Traditions: Lost & Found

"We're going streaking..."

2008-04-14T11:10:00.000-07:00

Well maybe we are not going streaking but apparently some Furman boys have done so throughout Furman's history. Here is a memory from Mary Alice Bechtler (shown in the center of the photograph) ~

In the spring of 1974, the fad of student “streaking” spread quickly across college campuses nationwide and to Furman. Below are excerpts from a letter that I wrote home in March of 1974:

My suitemates and I had already gone to bed when we heard some noise outside. We got up and peeked out the window, but didn’t see anyone. Then we heard all this commotion in the kitchen, so we headed in that direction. Several girls from the hall were looking out the kitchen window and reported that they had just seen about eight streakers. They had already streaked on by when I looked out, so I didn’t get to see them.

Debbie’s mother called on the hall phone and, when she heard all the noise, jokingly asked Debbie if the Furman men were streaking. Debbie said, “Yes!” Her mother, apparently not wanting Debbie to miss anything, quickly said, “Oh, then I’ll call back later” and hung up the phone.

We stood waiting at the kitchen window for several minutes, hoping that the streakers would come back. At one point, Nancy went back to her room. I thought that she must have been disgusted with the whole thing and had decided to go back to bed. Instead, she came back with her eyeglasses.

Here is a photo taken as we peered out my dorm room window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Furman men streaking.

Happy & Merry

2007-11-29T08:21:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from Special Collections and Archives!
In the spirit of all things Winter this unknown image seemed appropriate. Again we would love information about the individuals in this photo or even some estimate of the date, clearly a cold enough time for the fountains in front of the library to freeze!

Alumni Stories

2007-11-07T12:46:00.000-08:00

"While a student at Furman, I worked part-time in the library, re-shelving books. One day, while re-shelving books in the restricted area (an enclosed area near the circulation desk where rare books were held), I noticed a thick, hard-bound book with the impressive title What Men Know About Women. Quickly grabbing the book from the shelf, I thought, 'Wow! Why haven’t I heard about this book before?' I hurriedly looked for the table of contents—and discovered that every page in the book was completely blank. Perhaps I did learn exactly how much men know about women." ~ Tom McAbee

We would like to thank Mr. McAbee for being the first to share a Furman story. PLEASE write us and tell use your stories or share your memories of Furman traditions. And as a side note we are pleased to let you know that the image above is from our Historical Negatives Collection. This collection is far larger than out Historical Print Collection and thanks to modern technology can be used in much the same way as actual photographs.

Fountains & Dancing!

2007-10-02T10:28:00.000-07:00

The fun of O-Week continues but some Orientation activities have been lost. Here we have the last year of Fountain Hopping... How we will miss swimming in stale water and stubbing our toes on old pipes...
Before that we lost the O-Week dance. This video from 1997 might make losing the dance seem like a good idea. RIP lost traditions.

Military History

2007-09-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

Military service has been a part of Furman almost from the beginning. After the founding of the school in 1826, the faculty finally approved the formation of a military company led by military trained faculty for students above the age of 16 with parental permission in March of 1856. We know that students served in the Civil War, both World Wars, and the different conflicts that have led to our current war in Iraq. (Picture: John Plyler, WWI)

Summer Camp

2007-09-27T09:02:00.000-07:00

As a child, summer break is a time for fun and play. But for Furman ROTC students it has been a time to train and learn new skills. These pictures might as well be from this past summer, as this tradition has changed so little over the years.

Military Women

2007-09-27T08:45:00.001-07:00

Times change... In this photo from the 1950s three couples are enjoying the annual military ball. At that time these ball pictures are the only images with females, as the ROTC program was really a boys only group. Now the program has a number of women serving, and not merely women attending the ball.

Yummy!

2007-09-27T07:45:00.000-07:00

Better than the P-Den? Before Furman students frequented Chick-fil-a or waiting in line for a wrap,
they could pop in to the Canteen for a bite.

A History of Brotherhood

2007-09-26T11:50:00.001-07:00

The history of Greek letter social fraternities at Furman has not been smooth sailing. The earliest fraternities seem to appear in the 19th century, however some time during these early years the Greek system was banned by the school. In 1927 these social groups were once again reinstated and many opened houses around the Old Campus. During WWII fraternities once again began to fade out, but with the return of male students ( in great numbers thanks to the GI bill) they grew in leaps and bounds towards the end of the 1940s. The fraternities were pushing for dances and other socials now that Greenville Women's College and Furman were one. But the Baptist Convention wanted none of it and forced President Plyler to close all Greek letter social organizations during the winter of 1962-1963. Although they were officially banned most frats continued as social clubs under other names, until the break with the Baptists in 1993, where upon fraternities were officially recognized by the school.

