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History
Book provides glimpses into Dickinson State
University’s
past
Take
advantage of the Sale and
order your History book for only $25.
Click
here to Order your Dickinson State University History
Book Today!
“The
College on the Hill: The Story of Dickinson State University” is
scheduled for delivery in the fall of 2003. Authored by
Winifred Stump-DeLong, former Dean of the College of Arts
and Sciences at the university, “The College on the
Hill: The Story of Dickinson State University” will
provide readers with 200-225 pages of text and an additional
30-50 pages of color and black and white photos chronicling
the history of Dickinson State University.
Stump-DeLong’s book adds to the story of Dickinson
State University at both ends of the time spectrum. Starting
in 1907, “The College on the Hill: The Story of
Dickinson State University” follows the university’s
existence throughout its history and into the modern
day. Where the book’s timeline overlaps with Ozzie
Belsheim’s text, Stump-DeLong makes use of additional
research and documentation not previously available to
add additional scope to the story.
 “I have chosen to call this book a ‘story’ of
Dickinson State, rather than the ‘history’ of
the university,” writes Stump-DeLong in the book’s
introduction. “What we call ‘history’ comes
to us from many sources. It is not surprising, therefore,
that there are as many interpretations of an event or
series of events, as there are witnesses. There can never
be the definite telling of the facts. That is why I would
like the readers of this book to think of it as a story
about Dickinson State. Not because it is fiction, but
because it is an account of actions that have been filtered
through the prism of time.”
Readers of the book will enjoy previously unpublished
information regarding the university’s earliest
days spent in the Elks Building in downtown Dickinson.
For instance, Stump-DeLong quotes the following information
regarding the old business office on the second floor
of the Elks Building, penned originally by Maude Klinefelter:
“The President occupied the southeast corner of
this room where his brand new rolltop desk was placed.
A swivel arm chair and letter file completed the furnishings
of that office. The southwest corner of the same room
was occupied by the secretary, whose only equipment was
a typewriter desk and a re-built Underwood typewriter.
To this equipment was added a gong with a long string
attached. This gong was mounted on the wall in the hallway
just outside of the office door, there in the Elks Building.
Every 45 minutes, it was the duty of the secretary to
arise from her chair, go to the hallway, and pull the
gong string three times to announce the dismissal of
classes.”
Also detailed within the pages of the book are the words
of former Dickinson State University President R.C. ‘Cam’ Gillund,
who proposed dropping the longtime Savages mascot of
the university in 1973, placing Dickinson State University
some 2-3 decades ahead of what is today a growing national
trend. In recalling that moment, Stump-DeLong quotes
from President Gillund’s remarks.
“I have recommended to the State Board of Higher
Education that the nickname Savages, Indian theme, slogans,
symbols and rituals be discontinued. As an institution
of higher learning, it behooves us to exercise a leadership
role which works toward helping to solve the problems
relating to social and human understanding. We pride
ourselves at Dickinson State College in promulgating
the worth and dignity of the individual regardless of
race or creed.”
The final version of “The College on the Hill:
The Story of Dickinson State University” is available
for purchase.
Click
here to Order
your Dickinson State University History Book Today! Only
$25! |
