INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. Hie quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand corner and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. University Microfilms international A Bell & Howell Information C om pany 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor Ml 48106-1346 USA 313' 761 -4700 800.521 -0600 Order Number 08S3109 Butler University and the dream of distinction Kondelik, John P., Ph.D. The University of Michigan, 1993 UMI 300 N. Zeeb Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48106 BUTLER UNIVERSITY AND THE DREAM OF DISTINCTION by John P. Kondelik A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Education) in The University of Michigan 1993 Doctoral Committee: Professor Robert T. Blackburn, Chairman Professor George W. Geib, Butler University Professor James L. Miller Professor Stephen J. Tonsor RULES REGARDING THE USE OF MICROFILMED DISSERTATIONS Microfilmed or bound copies of doctoral dissertations sub­ mitted to The University of Michigan and made available through University Microfilms International or The University of Michigan are open for inspection, but they are to be used only with due regard for the rights of the author. Extensive copying of the dissertation or publication of material in excess of standard copyright limits, whether or not the dissertation has been copyrighted, must have been approved by the author as well as by the Dean of the Graduate School. Proper credit must be given to the author if any material from the dissertation is used in subsequent written or published work. Preface When I came to Butler University in January 1984 I had no thought that I might be undertaking this study of its his­ tory. The idea came at the suggestion of Professor Robert T. Blackburn when it became obvious that my original idea of do­ ing a sociological study was impractical due to the lack of funding. The suggestion appealed to me for a couple of rea­ sons. First, I had long been interested in history. My un­ dergraduate major was history and I had started graduate studies in the field in 1965; however, the lack of financial resources back in the mid-1960's forced me to abandon gradu­ ate study in history. I chose 1ibrarianship instead because I was able to get financial assistance and complete the de­ gree in a little over a year. I found librarianship appeal­ ing because it permitted me to be part of the academic world where I have always felt most at home. My love of history continued over the years, and the opportunity to do an his­ torical dissertation was very attractive. The second factor was my growing fascination with the history of Butler University. At the time, there were very few historical studies of Butler. No official history had ever been written. The only scholarly work was a single monograph on the founding of Butler by Henry King Shaw "and a master’s thesis by Thomas B. Fields. The University's ii records were in poor condition. Official papers and docu­ ments were stashed in various locations around the campus, including one small room in the Irwin Library. No official archives policy existed and many important papers were miss­ ing or scattered in various repositories from University basements to local libraries and archives. Many others were in the hands of individuals and families of people associated with Butler. One of the first tasks that had to be undertaken was the establishment of an official University Archives and the col­ lecting together into this Archives of as many official pa­ pers and records as could be found. The University approved a proposal prepared by Gisela S. Terrell, Rare Books and Special Collections Librarian, in 1985. It is to Gisela Terrell that I owe a special thanks for her monumental ef­ forts to organize the huge pile of documents and papers that have come together to form the Butler University Archives since 1985. I also owe a deep sense of gratitude to her for the continuous assistance and encouragement she gave me throughout the research and writing phases of this disserta­ tion. Her advice and suggestions on the various drafts saved me countless hours of effort. I have learned the truth of the warning against doing an historical dissertation that Dr. Zee Gamson gave me, as my first advisor at the Center for the Study of Higher Education. Such research takes a long time, especially' when one must first establish the archives before the research can begin. My task was greatly assisted by a four month adminis­ trative leave in 1989. This paid leave from my position as Director of Libraries permitted me to complete most of the research for the dissertation. I must acknowledge with ap­ preciation the willingness of my colleague in the library, Karl Rusa, to act as director for me during this leave. I also want to thank for his helpful advice, sugges­ tions, and encouragement Dr. George Waller, official histo­ rian of Butler. His willingness to share with me his re­ search on the early history of Butler and our discussions of the sources and figures in Butler’s history were fascinating and very helpful. I only hope that my own research will be as useful to him as he writes the first official history of Butler University. The late Dr. Mac Cripe deserves a special mention for his many pep talks that kept me going when I was experiencing considerable discouragement with the slowness of the writing. The library staff of Butler University have been so helpful in so many ways. In addition to Gisela Terrell, I would like to thank Sharon Lewis for her ever willing assis­ tance with interlibrary loan requests, sometimes for the same titles over and over again. Linda Horvath, writer and for­ merly a member of the Reference Department, was very helpful in encouraging me with the writing of the early chapters. I especially want to express my gratitude to my long suffering secretary, Marianne Eckhart, for all of that early typing be­ fore I discovered the wonders of word processing and for be- i v ing such a wonderful gate keeper in protecting the few hours a week that I had available for research and writing. I wish to thank the members of my committee for their support and advice. I will always remember kindly the early encouragement I received from Dr. Jerry Miller after my qual­ ifying examination. My thanks go to Dr. Stephen Tonsor for agreeing to take on such an unknown quantity as I must have i* seemed to him at the time of his agreeing to be on my commit­ tee . Dr. George Geib, of the Butler University History Department, pointed me in the right direction many times throughout my research. His knowledge of Indiana history and politics has been very useful. I only wish I could have done more justice to his insights into the era and the institution that I studiecT. I am particularly grateful to Dr. Robert T. Blackburn, who never gave up on me throughout these many years since I started my doctoral studies. It is through his encouragement and help that I have been able to persist in this enterprise and not become one of the fifty percent of doctoral students who never finish the degree. Bob Blackburn has shown me what mentoring is all about. Finally, I want to thank my family. I want to express my love and gratitude to my mother who always said I could do it. But it is to my wife, Marlene, and my daughter, Vicki, that I owe the most. They sacrificed so much so that I could pursue this degree, helped me cope with many emotional crises, and helped me with the research and writing through- v out. I owe to them far more than I can ever express in words. v i Table of Contents Preface ......................................................... ii Intoduction......................................................1 Chapter 1. The External Context and the Administrative Development of Butler University .......... 5 2. To Build a Greater University .................... 45 3. The Need to Raise "Lots" of Money ................73 4. Designing and Building a Campus ...................104 5. The Role and Development of Athletics ............121 6. The Crises over Accreditation & Control of the University .....................................137 Sources Consulted ........................................169 Introduction This is an historical case study of Butler University, 1915-1933. It is the story of the efforts of a small group of men (mainly trustees) to realize a vision of a great uni­ versity for Indianapolis.