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Letters
Send submissions to wittmagazine@wittenberg.edu
Geology gets another glance I particularly enjoyed the Arnold article about Wittenberg having known Dave’s parents and grandparents all of my life. In an attempt to add to the information concerning the geology department, I will quote from my father’s (Dr. C.G. Shatzer) notes. Also, I do want to acknowledge that the information in Dr. Lentz’ book is correct. He had verified this material with Dr. Shatzer when the book was written. The following information is from notes made by Dr. Shatzer concerning his life. Charles G. Shatzer was brought to the preparatory school as a teacher of science and mathematics. Several other subjects were a part of his teaching duties. Further, he was to proctor Myers Hall. In addition to his teaching schedule of 20 hours per week, he was to administer the hall and live there. In the fall of 1903, C.G. Shatzer was freed of the greater part of the work in the preparatory school and the proctorship.It had been found necessary to relieve the departments of chemistry and physics of the responsibility for geology, mineralogy and zoology. A new department titled the Department of Biology and Geology was designed, and Dr. Shatzer was attached to it as an instructor. During the summers of 1903 and 1904, he worked in Wisconsin for the United States Geological Survey. The new department developed student interest, and its courses were given elective status, probably in 1905 or 1906, as fulfilling freshman year requirement in science. Soon after 1923, the department was divided into the Department of Biology and the Department of Geology and Geography. Geography gained college status in education, and Wittenberg was one of the first to offer it. Dr. Shatzer continued throughout his career to teach some geology classes and always geography until his retirement in August of 1946. In 1905, President Heckert secured funds from Andrew Carnegie for a Science Hall. Dr. E.O. Weaver, Dr. A.F. Linn and Dr. Shatzer gave a great deal of time to planning the building. It was assigned to three departments — chemistry, physics and the department of biology and geology. The basement floor was allocated to chemistry, physics and a small part for biology storage. The main floor was divided between chemistry and physics, and the third floor to a combined lecture room for chemistry and biology, and for biological and geological laboratories as well as a museum. The three instructors designed most of the storage, exhibition cases and tables. All plans were accepted by the architect. Other colleges were visited and their plans studied to provide the best possible plan for Wittenberg. Mary Jane Shatzer Jaeger ’40
Wittenberg Magazine P.O. Box 720 Springfield, Ohio 45501-0720 Phone: (937) 327-6141 Fax: (937) 327-6112 |
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