History of The University of Redlands - Redlands During and After The Great War Years - Redlands During The Great Depression

Redlands During The Great Depression

By the beginning of 1932, the effects of the Great Depression started to be felt at the University. Enrollment soared, as there was no work to be found, but student indebtedness also increased exponentially, as well as the amount the University owed banks. Salaries were cut, and employees were laid-off. On March 3, 1933, the day after the governor declared a moratorium on banks, President Duke died of a cerebral hemorrhage.

In the wake of Duke's death, antagonism developed between the faculty and trustees over forced retirements and other severances. The Trustees appointed Dr. W. Rafferty acting president on the day of Duke's funeral, but as he did not want the job on a permanent basis a nation-wide search was immediately undertaken for Duke's successor. The board unanimously elected lay member Dr. Clarence Howe Thurber, Dean of Faculty and Director of Education at Colgate University, as the third president of the University of Redlands.

Although Dr. Thurber agreed with the "statement of faith" required of all UR faculty since 1926, he quickly became known as a relentless innovator. "Education," he stated at his inaugural address on December 6, 1933, "cannot be ‘poured in’ or ‘plastered on,’ it must be ‘rooted out’ for oneself … Leaners not learners result from spoon feeding … Shall we not then, re-examine our whole set up in an endeavor to quicken the love of learning?" He proceeded to do so, working with the Faculty to reorganize the curriculum to make it "abreast of the foremost institutions of the nation."

His administration, however, soon ran afoul of ultra-conservative churches. Their student members complained of a liberal attitude toward Baptist doctrine being inoculated by Robert H. Lynn, Crawford Professor of Biblical, Missionary and Ethical Instruction. Although the trustees attempted to assuage the matter by conducting a hearing between Lynn and the complaining students, the report they issued commending the Christian spirit of both parties further alienated the critical Baptists.