Legacy of PMC

No aspect of PMC stood out more than a cadet in uniform. The uniformed cadet became a symbol of the school and clearly showed he was a member of an elite group. The uniform was also a disciplining force. The way he conducted himself in public while in uniform became the basis for how the public sees the school.

As early as 1862 the cadet gray full dress uniform became standard. The design was identical to those worn by the cadets at West Point, except for the buttons on the coats and the shields on the caps, which were designed by the school. Each uniform was a hand tailored garment made to measure using the finest quality cloth supplied by the Charlottesville Woolen Mills. This uniform changed little between 1862 and 1972.

To ensure uniformity in appearance and quality, all cadets were required to purchase their uniforms from M.C. Thackray of Philadelphia. Beginning in 1873, all uniforms were purchased from John Wanamaker in Philadelphia. After 1890, however, uniforms were made and supplied on campus through the Quartermaster Store and finally, from the William Bell Uniform Company of Chester, Pennsylvania.

Each cadet was also expected to have a a “cadet gray” dress uniform of high collared, tailed coat with both gray and white trousers. The daily dress for classes and on campus consisted of a collared, long sleeved, gray cotton dress shirt, black tie, and the gray woolen trousers.”Cadets wore their dress gray uniform trousers and a gray flannel shirt, later replaced by lighter weight material. In 1963, a lightweight white summer uniform was issued.

The PMC class ring has been a cherished reminder of every cadet’s years at the school. The symbolism of the ring has been well documented and described to each class prior to receiving it. Unfortunately, memories fade, as do the meanings of the symbolism. The Handbook of Fourth Class Knowledge provides the following information.

Each ring has an Eagle on either side. The head of one is looking to the past, and the other to the future. The head of the eagle looking to the past is larger than the one looking toward the future, because we can see more in the past than we can guess the future can hold.

On one side is a keystone. It represents the State of Pennsylvania, its pivotal role in determining independence, which described as the keystone vote, and being an early seat of government.

There are two crossed rifles behind the Keystone, which is where the year of graduation is found. These rifles stand for our continual fight to keep up with the times in order to successfully accomplish our mission.

On the other side is the Great Seal of the United States, which represents the power and might of our country.

A circle surrounds the Great Seal. This circle stands for our dedication and devotion, which is without beginning or end, to our country.

Behind the Great Seal there are two crossed sabers. These embody the proud tradition of PMC’s top-rated cavalry units.

Below the Keystone and Great Seal are two torches that represent the light of knowledge, both present and future, which we acquired at PMC.

Surrounding both the Keystone and Great Seal are a wreath of garland. This stands for the motto of PMC, “Virtue, Liberty, and Independence.”

The single star found between the words Pennsylvania Military College is symbolic of the stars of the states in the field of the American flag and its purpose – Union. Before graduation the star faces inward. After graduation it faces outward.

The ring is made of gold, a symbol of honor and respect for our beloved institution.

Commencements at PMC, was often attended by thousands of parents, honored guests, alumni and citizens of Chester, and was often described as “Inspiring! Splendid! Magnificent! Stunning! and Overwhelming!”

The ceremonies changed little during the time of the Hyatt’s and well beyond. Each year the activities and ceremonies were held during a 3-day period culminating on Commencement Day. This day began with honored guests being met by an honor guard and escorted to the reception room of Old Main. The group waited there for the conclusion of the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees. The trustees, honored guests, and faculty then began the academic procession, passing the corps of cadets standing at attention, from Old Main to the Armory. Following an invocation, the college president made his opening remarks. After that came the awarding of prizes and medals followed by the conferring of degrees. Presentation of honorary degrees was next. After Benediction, everyone become spectators to the exercises of the Corps. The Corps marched past the review stand, and then trustees and honored guests reviewed it. The ceremony ended with the president of the graduating class presenting the sword and the sash to the president of the incoming senior class.

The day’s activities ended with a very solemn moment. Members of the alumni association, in keeping with the tradition that early cadets drilled with broom sticks, lined up in preparation of the annual broom drill. After going through the “Manual of brooms,” they marched and formed a hollow square. While in formation, the names of those alumni that died within the past year were formally reported to all those in attendance. As each name was called, the Corps of Cadets were given the order to “present arms.” Taps was then sounded. John W. Loveland ’87, former trustee and president of the Alumni Association, organized the Hollow Square ceremony around 1919.

This colorful and superb Commencement ceremony continued to be the end of the year’s activities for the Corps of Cadets and left lasting memories.

In 1965, the Department of the Army designed a new emblem for Pennsylvania Military College. Below is an explanation of its symbolism.

