1907 - 1917 John A. H. Keith
The Board of Regents appointed John A. H. Keith to presidency after the death of Rufus H. Halsey. Keith graduated from the Illinois State Normal University in 1894, and later attended Harvard University, receiving his B.A. in 1899 and his M.A. in 1900. Keith taught at the Northern Illinois State Normal School in DeKalb, Illinois, prior to his appointment at the Oshkosh Normal School in October 1907. Keith’s administration only lasted a decade, but his dedication to progressive ideals opened many doors for the Normal School.
One of Keith’s first priorities was the further development of the pre-existing Industrial Education program. By 1907, employment opportunities increased for industrial arts teachers after the Wisconsin legislature authorized the instruction of manual training in both secondary and elementary grades. In 1912, the program was given official “departmental status” and by 1913, it own new building, today’s Harrington Hall.
Campus expansion highlighted Keith’s presidency. Increased enrollments caused crowded learning environment. Relief came first with the opening of the Gymnasium in 1909. Two years later, the acquirement of the Libbey house and property, provided classrooms for domestic science, and a portion of the lot became the site of the Industrial Education Building. Purchases made in 1913 provided land north of campus that served as an athletic field and later became the location for the Rose C. Swart Training School, today known as Swart Hall. In 1913 the Board of Regents also purchased the Oviatt House, which became the Normal School’s first female dormitory.
A fire destroyed the Original Normal School Building on March 22, 1916, and during the following year, Keith was committed to rebuilding the School. This work stalled his plans for campus expansion.
After the critical year of reconstruction, in the spring of 1917, Keith announced his resignation and accepted the presidency at the State Normal School at Indiana, Pennsylvania.
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President John A. H. Keith |
