In 1938, Tustin Gymnasium, the former men's gym erected in 1890, was remodeled and equipped as a gymnasium for women by the same twenty Trustees who financed the newly constructed Davis Gymnasium. The renovation "require[d] no remodeling of the floor but a complete renovation of the locker, bath and toilet rooms on the first floor." The cost was more than $20,000.00.

The Loomis Athletic Field (Old Loomis Field)

The athletic field, located adjacent to Tustin Gym at the foot of College Hill (not visible but to the far left beyond the tree), had been named in honor of President Justin R. Loomis in 1924. Loomis Field was re-designed "for the use of outdoor sports for women" at a cost of approximately $5,000.00. In the summer of 1938, four tennis courts for women were constructed near Tustin Gym, and two hockey fields were laid out on Loomis Field.

Physical Education for Women in 1945

In 1945, all women were required to take physical education during the freshman and sophomore years.

The college women...[were] given a thorough medical and physical examination before entering the program of physical education. During the spring and fall, the work for women consist[ed] of outdoor athletics; during the winter, activities such as dancing, basketball, and natural gymnastics [were] carried on.

There were no intercollegiate athletic teams for women in 1945 so most of the activities were purely recreational in nature. However, there were athletic contests that included women from other colleges, but the women oftern played on teams that were composed of women from different colleges mixed together on the same team.

The Service Building

The Service Building (which was erected in 1939 and which contained a garage, offices and storage space) is slightly visible to the far right in the photograph. The Service Building, although a separate building, completely filled the gap that had existed between Tustin Gymnasium and the Power House, which had been called the Physical Laboratory in previous years. In 1922, various improvements had been made to the Power House at a cost of $20,012.00.

"require[d] no remodeling..." BT '20-'50, 6/11/1938, p. 2

"for use of indoor..." ib.

'The college women..." CAT '45-'46, pp. 142-143

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 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).