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Penn State University Archives

Penn State History

Significant Events in the Development of
The Pennsylvania State University - 1940s

1940

  • New library building occupied; named for Fred Lewis Pattee in 1950.
  • Land-grant mural in Old Main started by Henry Varnum Poor; class of 1932 gift; completed in 1949 with later gifts.
  • Ellen H. Richards Institute established for textile research with Dr. Pauline Beery Mack as director.
  • Student newspaper became The Daily Collegian.

1941

  • Bureau of Business Research established; Dr. Carl W. Hasek, first director.

1942

  • Accelerated trimester calendar adopted for World War II emergency; discontinued in 1946.
  • Nittany Lion shrine dedicated as gift of class of 1940; sculpture by Heinze Warneke accepted by University as first tangible representation of mountain lion symbol.
  • ESMWT (Engineering, Science, Management War Training) program of extension services begun; among largest in United States.

1945

  • Ordnance Research Laboratory transferred to campus by U.S. Navy Department from Harvard; Dr. Eric A. Walker, first director. Renamed Applied Research Lab, 1973.

1946

  • Freshmen "farmed out" to 22 Pennsylvania cooperating colleges to admit veterans on campus under G. I. Education Act.

1947

  • Allentown and Wilkes-Barre undergraduate centers started.
  • Labor education program in Extension Services begun; Professor Anthony Luchek, first director.
  • James Milholland, president of Board of Trustees, named acting president; served until 1950.

1948

  • McKeesport and Erie (Behrend) undergraduate centers opened.
  • Ionosphere Research Laboratory established in Electrical Engineering Department.

1949

  • Water Tunnel building completed as Ordnance Research Laboratory facility. Named for Garfield Thomas, Jr., '38.
  • York undergraduate center established.

1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s

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2000s

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