The shield consists of an armored horse’s head set against a background of red, yellow, and white which are the colors of the Corps of Cadets. The horse’s head refers to the introduction of military instruction to the college and also to the horses supporting the arms of the State of Pennsylvania. The three white roundels (circles) are a part of the arms of William Penn.

The indented partition line marks the P,M,C,’s three changes of location beginning with the transfer from the State of Delaware in 1862.

The crest consists of a wreath upon which is set a keystone with a gold cross crosslet, referring to the arms of Lord De La Warr, namesake of the State of Delaware where the college had its earliest beginnings. Two crossed Civil War officers’ swords, one Union and one Confederate, overlap the crest. They denote the outbreak of the Civil War and the resultant move to Pennsylvania where the college was incorporated under an act of the State Legislature as a military university.

At the bottom of the emblem is a scroll with the inscription Virtue, Liberty, and Independence in red letters symbolizing the ideals and goals of Pennsylvania Military College.

A tradition at colleges has been the awarding of honorary degrees to distinguish visitors. Colonel Hyatt launched an ambitious program of using this academic tradition to make PMC known nationally.

Honorary degrees were awarded to many well-known individuals, including Warren G. Harding (1920), John Philip Sousa (1920), General John J. Pershing (1921), General Douglas MacArthur (1928), Richard E. Byrd (1928), Cecil B. DeMille ’98 (1931), J. Edgar Hoover (1936), David Sarnoff (1952), Walter H. Annenberg (1954) and many others. During the Commencement of 1920, Franklin D. Roosevelt was awarded Doctor of Laws. In accepting the degree he said in part:

“This.is a historic moment for me – the getting of this degree in an institution so essential1y American. The great need of our country today is broad Americanism and a leadership of vision. This institution stands for that sort of thing, and this is why its graduates have made enviable records in all lands.”

For many, receiving an honorary degree from PMC was a tribute. In 1933, Colonel Hyatt was invited to visit President Roosevelt in the White House. The President told Hyatt that:

Since I received my degree (1920), I have taken as much interest in PMC as if I were in reality a graduate. I have faithfully followed PMC sports in the newspapers and have been particularly fascinated by your fine polo teams. PMC is truly expressive of the American spirit, and lays the foundation for the sort of Americanism needed to perpetuate the worthwhile institutions of our country.

In 1924, PMC conferred the degree of Bachelor of Military Science upon 64 alumni. Judge George T. Cann, ’85 explained that the degree was designed to honor graduates of the College who had served in any branch of the military in time of actual warfare. For the several more years, this degree was awarded to 202 more alumni.

John W. Simmons, ‘87, described Colonel Theodore Hyatt as “sincere and true. No one could know him well without loving him. He was sympathetic and charitable, and where he knew there was suffering and want, there his hand went out.” It is no wonder that the PMC community searched to find a fitting memorial to this great man. Because of its importance to the study of Civil Engineering and his interest in astronomical studies, building an Observatory was chosen to honor the late Colonel Hyatt.

The building was designed and planned by Colonel Silas Comfort,’89, a Professor of Engineering and Vice-President at the school. His plan was not to build an ornamental monument, but one that would be of use students. The result was a tastefully designed gray stone building overlooking the athletic fields from the east and was on the most elevated spot to meet the needs of student astronomers.

Through the efforts of the Alumni Association, ex-cadets and friends of the school raised funds to equip the Observatory with astronomical instruments consisting of

a six-inch refracting telescope with position-micrometer, helioscope, and solar and spectroscope attachments, a transit, a chronograph, a sidereal clock, and all other appurtenances necessary to systematic and accurate work. The Observatory will be in telegraphic connection with other Observatories.

The Observatory was dedicated at the 1891 Commencement exercises.

Beginning in 1958, Cadets often found the Memorial Library to provide them with the necessary resources as well as comfortable surroundings for their studies. Over the fireplace in the Reference Room hung a large mural, 11 feet in height and 7 feet in width that after four years of study became almost invisible.

Hung in the library in 1959, the mural is a montage of life at PMC. The focal point of the picture is the likeness of Major General Edward E. MacMorland, then the president of the college, surrounded by cadets. These cadets were enrolled at PMC at the time and posed for the painting. An art student is also visible painting a picture of Frank K. Hyatt, who passed away shortly before the mural was started. Besides academics and the activities of the Corps, three football players are depicted, with the number 56 clearly visible on one player. Football fans will recall that this is the number of Herm Sweeney, one of PMC’s greatest players.

