Posted By Shannon Zeltmann on Sep 2, 2019 | 3 comments

By Shannon Zeltmann, Staff Writer

This week in 1929, Gettysburg College opens with the library and Glatfelter Hall being worked on, leaving the college “physically crippled”—the first time since the Civil War. Glatfelter could not be used for a month and the library was still being built. President Hanson gave a speech in Brua Chapel to all students. He noted that even though the college was physically changing, Gettysburg still remained the great liberal arts college meant to “shape character” of the students. President Hanson also introduced the new first-year class, comprised of approximately 175 students.

This week in 1929, The Gettysburgian reported on the progress of Glatfelter Hall and the new M.E. Weber Memorial Library. The library was expected to be “one of the most beautiful and modern libraries in the country.” Glatfelter was in the process of being fireproofed and receiving new blackboards, and light fixtures, along with several other maintenance projects, which would be finished by November 1.

This week in 1969, the first Pennsylvanian woman elected to state office came to campus. Genevieve Blatt was first elected the Secretary of Internal Affairs in 1954 and served that position for twelve years. She also served on various government boards. In 1967, she worked as the Assistant Director of the President’s Office of Economic Opportunity. She also served on a board which helped college students do “practical politics for selected political and social science students.”