Bucknell Hall

1945
Bucknell Hall

After 1915, the function of Bucknell Hall began to change. Although it continued to be used for chapel services every morning for many years, the hall was too small to accommodate the growing student body. In 1919, the Special Committee appointed to consider the successor to President Harris when recommending Emory Hunt as his successor also recommended that “…the Chapel be enlarged as soon as practicable for the purpose of providing a meeting place where students may assemble for such purposes as may be desirable.” That same year at a special board meeting that resulted in a recommendation that R.O.T.C. be continued at Bucknell beyond 1919, the Trustee Committee on Instruction recommended also that a “moving picture apparatus” be installed in the building. As a consequence of the Depression, in 1930 the Trustees postponed the enlargement of the building.

Throughout the first half of the Twentieth Century, Bucknell University continued to maintain its identity as a “Christian College.” In 1920, the Trustees reaffirmed the religious heritage of the university when, after a student “disturbance”, they voted “…this Board will uphold and support President Hunt and the Faculty in their efforts to emphasize the Christian character and purpose of the University, and to subject to the severest discipline any and all students who use strong drink, or who in any way bring discredit upon the University.”

By 1945, however, the number of students who identified themselves as Baptists was declining. In 1946, President Spencer reported: “In 1926, enrolment 1037, the Baptists ranked first, when 25.9% of the students were classified as Baptist, while in 1946, enrolment 2043, this denomination ranked fifth with 9.8% of the students classified as Baptists.” In 1946, Presbyterians ranked first, composing almost 19% of the student body.

In 1945, weekly chapel services were held in a church in Lewisburg because there was not enough room in Bucknell Hall:

Chapel is held at 11:00 A.M. in the Lewisburg Baptist Church each Wednesday that the University is in session. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are required to attend half of the total number of chapel services held. Emphasis is laid upon worship, inspirational addresses, and special programs of music.

The “...attendance of at least one-half of the chapel exercises [was] a requirement for graduation.” By 1945, all the “...voluntary student religious activities [had] been unified as one campus and community organization under the name of the Bucknell University Christian Association.”

"...the Chapel be enlarged..." BT '82-'20, p. 345 (2/7/1919)

"motion picture appratus" ib., p. 351 (6/4/1919)

"...this Board will uphold..." ib., p.380 (6/15/1920)

"Chapel is held..." CAT '45-'46, p. 34

"...attendance of at least..." ib., p. 68

"...voluntary student religious..." ib., p. 34

The major source for the information on this page is the Minutes of the Board of Trustees of Bucknell University, 1920-1950 (BT '20-'50). Additional sources are Memorials of Bucknell University, 1919-1931 (MEM '19-'31) ; and the Bucknell University Bulletin, Catalogue Issue, Ninety-Ninth Year, 1944-1945 (CAT '44-'45) and the Bucknell University Bulletin, Catalogue Issue, One Hundredth Year, January, 1946 (CAT '45-'46).

This building in other years: 1895 | 1915 | 1965 | 1985 | Current
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	1945 Bucknell Hall

After 1915, the function of Bucknell Hall began to change. Although it continued to be used for chapel services every morning for many years, the hall was too small to accommodate the growing student body. In 1919, the Special Committee appointed to consider the successor to President Harris when recommending Emory Hunt as his successor also recommended that “…the Chapel be enlarged as soon as practicable for the purpose of providing a meeting place where students may assemble for such purposes as may be desirable.” That same year at a special board meeting that resulted in a recommendation that R.O.T.C. be continued at Bucknell beyond 1919, the Trustee Committee on Instruction recommended also that a “moving picture apparatus” be installed in the building. As a consequence of the Depression, in 1930 the Trustees postponed the enlargement of the building. Throughout the first half of the Twentieth Century, Bucknell University continued to maintain its identity as a “Christian College.” In 1920, the Trustees reaffirmed the religious heritage of the university when, after a student “disturbance”, they voted “…this Board will uphold and support President Hunt and the Faculty in their efforts to emphasize the Christian character and purpose of the University, and to subject to the severest discipline any and all students who use strong drink, or who in any way bring discredit upon the University.” By 1945, however, the number of students who identified themselves as Baptists was declining. In 1946, President Spencer reported: “In 1926, enrolment 1037, the Baptists ranked first, when 25.9% of the students were classified as Baptist, while in 1946, enrolment 2043, this denomination ranked fifth with 9.8% of the students classified as Baptists.” In 1946, Presbyterians ranked first, composing almost 19% of the student body. In 1945, weekly chapel services were held in a church in Lewisburg because there was not enough room in Bucknell Hall: Chapel is held at 11:00 A.M. in the Lewisburg Baptist Church each Wednesday that the University is in session. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are required to attend half of the total number of chapel services held. Emphasis is laid upon worship, inspirational addresses, and special programs of music. The “...attendance of at least one-half of the chapel exercises [was] a requirement for graduation.” By 1945, all the “...voluntary student religious activities [had] been unified as one campus and community organization under the name of the Bucknell University Christian Association.” "...the Chapel be enlarged..." BT '82-'20, p. 345 (2/7/1919) "motion picture appratus" ib., p. 351 (6/4/1919) "...this Board will uphold..." ib., p.380 (6/15/1920) "Chapel is held..." CAT '45-'46, p. 34 "...attendance of at least..." ib., p. 68 "...voluntary student religious..." ib., p. 34 The major source for the information on this page is the Minutes of the Board of Trustees of Bucknell University, 1920-1950 (BT '20-'50). Additional sources are Memorials of Bucknell University, 1919-1931 (MEM '19-'31) ; and the Bucknell University Bulletin, Catalogue Issue, Ninety-Ninth Year, 1944-1945 (CAT '44-'45) and the Bucknell University Bulletin, Catalogue Issue, One Hundredth Year, January, 1946 (CAT '45-'46).
This building in other years: 1895 \| 1915 \| 1965 \| 1985 \| Current Back to the Bucknell History Page \| Back to the 1945 Page