1920-1932
"It is human to feel natural affection. To show no emotion is the mark of an imperfect human being."
St. Augustine
City of God, 14.9
Villanova flourished during the prosperous years of the 1920's, with
student enrollment soaring from just over 300 in 1921 to over 1000 ten years later. In order to accommodate its growing numbers the college built Austin Hall in 1923-1924,
which contained a new library, in addition to rooms for upper classmen. Taking note
of the latest technology, Villanova offered its first radio course in 1920 and erected its
first radio station in 1925.In 1921 it established a School of Commerce and Finance
and in 1928 it opened the Villanova Night School. Student Social life flourished
with dances in the Alumni Hall gymnasium and hotel ballrooms downtown. Football
received a great boost with the construction of a stadium in 1927.Several
buildings, which had been planned during the last years of prosperity, were executed just
as the Great Depression was settling across the land. These were the Commerce and
Finance building (now Vasey Hall) and a large Field House (later called "Jake"
Nevin Field House). This period ended with two huge fires, one in the winter of
1928, which severely damaged Main College Hall, and the other in the summer of 1932, which
destroyed the Augustinian Monastery.
Link to Exhibit Items
- Reverend Francis A. Driscoll, O.S.A., A.M.
- Alumni Banquet for the dedication of Alumni Hall
- Front Entrance to Alumni Hall
- Villanova Varsity Football, 1920
- Reverend Joseph A. Hickey, O.S.A., D.D.
- Villanova College Athletic Association Award to Edward G.
McGrady
- Austin Hall, completed in 1924
- The Old Villanova College Library
- The Third Villanova College Seal, 1911
- Reverend Mortimer A. Sullivan, O.S.A., LL.D
- The Radio Building, 1925
- Clipper Smith and Harry Stuhldreher, c 1925
- Reverend James H. Griffin, O.S.A., LL.D.(or Assembly Room)
- Commencement Program, 9 June 1927
- Villanova College, 9 June 1927
- Freshman
identification tag, 1927
- Dance Program
- "Beat Temple"
placard
- Villanova Stadium, 1927
- Villanova's Goodreau Stadium
- Tribute given to Leo Francis Goodreau
- Football ticket
- Aerial view of Villanova campus, 1928-1930
- Junior Courtier, 1928
- Villanova College gate on Lancaster
Avenue
- 1927 College Dance Band
- Nuns at Villanova Summer School, 1926
- Villanova College commencement, 6 June 1929
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- The projected quadrangle on
East Campus
- Cover of an issue of The
Christian Front
- Austin Hall
- Freshmen Engineering Class Notes
- Vasey Hall, built in 1930
- Reverend Nicholas J. Vasey, O.S.A.
- Religious Record of Villanova College, 1926-1927
- Main College Hall and St Thomas of Villanova Monastery
- This scene followed the disastrous fire of 1928
- Saint Thomas of Villanova Monastery
- The fire of Saint Thomas of Villanova Monastery on 2 August 1932
- Main College Hall
- Mendel Hall
- Saint Thomas of Villanova Monastery
- Saint Thomas of Villanova Monastery, 1935
- Chemistry Lab in Mendel Hall, 1930
- Reverend Francis X. Coan, O.S.A.
- Students tug-of-war at the "duck pond"
- Villanova Field House, 1968
- Swimming pool in the Villanova Field House
- Aerial view of Villanova College, 1930's
- Medallion, College of Commerce and Finance
- Junior
Blazer, Villanova Class of 1931
- Walking cane, 1928
- Goal post splinter
- South gate of Villanova
College
- Villanova Wildcat
- Bill of tuition and fees
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written consent of Villanova University Archives, Villanova Pennsylvania. All rights are reserved.
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