A regular column in The Spokesman  here in Spokane is “Jim Kershner’s This Day In History, from our archives 100 years ago.”  Jim gleans his bits from scouring the old newspapers from 100 years ago. Here is a bit he posted on 7 Sept 2015:

Dr. Henry Suzzallo, president of the University of Washington, told Spokane’s assembled teachers that the old-fashioned methods of teaching were no longer useful. “The old system of teaching a class by first saying ‘Position,’ (and having the student fold his hands on the desk, feet flat on the floor, sitting upright) has passed and now the pupil is allowed to remain in a comfortable position in which he will be best able to gather the most from the teacher’s remarks.”

He also advised teachers to “laugh and be merry” and not merely “put on a stern face.”

In 1915, Henry Suzzallo was appointed President of the university  and a new library building became one of his top priorities. Beginning in 1922, Suzzallo envisioned a library was was to be “the soul of the university.” The Suzzallo Library opened in 1926 (date of above photo).

Have you ever been to the Suzzallo Library to do research? I have not; I would enjoy hearing your story about this experience.

If you would enjoy some inside photos of this magnificent library, click to www.lib.washington.edu/suzzallo