Humboldt State Teacher's College

Humboldt State Teacher's College - 1928

During the 20th century Humboldt State witnessed several large changes. In this century the college changed its name from Humboldt Normal College to Humboldt State Teacher's College and Junior College, and moved from what was once Arcata Grammar School to its present place on Redwood Heights. Eureka, Arcata, and Ferndale argued over the placement of the school, but a large donation of 51 acres by William Preston and Union Water Co. ensured that the school would be erected in Arcata. Its first permanent building - Founder's Hall - was erected in this decade, and flourished under President N.B. Van Matre. Founder's Hall was erected to encompass the entirety of the college - from the residence halls to the auditorium, library, and classrooms.

Later, several other buildings were established, and many were named after the esteemed faculty members who served Humboldt State in its starting years. Such faculty members to have buildings that bear their names are Nelson Van Matre. for whom Van Matre hall is named, and Charles Swetman, for whom the Charles Swetman Child Development Lab is named. Other faculty members such as Fred Telonicher have two buildings named for them - in this case the Telonicher House for Journalism and Mass Communications and the Telonicher Marine Laboratory in the city of Trinidad.

Virginia Bacon was one of the first faculty members at Humboldt Normal College, and served as the college head librarian.

Nelson B. Van Matre served as the first president of Humboldt Normal College, and was the head of School Administration and Bookeeping during his tenure.

Charles Swetman served as the second president of Humbodt State Normal College.

Llewellyn R. Davis was one of the first faculty members of Humboldt Normal College. In his years as an educator he served as the head of the science department, as well as a professor of Agricultre, Horticulture, and Geography.

Founder's hall was based on Grecian-mission architecture, and constituted the entirety of the university - including the auditorium, classrooms, residence halls, and library. Originally, the building had no windows, and had an open plan. According to testimony given by Homer Balanabis in the Times Standard, the building was designed by a Sacramento architect who did not take into account the weather, and withiin three years windows were added to the archways.

Humboldt State Teacher's College primarily responded to a need for teachers in rural areas. By the year 1920 students could expect college courses in Agriculture, Drawing, Educational Psychology, Manual Training, English, General Science, Geography, Horticulture, Hygiene, Nature Study, Pedagogy, Penmanship, Pottery, Arithmetic, Grammar, and History.

Don Karshner was the Dean of Students during the twenties, and who the Karshner Lounge is named.

"Dr. Don Karshner...recalled that when he came to the HSC the school held 387 students and 26 faculty."

- Jim Marshall, Times-Standard Journalist

Fred Telonicher was a biology professor and was one of the college's first football coaches. He taught his biology classes in Founders Hall since 1927 until a seperate science building was erected. The Telonicher Marine Lab and Telonicher House are named for him.

Homer Balanabis held several faculty positions during his tenure at Hunboldt State. He was an instructor, vice-president of academic affairs, and even acting president for a time.

"When I came to Founders, the front of the campus was mostly stumpland and the building was self-contained. The person who designed the place was a Sacramento man in love with mission architecture - regardless of climate. The open archways were esthetic, but were glassed-in by popular demand within three years."

- Homer Balanabis

Virginia Rumble served as secretary to President Simens and had been a student of Humboldt State College in the 1940s.

"Founders had been occupied by many wonderful people. Pete Petrovich, the old gardener, knew all the students by name abnd often brought flowers around to the offices. And I remember Dayton Murray having friends push him up and down the halls as he played the piano. Everyone knew everyone."

- Virginia Rumble

State of California Board of Control - Humboldt Normal School, Arcata, Humboldt Co.

School owned property is within the boundaries of the brown lines.

Blueprint showing school owned property, which is within the boundaries of the brown lines. Shows the main building (Founder's Hall), and an extension that was to serve as the library science building, which is now known as Van Matre Hall. Also shown are the Commons Building and an area set aside for athletics.

Eureka and Arcata hotly debated the location of Humboldt State, until William Preston and the Union Water Co. donated about 51 acres of land in Arcata. Because of this land grant Humboldt State sits where it does today in eastern Arcata.