Page 38 - UB Church and Shen Univ
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Volume 6 Relation of U.B/EUB Virginia Conferences to Shenandoah University Dec. 26, 2013
3 and 4 (2 hours), French (3 hours), Greek (3 hours), History (3 hours), Latin (3 hours), and Science
(4 hours).
5. Shenandoah College, 1925-37
New Name. In February 1925 the School again changed its name to reflect its new role and
accreditation: SCI became known as Shenandoah College. The Department of Music (sometimes,
Conservatory of Music) was part of Shenandoah College until 1937, when it was separately incorporated
as Shenandoah Conservatory of Music.
The Department of Music had become so important that the administration and Music
Department Director J. H. Ruebush states, “Music must be recognized and fully accredited and offer 4-
year music degree programs.” Shenandoah College and its Conservatory of Music unofficially
announced this in 1924-25 catalog. The 1927-28 catalog announced a full 4-year course leading to a
Bachelor of Music Degree when requirements were met. They also offered a 2-year course in public
school music. [Wilkins, p. 20]
By 1927 College courses were grouped into seven departments: Education, English, Ancient
Languages, Modern Languages, History and Biblical Literature, Mathematics, and Modern Science.
The College curriculum was then a 2-year extension of the secondary courses that had been established
in 1889; most programs were 4 years long and represented 2 years of secondary and 2 years of college
work. Art was a 3-year co-curriculum, as was Elocution or Expression, which had begun in 1902.
Agriculture and Home Economics curricula had been available in the early years of the century, but
were discontinued by 1925. Public-school music was a 4-year program at the time, and the Music
Division also offered programs in church music, strings, brass, woodwinds, and piano tuning.
1930 Keiffer Building.
The College’s Alumni
Association began a drive for the
necessary funds to build a
gymnasium. The Trustees agreed
to secure an equal amount to help
in building; this amount was to
be refunded when the proposed
Girls’ Dormitory was built. The
Keiffer Alumni Gymnasium and
Auditorium was built in 1930 and
was, at the time, one of the best gymnasiums in the Shenandoah Valley. It was a two-story brick
building with tall white columns in front. It contained a large Dining Hall in the basement, practice
rooms for musical students on the first and second floor, and a huge gymnasium with stage. There are
no clear records of the cost of this building nor of a plan to pay for its erection.
J. H. Ruebush. Prof. J. H. Ruebush accepted the presidency for the year 1927,
and he was succeeded in 1928 by Rev. A. L. Maiden (pictured at the right). The
enrollment was then 225. A. L. Maiden and J. H. Ruebush entered into a new lease
contract with the church to operate the School, pay all bills, and assume responsibility
for all operations (similar to previous leases in 1904 to 1909) [Wilkins, p. 20]. Mr. M.
P. Möller of Möller Organ Company endowed an organ scholarship for $1,000 and
Miller, et al., on History of S.C., 1875-1950 28
3 and 4 (2 hours), French (3 hours), Greek (3 hours), History (3 hours), Latin (3 hours), and Science
(4 hours).
5. Shenandoah College, 1925-37
New Name. In February 1925 the School again changed its name to reflect its new role and
accreditation: SCI became known as Shenandoah College. The Department of Music (sometimes,
Conservatory of Music) was part of Shenandoah College until 1937, when it was separately incorporated
as Shenandoah Conservatory of Music.
The Department of Music had become so important that the administration and Music
Department Director J. H. Ruebush states, “Music must be recognized and fully accredited and offer 4-
year music degree programs.” Shenandoah College and its Conservatory of Music unofficially
announced this in 1924-25 catalog. The 1927-28 catalog announced a full 4-year course leading to a
Bachelor of Music Degree when requirements were met. They also offered a 2-year course in public
school music. [Wilkins, p. 20]
By 1927 College courses were grouped into seven departments: Education, English, Ancient
Languages, Modern Languages, History and Biblical Literature, Mathematics, and Modern Science.
The College curriculum was then a 2-year extension of the secondary courses that had been established
in 1889; most programs were 4 years long and represented 2 years of secondary and 2 years of college
work. Art was a 3-year co-curriculum, as was Elocution or Expression, which had begun in 1902.
Agriculture and Home Economics curricula had been available in the early years of the century, but
were discontinued by 1925. Public-school music was a 4-year program at the time, and the Music
Division also offered programs in church music, strings, brass, woodwinds, and piano tuning.
1930 Keiffer Building.
The College’s Alumni
Association began a drive for the
necessary funds to build a
gymnasium. The Trustees agreed
to secure an equal amount to help
in building; this amount was to
be refunded when the proposed
Girls’ Dormitory was built. The
Keiffer Alumni Gymnasium and
Auditorium was built in 1930 and
was, at the time, one of the best gymnasiums in the Shenandoah Valley. It was a two-story brick
building with tall white columns in front. It contained a large Dining Hall in the basement, practice
rooms for musical students on the first and second floor, and a huge gymnasium with stage. There are
no clear records of the cost of this building nor of a plan to pay for its erection.
J. H. Ruebush. Prof. J. H. Ruebush accepted the presidency for the year 1927,
and he was succeeded in 1928 by Rev. A. L. Maiden (pictured at the right). The
enrollment was then 225. A. L. Maiden and J. H. Ruebush entered into a new lease
contract with the church to operate the School, pay all bills, and assume responsibility
for all operations (similar to previous leases in 1904 to 1909) [Wilkins, p. 20]. Mr. M.
P. Möller of Möller Organ Company endowed an organ scholarship for $1,000 and
Miller, et al., on History of S.C., 1875-1950 28
