduates throughout
the world are responsible for Purdue's reputation as one of America's
leading co-educational universities.
Purdue Wreck
At 9:55 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, 1903, the first of two special
trains carrying the Purdue football players, students, and fans to the
Purdue-IU game crashed into a string of coal cars being pushed by a switch
engine. As engine #350 came around a bend near 18th Street in Indianapolis
the engineer, W.A. Shumaker, saw the danger, applied the brakes, reversed
the engine, and leaped from the cab.
The first four coaches were shattered but all of the casualties were
limited to the first car, which contained the team, managers, trainer and
a few strong followers. The second car, containing the Purdue Band and a
number of female passengers, and the next two cars were derailed and
shattered, but all of the occupants escaped serious injury. The people in
the ten rear cars were shaken up but did not realize that there had been a
wreck.
The game, which was to have been played at Washington Park in
Indianapolis, was canceled. The money from the advance ticket sales was
turned over to the Purdue Athletic Association and IU offered to play a
benefit game with Notre Dame to raise more funds. In all, fifteen players
and students were killed in the wreck.
Big Ten Conference
In 1895, Purdue's President Smart called a meeting of all of the seven
Midwest university presidents in Chicago to consider the regulations and
control of college athletics. As a result, the Intercollegiate Conference
of Faculty Representatives was organized in 1896. The seven original
members included Purdue, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern, University of
Chicago, Michigan and Illinois. Although the "Big Ten" is the common nabe
for the conference, the original name is still the official title.
Big Ten Schools
School Name | Team Name | Location | colors |
Illinois | Fighting Illini | Urbana, IL | orange and
blue |
Indiana | Hoosiers | Bloomington, IN | crimson
and cream |
Iowa | Hawkeyes | Iowa City, IA |
black and gold |
Michigan | Wolverines | Ann Arbor, MI |
maize and blue |
Michigan State | Spartans | East Lansing, MI |
green and white |
Minnesota | Golden Gophers | Minneapolis, MN |
gold and maroon |
Northwestern | Wildcats | Evanston, IL |
purple and white |
Ohio State | Buckeyes | Columbus, OH |
scarlet and gray |
Penn State | Nittiny Lions | University Park, PA |
navy blue and white |
Purdue | Boilermakers | West Lafayette, IN |
Old Gold and Black |
Wisconsin | Badgers | Madison, WI |
red and white |
John Purdue
John purdue was the founder and benefactor of this university. He was born
in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, the only male in a family of eight children.
Although he disliked teaching, he taught school in Pickway County, Ohio,
for four years. On his first visit to Lafayette in 1837, he was impressed
by the possibilities of the town. Two years later he came back to stay and
set up a dry goods and grocery store. By 1845 he had built the "Purdue
Block" which at that time was said to be the largest business block in the
Midwest.
He gave freely of his money and time, particularly toward promoting a plan
for free education supported by public taxes. During the Civil War he
equipped and provided training for the "Purdue Rifles," who fought under
the Union flag.
He was instrumental in planning the university campus and its early
buildings. On several occasions he even assisted in selecting the faculty.
On the first day of classes in 1876, he died from an attack of apoplexy.
He was buried on the campus of the school he helped to found. His grave is
located across from University Hall near the flagpole on the western edge
of the Oval.
Ross-Ade Stadium
Ross-Ade Stadium, located north of Cary Quad, is the playing field for all
of Purdue's home football games and performances of the Purdue
"All-American" Marching Band. It was named after two prominent alumni,
David Ross and George Ade, who contributed much of the money for its
original construction, as well as 65 acres that now hold the present
stadium, field house and practice field. Construction began in 1924, and
the stadium was dedicated at the Purdue-IU game on November 22 of that
year. It has been enlarged three times and has a present seating capacity
of 69,200. After the 1985 season, the Boilers have a 175-88-10 record in
Ross-Ade.
Purdue Memorial Union
The Union idea at Purdue was suggested by an undergraduate in 1912. He
envisioneda building where students could meet and work on their various
extracurricular activities. The class of 1912 voted an assessment of $5
from each senior to start a fund to erect a home for students, alumni, and
faculty activities. Succeeding classes followed the same procedure until
1917.
Then came the Great War. At its close, Purdue looked at the record of
4,013 men and women in the service, at the 67 gold stars, ..and in many
minds there arose the thought that the Union should stand as a permanent
memorial to those who had died for it. With this in mind the "Purdue
Memorial Union" came into being.
In June of 1922, the first sod was broken. The building was opened for use
in September of 1924. Five additions have been added to the original
structure since that time.
Great Hall
The Great Hall is located in the Memorial Union. Onb the floor is a cross
which commemorates the W.W.I veterans. The tradition is that no one is to
step on the cross. Also located in this hall is a large bronze plaque
which contains the World War Honor Roll. Four statues are located in the
Great Hall, all of important men in Purdue's history: Abraham Lincoln, who
provided the legislation that set up land-grant schools such as Purdue,
david Ross, Edward C. Elliott, and Frederick L. Hovde.
Memorial Gym
The Memorial Gym was originally suggested by Mr. Jones of the U.S.
Experimental Station at Purdue. A meeting was held on November 6 to
organize a fund raising drive to build a memorial to the dead of the
Purdue Wreck. Ground was broken on Staurday, May 30, 1908, on Memorial
Day, and the building was dedicated on May 29, 1909. It cost $85,000. The
University gave $25,000, and the rest of the money came from the New York
Central Railroad ($15,000), George Ade ($2,500), and other small
contributions. Everyone bears his head when entering the building. It was
formerly known as the Women's Gym, but is now known as the Computer
Science Building.