Delta Kappa Alpha Gamma Pi...?

2007-09-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

Although Greek life is a long standing tradition at Furman, for female students it has been a more recent reality. According to the Baptist Convention, Furman was not allowed to have Greek life on campus. But as soon as the school broke religious ties the many female social organizations on campus applied to become chapters of national sororities. And although the formal Greek organizations have only been in place since the early 1990s, female students have been creating social groups since the time of "the zoo" (Greenville Women's College).

Parades?

2007-09-26T08:08:00.001-07:00

Until the early '80s Furman football was played at Sirrine Stadium downtown. This gave student access to all of downtown for their parade route. This photo shows the Sigma Alpha Epsilon float for a 1950's homecoming game against Florida.

But with the move of football to the new campus, the students lost space for a full parade. Which leads to today's reinterpretation of the parade. Instead of the floats moving by the stationary crowd, now the crowd moves by the stationary floats.

Majorettes

2007-09-26T08:02:00.001-07:00

While homecoming continues to be a major event at Furman some parts of it have changed. For one, the marching band is no longer lead by a child majorette. This photo, which appeared in the 1954 yearbook, is of an unknown Furman majorette. If you know anything about her, please fill Special Collections in on her name and history.

A Kid's World

2007-09-12T06:04:00.000-07:00

Although May Day is long gone, Spring time is still a time of fun and excitement at Furman. The first Saturday of May is marked by the arrival of local school children and special needs adults coming to enjoy the games and rides across campus. Run by the CESC, this day of play brings together all ages and turns the campus into a world run by the children.

Old World Queen

2007-09-11T13:10:00.000-07:00

Old world south is captured in this undated photo of a May Queen preparing for festivities.

Spring Time

2007-09-11T11:17:00.001-07:00

The ladies of Greenville Women's College parade through the campus in celebration of May Day in 1919. This annual celebration included the dancing of the Maypole and crowning a May Queen along with her court. The last May Day celebration at Furman was in 1966.

Water Sports

2007-09-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time the Furman Lake was a different place.
Home to students and boats instead of swans, geese, and turtles.

Laking

2007-09-07T09:04:00.000-07:00

The ritual "laking" on birthdays. The innocent celebrant is carried by as many people as are necessary to the water's edge and thrown mercilessly into the lake. If anyone has any other photos of these events
please let us know we would love to have more!!

Daisy Chain

2007-09-06T13:05:00.000-07:00

The girls of Greenville Women's College had many traditions that were lost by joining with Furman University. Some tried to hold on, but in the end were lost to our memories alone.

One such tradition was the Daisy Chain.
Made and carried by sophomores dressed in white, the chain lined the walk of the senior girls on Class Day.

Hanging of the Green

2007-09-06T12:44:00.001-07:00

Winter at Furman has always been a time for celebration and decoration. But nothing we do now-a-days compares to the festivities of the Hanging of the Green. This tradition comes from Greenville Women's College and was lost during the merge with Furman and subsequent move to the new campus.

Here several students are dressed in elfish costumes with body paint, while professors get in the holday spirit with their medieval garb. The celebration also included banquets, songs, and of course lots of evergreen trimmings.

I'm a Furman Rat!

2007-09-06T09:07:00.001-07:00

Traditions change over time.
Here are some images of Ratting, the old form of Freshman hazing.

From wearing rat ears to scrubbing the campus with toothbrushes,
the freshmen were treated to a number of interesting (and questionable) tasks before they were fully accepted into the Furman community.
In comparison, O-Week is a godsend!

White Oaks

2007-08-31T12:21:00.001-07:00

With date safely found, the picnic proceeds on the lawn of White Oaks, the president's home. After eating freshman get the chance to have a memerable and educational tour of this beautiful southern home. Just don't believe everything you hear.

Dates

2007-08-31T12:15:00.000-07:00

After only a few days of life at Furman

finding a date for the President's Picnic

can be difficult...

So we make things easier through traditions

such as the Cinderella-esq shoe choice:

Girls remove a shoe, boys pick a shoe,

now make a pair.

Serenade

2007-08-31T11:49:00.000-07:00

Singing to their brown eyed girls

Pyramid

2007-08-30T11:37:00.001-07:00

Students are rising
to the occasion during Fieldfest.

What are they doing?

2007-08-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

Here at Furman Orientation Week offers any number of interesting entertainments.
This series of photos comes from Fieldfest during the 1970s.
Like the ever popular Life Saver relay, this brings brother and sister halls closer together.
However, we in Special Collections are unsure of exactly how this game works.
If you have any ideas please share them with us.

Student Tunnel

2007-08-30T11:23:00.001-07:00

One girl enters the tunnel and one mounts the bridge. Lets just hope that the boys can keep this bridge together.