Ohio Northern Department of Art & Design
1893: Prof. Albert Rogall and his art class
Students’ Fine Art Work Helped ONU Win a Metal at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition
President H.S. Lehr tirelessly worked to promote his school whenever and however possible. In 1893 as new buildings on campus were completed and major events like the Campbell-McKinley debate were held, another opportunity to advertise the university arose in the form of a letter from the United States commissioner of education. The request solicited a university exhibit for the upcoming World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
The exhibit was to be the work of students and not a museum display. A number of faculty members thought it unwise, if not hopeless, to compete with larger and more prestigious institutions. However, the trustees, a body which consisted of President Lehr and Professors John Park, Frederick Maglott and Warren Darst, disagreed.
The university at the time was organized into eleven independent departments: Literary, Commercial, Engineering, Military, Law, Musical, Telegraphic, Stenographic, Pharmaceutic, Elocutionary and Fine Art. Although some departments did not participate, it was still possible to secure a representative sampling of student work. The exhibit eventually consisted of student essays, geography maps, fine herbarium, blue prints, projection drawings, analytical figures and fine art paintings.
The department of fine art, lead by Prof. Albert Rogall, was committed to Lehr’s vision of creating an exhibit at the exposition. Prof. Rogall, who fought in the Civil War, came to Ada about 1882 to teach fine arts. In 1885, he was appointed an instructor of painting, drawing and architecture, and was highly successful.
About 350 students were enrolled in the fine art department in 1893, but only one student graduating, Elsie McDowell from Nankin, Ohio. According to the catalog, courses offered through the department included drawing (freehand, perspective, mechanical, bridge-building), painting (landscape, crayon, pastel), ornamental penmanship, and lettering-freehand. Tuition was $3 per term for drawing courses; $5 per term for mechanical and industrial drawing courses, and $10 per term for all other courses (crayon drawing, water color, oil painting, India ink and Poonah painting).
As the planning for the exhibit transpired, Prof. Rogall selected several student paintings for inclusion. As Lehr noted, “The teachers of English had their students write essays, those studying geography prepared maps, Prof. Rogall selected some fine paintings prepared by his art students...”
As the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago took place, the doubting Thomases could have saved themselves a good deal of worry. The exhibit was one of only four from Ohio colleges, and it was well received. The materials prepared by Mrs. Maglott and her students were of particular interest to the Awards Committee. Mrs. Maglott, teacher of higher mathematics, had her students prepare intricate figures in analytics worked out by silk threads and fine steel wires.
As a result of the tremendous effort of the faculty and students, the Awards Committee presented the university a ribbon and a bronze medal for the presentation.
Lehr, always quick to seize an opportunity, incorporated a picture of the ribbon into the cover of the university catalog for several years. The medal appeared on the university letterhead.
1893: Prof. Albert Rogall and his art class
Students’ Fine Art Work Helped ONU Win a Metal at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition
President H.S. Lehr tirelessly worked to promote his school whenever and however possible. In 1893 as new buildings on campus were completed and major events like the Campbell-McKinley debate were held, another opportunity to advertise the university arose in the form of a letter from the United States commissioner of education. The request solicited a university exhibit for the upcoming World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
The exhibit was to be the work of students and not a museum display. A number of faculty members thought it unwise, if not hopeless, to compete with larger and more prestigious institutions. However, the trustees, a body which consisted of President Lehr and Professors John Park, Frederick Maglott and Warren Darst, disagreed.
The university at the time was organized into eleven independent departments: Literary, Commercial, Engineering, Military, Law, Musical, Telegraphic, Stenographic, Pharmaceutic, Elocutionary and Fine Art. Although some departments did not participate, it was still possible to secure a representative sampling of student work. The exhibit eventually consisted of student essays, geography maps, fine herbarium, blue prints, projection drawings, analytical figures and fine art paintings.
The department of fine art, lead by Prof. Albert Rogall, was committed to Lehr’s vision of creating an exhibit at the exposition. Prof. Rogall, who fought in the Civil War, came to Ada about 1882 to teach fine arts. In 1885, he was appointed an instructor of painting, drawing and architecture, and was highly successful.
About 350 students were enrolled in the fine art department in 1893, but only one student graduating, Elsie McDowell from Nankin, Ohio. According to the catalog, courses offered through the department included drawing (freehand, perspective, mechanical, bridge-building), painting (landscape, crayon, pastel), ornamental penmanship, and lettering-freehand. Tuition was $3 per term for drawing courses; $5 per term for mechanical and industrial drawing courses, and $10 per term for all other courses (crayon drawing, water color, oil painting, India ink and Poonah painting).
As the planning for the exhibit transpired, Prof. Rogall selected several student paintings for inclusion. As Lehr noted, “The teachers of English had their students write essays, those studying geography prepared maps, Prof. Rogall selected some fine paintings prepared by his art students...”
As the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago took place, the doubting Thomases could have saved themselves a good deal of worry. The exhibit was one of only four from Ohio colleges, and it was well received. The materials prepared by Mrs. Maglott and her students were of particular interest to the Awards Committee. Mrs. Maglott, teacher of higher mathematics, had her students prepare intricate figures in analytics worked out by silk threads and fine steel wires.
As a result of the tremendous effort of the faculty and students, the Awards Committee presented the university a ribbon and a bronze medal for the presentation.
Lehr, always quick to seize an opportunity, incorporated a picture of the ribbon into the cover of the university catalog for several years. The medal appeared on the university letterhead.