Anniversary tales: from jubilee halls to Facebook

(This story was written in celebration of ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø's sesquicentennial in 2010.)

"All of us human beings are prone to lapse now and then into emotional musings on the past, while, as a rule, we likewise are very much inclined to the celebration of anniversaries, reminding us of the things and people of the past, whom we like to remember"

¡ª C.O. Granere, on ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø's 50th anniversary

Anniversaries are a good time for looking backwards, and the sesquicentennial is not the first time ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø has celebrated its history. Dour portraits aside, the early ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø faculty liked to party, though they would define those early celebrations in a much different way than we do today.

In the early years of the college, celebrations, then usually known as jubilees, were almost a frequent occurrence. A jubilee in November 1893 celebrating the 400th birthday of Martin Luther included speeches by ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø Synod leaders and music such as Handel's Messiah, Haydn's Creation, and Wennerberg's Psalms. Only one afternoon session of the celebration was in English; all the others were held in Swedish. In June of 1893 a jubilee was again held, this time celebrating the 300th anniversary of Sweden's establishment as a Lutheran nation. Bishop K.G. von Scheele of Sweden was the guest of honor, and musical performances once again contributed to the event's success.

The 50th

But it is the celebration of ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø's own history that led to the greatest festivities. The 1910 Jubilee, held in honor of the college's 50th anniversary, was a marathon lasting from June 5 through the 15. The first part of the session (June 5-9) was devoted to the commencement of ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø and Theological Seminary, while June 9-15 was devoted to the ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø Synod and included their regular meetings and reports as well as historical sessions.

The Jubilee was honored with greetings from President Taft and the King of Sweden, which were read aloud to attendees. All activities took place in Jubilee Hall, a temporary building constructed for the event; the building could hold 4,000 people and was filled to capacity several times during the jubilee. Commencement activities included eight five-minute speeches on "The Pioneers of ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø," as well as speeches by Gov. Eberhart of Minnesota, Bishop K.G. von Scheele of Sweden, and the speech by C.O. Granere quoted at the beginning of this story. Granere was the only living representative of those who had taught at ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø in 1875 when its doors first opened in Rock Island.

The 100th

One of the main features of ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø's centennial celebrations in 1960 is still visible on campus today: Centennial Hall. Both Centennial Hall and the ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø Union (Biology Building) were dedicated in 1960. Major events for the centennial included speeches by Nobel Laureate Glenn T. Seaborg and poet Mark Van Doren and a performance in the new Centennial Hall by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Centennial Hall also was the site of all performances for the Tri-Cities Symphony and the Handel Oratorio Society during the centennial year. In another musical event, the ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø Choir appeared with the NBC orchestra on Easter morning.

It was not only ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø which celebrated this momentous occasion, however. On June 6, two whole sections (12 and 10 pages respectively) of the Rock Island Argus were devoted to ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø, under the overall headline "Swedish Immigrant Dream Realized; Hail Centennial!" These sections included numerous stories about both the college and the synod, including historical stories, as well as ads from local businesses congratulating ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø. WHBF-TV broadcast interviews with senior professors on their philosophies of life and teaching. One other marker of the centennial still stands on campus: the centennial boulder on Zion Hill, erected to honor the "memory and ideals" of ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø's founders.

The 125th

ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø once again celebrated a milestone in 1985, when it turned 125 years old. In honor of this achievement, on Jan. 25, 1985, students sponsored a birthday party in the ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø Center with cake, punch, and balloons ¡ª a more informal celebration than in earlier years. Once again the arts proved an important part of the college's celebrations, as special events included performances by the choir and band and a theatrical performance of Ibsen's The Wild Duck. Swedish Archbishop Bertil Werkstrom brought greetings from Sweden during his visit, and ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø was recognized by Congress. Founders Day, April 27th, was celebrated with a campus open house and special displays and demonstrations by many departments.

No "Jubilee Halls" have been built for our sesquicentennial, but the 150th website has been designed to bring us all together under one roof. In the new world of social media, we gather at online guestbooks and view digital photos of ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø's past; our methods of celebration may be changing, but the opportunity to reflect on ÖйúÌå²ÊÍø's history remains unchanged.

¡ª Sarah Horowitz
Special Collections Librarian