Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4 <<

Page 5

Page 6

Page 7

Page 8

Page 9

Page 10

Page 11

Page 12

Page 13

Page 14

Working in the kitchen left to right are: Jane deVore, Ellen Banman and Janet Bornholdst

Visiting in the living room are left to right: Patricia Bartlett, Patricia Droney, Donna Childs and Patsey Holtorn. Lois Engel is signing out.

June 22,1938 the Clovia Alumnae Association received its charter and became registered as a corporation by the Secretary of State. The charter states that this corporation is organized not for profit, and the purposes are to promote a closer relationship among the alumnae and active members. It is to hold title to all properties, and is to be formed for the maintenance of a club for social enjoyment. The four directors listed on the charter were: Kathryn Marquart, Hutchinson, president; Florence Phillips, Atwood, vice president; Grace Shoemaker, Hays, secretary; and Mabel Smith, Manhattan, treasurer. Stockholders listed were M. H. Coe, Mabel Smith, Florence Phillips, Grace Shoemaker, Dorothy Dawn Stagg, Mary Elsie Border, Ellen Blair, and Marie Antrim.

Housemother, Mrs. Kate Mason passed away November 1939. Mrs. Clara Farmer became housemother at that time and remained at Clovia for ten years, and is one of the best remembered housemothers.

Ferdinand the Bull became famous at the Clovia house the spring of 1939. Clovia's skit "Ferdinand," complete with singers, dancers and actresses, was chosen one of the five winners at the "Y" Orpheum that spring. Sponsored by YMCA and YWCA, the "Y" Orpheum was put on in the campus auditorium. Clovia sported many successes that year with Ena Carlisle and May Young being chosen to be on the K-State Meats Judging Team. Clovia girls were also involved in intramural sports and all-school interfratemity and sorority sneaks (French Leaves).

It is hard to imagine that on one pledge sneak in the late 30's the pledges entertained their dates with a movie at the Dickinson for just $1.50. They also had a midnight supper at Long's Park, which was interrupted by a cop concerned about young women doing such a thing, but coffee and doughnuts satisfied both his curiosity and his appetite. During Hell Week before initiation pledges had to dress crazily and put on stunts and do unpleasant cleaning tasks. Before a pledge became active she had to plan and cook dinner for the actives and serve it with her best efforts and the help of one other pledge.

Most of the gals needed to work to put themselves through school, and many babysat for extra cash. 15 cents per hour was the going babysitting fee. That wasn't bad considering wages for regular jobs were 35 cents per hour. Some of the coeds worked in offices, and two worked in department stores in 1940. When women of the community needed a luncheon or dinner served they would call on the Clovia girls. These same women often hired Clovias to watch their children and do the family ironing.

Clovia women were known on campus for their accomplishments, as evidenced in an article in the December 1940 "National 4-H Club News." President of Kansas State College, Dr. F. D. Farrell stated in the article that he wished that every girl in school might have the opportunity to live with such a group as Clovia. During Farm and Home Week Clovia usually served 200 women at a tea, at which dainty homemade cookies and spiced tea were featured. Faculty, visiting Farm Bureau women, and 4-H Roundup delegates were the guests at these teas.

Weekly dances were held in the Avalon Ballroom with such musicians as Matt Betton & orchestra. Many students went without dates and it was a good place to meet others. Two formals were held yearly, at the Avalon Ballroom or the ballroom of the Wareham Hotel. "Deep Purple" was one that was declared a dud due to overexuberance with the purple lighting. Exchange record dances were occasionally held during the week, and the house at 303 N. 16th underwent a rearranging for such events. The living room carpet was rolled up and it and the tables and chairs spent the evening on the front porch, while the occupants danced to songs like "Josaphine", "Organ Grinder Swing", "Sunrise Serenade," "A Tisket-A- Tasket," and "Music Goes Round and Round." Skirts, sweaters and bobby socks were among the clothing worn. One might also have seen peasant style babushka scarves and peasant skirts and Dutch clogs. Formals were moire taffeta or net over satin.

Seniors were all dunked before graduation. "Toots" Poole put up quite a struggle when she splashed all the water out of the tub one night, flooding the bathroom. Margaret Roseman received her dunking one rainy night in the flooded gutter outside. January 1940 brought a unique social event to the house that will be long remembered by the participants. Gwen Romine became the bride of Frank Jordan in the only wedding to take place in the Clovia house. Gwen had been in the house throughout her college stay.