Varsity Walk
The Varsity Walk is a wide central walk crossing the Engineering Mall in a
north-south direction. Alongside the walk are bronze plaques which bear
the names of former Boilermakers who were chosen the most outstanding
athlete in any varsity sport during their senior year. The walk was
started by the Reamer Club in 1956. The announcement of the winner is made
each year during Gala Week.
Oval and Hello Walk
Opposite University Hall, near the flagpole on the western edge of the
Oval, lies the grave of John Purdue. In former years this area was bounded
on the western side by a semicircular road and walk which is known as the
"Hello Walk." In the friendly tradition of Purdue, dating back to 1893, it
was customary to say "hello" to any person one met along this walk. This
custom still exists today and has been extended to include the new walks
which crisscross the Oval.
The Mural
The mural in the west foyer of Stewart Center measures 58 feet long and 10
feet wide. It bears the name, "The Spirit of the Land-grant College." The
mural is the work of Eugene Francis Savage, an artist born in Covington,
Indiana. His work portrays the ideal of democratic education at Purdue and
the other land-grant colleges by showing the struggle for growth in
agriculture, industry, transportation, and education from the early
nineteenth century.
Boilermaker
In 1889, the two newly hired Purdue coaches were quite discouraged by the
scrawny volunteers that turned out for the football team. Not to be
outdone by anyone, the coaches hired several husky boilermakers from
Morton Railroad Shops and a few burly policemen as well. After enrolling
these men in one university course, they set about playing football,
resulting in victory after victory. When the team beat Wabash College, the
Crawfordsville newspapers became slightly incensed and wrote a few
uncomplimentary articles calling the team "Sluggers", "Cornfield Sailors",
"Haymakers", and "boilermakers." The last name struck the fancy of the
students who have been proud to be known as the Boilermakers ever
since.
Boilermaker Special
The "Special" is the official mascot of the University. It came into being
in 1940, and the present one is the fifth to exist. The Reamer Club is its
custodian. In 1979, the Special was joined by the Boilermaker
Extra-Special, a smaller version of the Special built on a golf cart, and
capable of going places the special cannot, such as into Mackey Arena or
the Memorial Union.
Victory Bell
This bell was purchased in 1887 and served as the alarm clock for the
students in bygone days. As the University grew and the bell was no longer
needed as a rising bell, it was placed in a museum until, in 1905, when
Purdue beat IU some enthusiastic Boilermakers hauled the bell from its
resting place and carried it through Lafayette and left it on the
courthouse steps. The patience of the town officials grew thin and they
ordered that the bell be hidden. It was hulled in a gravel pit where Hovde
Hall now stands. Later it was unearthed by the class of 1907 and in 1916
the Bell House was constructed. The bell is taken out after every home
football game, but is only rung after Purdue conference victories. The
Gimlets are its custodians.
Old Oaken Bucket
This is the trophy awarded to the victor of the annual Purdue-IU football
game. Each year the winning team carries the bucket and adds another
bronze initial link to the long chain dangling from the handle. The bucket
appeared in 1925, when the alumni of both schools decided that there
should be some kind of tangible relic of the rivalry that has always
existed. A shiny new pail from a Chicago mail order house was obtained and
traded for a moss-covered one hanging in a well on the old Bruner farm
between Kent and Hanover, Indiana. It has been rumored that the legendary
Morgan Raiders camped near the Bruner farm during their Civil War raids
through Indiana, and, as legend has it, General Morgan and his officers
took delight in quenching their thirst from the now famous bucket filled
with water from the well in which it formerly hung. When acquired in 1925,
the bucket was green coated and some of the staves showed signs of decay,
but it was repaired and taken to Bloomington, the site of the 1925 game.
It has twelve staves and four copper rings. Through and including 1990
football games, there are 43 P's, 20 I's, and 3 IP's.
Lions
The lions were presented by the class of 1903 as a gift to the University.
The cost of the Lions was $600. They do not spout water anymore because
the water is turned off and the drains are plugged. The distance between
the eyes is 4.75 inches and it is said that whenever a virgin walks by,
the lions roar. Amber Frederick, AZ Purdue Alumni Committee chair, is
working on restoring the lions to their original working conditions. If
you would like more information or if you would like to donate money to
this fund feel free to e-mail
her.
Purdue Seal
Thge modernistic circular seal of Purdue University was designed in 1968
by Prof. A.J. Gowan. Its predecessor was created by Abby P. Lutle in 1895.
Both seals consist of a griffin holding a shield. The griffin symbolizes
strength. The shield is divided into three pans symbolizing the three alms
of the university: education, research, and service.
Purdue Colors
Purdue's colors are old gold and black. In the early fall of 1887, it was
decided that for the football team to achieve distinction in college
athletics, it must have college colors. At a meeting of the Athletic
Association, the team captain's proposal of old gold and black was
adopted.
University Hall
University Hall is the oldest building on campus. Built in 1876, its
construction was initiated by John Purdue, although he didn't live to see
its completion. It was first used three years after the start of classes
at Purdue. In its early days, it housed the President's offices, the
library, and a chapel. In the early 1960's it was remodeled inside and air
conditioned.
Founders Park
Founders Park is located by the new Liberal Arts and Education Building.
Its fountain formerly resided on the Engineering Mall. It was built in the
summer of 1959. The money was donated by Bert E. and June Loeb. The
inscription reads, "To honor Solomen Loeb, pioneer local merchant, by Bert
E. and June Loeb Foundation." It is made of granite with 53 red, yellow,
and blue lights in three circles.