Being a Friends student then and now

What was it like to be a student during the first few years at Friends University? Many of the conveniences students enjoy now were lacking 125 years ago. For example, from the pages of University Life in 1899, students were reminded “not to carry away the dipper from the south end of the main hall.” A common pail contained water for drinking and the dipper was an essential device. The pail was filled from a pump at the north entrance.

The women’s residence, South Hall, had been built by Garfield University in 1887. It was located south of the Davis Administration Building and contained 25 student rooms, a parlor, a dining room and culinary department.

Initially, South Hall housed women students and later became Music Hall.