By Molly Turner
1920s

The 1920s was a decade of change for the nation and for Northeastern State University.
1920 marked an important change in Northeastern history. Normal School became Northeastern State Teacher’s College. The university began to offer a four year curriculum for a bachelor’s degree.

In NSTC’s yearbook from 1925, The Tsa-La-Gi, many things are found to be very similar to our current decade.

The yearbook begins with a foreword from the staff asking their peers not to judge them too harshly.

The beloved Seminary Hall looked very different then and served a different purpose. In that time, it was the administrative building. Also, there was not as much lawn maintenance. The university allowed ivy to grow all over most of the building. Instead of the concrete sidewalks that now interweave our campus, there were massive shrubberies.

Northeastern students have always been active in extracurricular activities.

One important organization was founded by female students with the help of a teacher. The Blue Blue Violets struggled to elevate the dignity and respect of the teaching profession and to facilitate better communication and understanding between students and faculty.

It seems the forensics team has always been strong at Northeastern. The Tsa-La-Gi stressed the rightful popularity and interest in the successful team.

The ‘20s was also a great time of art and music. Jazz was born in this era along with many influential black artists of the Harlem Renaissance.

Another odd similarity between today and 76 years ago is the need for alternative energy and resources. Karl J. Staner’s article in the 1925 Tsa-La-Gi attempts to sell readers on the use of natural energy from sources such as the Illinois River:  “Imagine the mighty turbine this stored-up energy would turn and the wheels of industry it would set in motion.”

Oddly enough, yearbooks from the time period contained humor and calendar sections. On

February 23, 1925, “Some one told a joke today. He said Evelyn and Deliscia never did have a date.”

The students of eighty years ago had incredible foresight. Perhaps they knew grammar would take a turn with “text lingo,” and therefore shortened “you” to “u” in one layout of their yearbook.

Another unfortunate similarity is the recession.  In 1929, the stock market crashed, mirroring much of the same economic turmoil we face today.

Clearly, NSU has always been a progressive institution and will continue to be for centuries to come.