The mural was the work of Carl Lindborg, a prominent local artist and art instructor at Pennsylvania Military Preparatory School and later the Evening Division at the college. Born in Philadelphia, Lindborg began his studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He continued his studies in Paris at the Academie Julian and with Andre Lhote, a renowned modernist painter. He began to exhibit extensively at the Salons of America, the Corcoran Gallery Biennials, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Philadelphia Art Alliance, the Philadelphia Art Club and the Butler Institute of American Art in Ohio.

The mural is more than just a painting of the activities at PMC. In many ways it illustrates the legacy of PMC: individual education, character building and military training.

By 1948, PMC realized it needed to gain accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the organization which evaluates degree-granting colleges and universities in the Middle States and certifies the quality of education in those institutions. To accomplish this, a new and adequate library was needed. In February 1948 the Trustees announced that the PMC Memorial Library was to be constructed.

Ralph P. Minich, a noted Philadelphia architect, designed the building, a Georgian Colonial brick structure with two wings and a center court. It was to be located at a point near the west gate and followed the curve of the campus drive almost to the Annex Building. The central court of the new library was to be a memorial to Lt. William J. Wolfram of the Class of 1943. Colonel Frank K. Hyatt stated that the library “symbolizes the spirit of the new PMC” and represents the first step in providing students the “modern facilities” they required. The cornerstone of Memorial Library was laid in November 1948. Placed in the cornerstone were a letter of tribute to Colonel Theodore Hyatt, a letter from Mr Frank Wolfgram describing the spirit of PMC, a scroll with the names of the Library Fund subscribers, a list of the Library and Building Committees, a list of graduates and a Bible.

Originally to cost $80,000 it soon became clear that this estimate was low. Unfortunately the additional funds required were not available and in early 1949 construction was suspended. A campaign conducted by Colonel Hyatt was begun to raise the additional $50,000 needed to complete the structure. This was not completed until 1951. The Library Committee then began a drive to raise money to furnish the building. By the summer of 1952, the final step in completing the Library was ready to be taken.

In August 1952 a group of sixty summer session students along with members of the library staff, Dean of Faculty James Graham and Professor of Biology Dr. Joseph Storlazzi began to move 20,000 books and periodicals. At the end of a very long and hot day, most of the books had been moved and placed on the shelves in their proper order. This achievement was accomplished by using special book-carrying cases, which had been loaned to PMC by Bucknell University, that had been built especially for this purpose.

Since the beginning of PMC, athletics was an important part in the development of leadership. PMC athletic teams often attracted a national audience. Attendance at football games swelled to thousands of spectators, while at some of the outdoor polo games the attendance was even larger. In addition, the Corps continued to use the fields as a parade ground and commencement exercises often attracted many thousands. It quickly became apparent that the grass stands were not sufficient.

In the spring of 1926, the Athletic Council of PMC announced plans to build a concrete stadium along with new athletic fields. The stadium was to be 300 feet long and will have a seating capacity of 4,000 persons. A glass-enclosed press box, which contained a telegraph and telephone, accommodated reporters. Underneath there were locker rooms, various storerooms for military equipment and a rifle range.

The new athletic fields were to have two levels. The upper level was approximately 700 feet in length and 400 feet in width. After a drop of about ten feet, the lower fields were to contain practice fields and a baseball diamond.

The Stadium Campaign Committee, led by Frank G. Sweney ’76, son of Dr. John R. Sweney the music director at PMC, immediately set out to raise the $100,000 needed for the stadium. The Committee reached out to graduates, ex-cadets, students, friends of the school and the citizens of Chester and Philadelphia interested in athletics. Each person was asked to purchase a $200 lifetime membership in the PMC Athletic Association. This membership offered free admission to all Athletic Association events at the stadium. In addition, each year twenty-five percent of the gross receipts of the Athletic Association would be distributed equally among the members until the $200 fee was paid back.

Work began on June 18, 1926, and progressed quickly until the middle of the summer. For some time a rainy spell greatly slowed the work and the fields turned into “seas of mud.” Work continued and the first football game played at the new stadium was against Washington College. To commemorate the first game, Secretary of War Dwight L. Davis arranged for a football to be dropped on the gridiron from a Navy plane just before the kickoff. The final score was PMC 12 Washington College 3.

The stadium was dedicated on November 13. General Hyatt said: “I have been waiting sixty years for this development-a development that will mean much to the young men of this institution. This fine new stadium offers all of the modern facilities for the carrying on of clean sports.”

The character of the games played by PMC was portrayed by the motto engraved at the entrance of the stands – Dedicated to Youth.