In doing research related to the opening of Ransdell Hall we’ve come across several Founders Day speeches. These are primarily from the 1960’s, but there is an especially interesting one that highlights the earliest years of WKU. A.L. Crabb’s Founders Day Address “It Sounds So Lovely What Our Fathers Did,” reprinted in April 1943 was delivered the previous November 16th. In it he relates his earliest memories as a student in the Southern Normal School in 1904. He introduces the listeners to a host of early faculty including J.S. Dickey, the Cherry Brothers, J.M. Guilliams, J.H. Clagett, M.A. Leiper and Laura Frazee to name a few. It is a great eyewitness account of the early years of WKU.
This and additonal records are available for researchers through our online catalog, KenCat and in the Harrison-Baird Reading Room of the Kentucky Library & Museum Monday – Saturday, 9 – 4. Selected digitized records can be found on TopScholar as well.