’50s Bucknell
Photos: Special Collections/University Archives; Wikimedia Commons
President Horace A. Hildreth (1949-1953)
  • Above: President Horace A. Hildreth (1949-1953)
  • Succeeded by Joseph Welles Henderson (interim president 1953-1954)
  • Succeeded by Merle Middleton Odgers (1954-1964)
Traditions
Dad’s Day
Celebrated as a way for fathers of undergrads to “get on the inside of The Bucknell Way of Life,” according to Bucknell Alumnus. President Hildreth told a 1950 Dad’s Day audience: “I want to state for all the young men and women who come to our campus the emphasis will be on opportunity not security.”
May Day
This three-day spring celebration had the theme Sidewalks of New York in 1951. An annual highlight: The previous year’s May Queen crowned her successor.
May Queen: Sally Spencer ’53
Sally Spencer ’53
The Mr. Ugly Man Contest
In 1953, Art Kinney ’56 won after receiving the most change, $113.20, dropped into his milk bottle. The money went toward the Mortar Board Student Aid Fund for students in financial need.
Looking Outward
On Nov. 5, 1953, 90 guests arrived on campus to attend the sixth annual Burma-Bucknell Weekend. Until 1965, these yearly gatherings brought together the worlds of university, community, religion, government and business in mutual understanding across diverse ethnic groups.
1958 Weekend guests of sixth annual Burma-Bucknell Weekend
1958 Weekend guests
The campus radio station WVBU had a jam-packed schedule. Two of the most popular programs in 1953 were the 7-8:45 a.m. Jam for Breakfast show, featuring tunes to rev up the day, and its bookend, The Bitter End request show, 9:45 p.m.-1 a.m.
Farmiculture
Bucknell had two University Farms (one between Route 15 and the golf course and another on Route 45, west of Lewisburg) to supply students with “fresh pasteurized milk in abundant quantities.”
Bucknell had two University Farms
FUN ’50s FACTS
1950
Costs: Tuition: $500; room and board for men: $1,010-$1,240; women: $1,133

1952
Student body: graduating seniors: 452 total students — 302 men, 150 “girls.” Most popular majors: 113 commerce and finance, 75 engineering, 44 education, 42 biology

1952
Homecoming: A record 11,000 people attended

President Horace A. Hildreth (1949-1953)
  • Above: President Horace A. Hildreth (1949-1953)
  • Succeeded by Joseph Welles Henderson (interim president 1953-1954)
  • Succeeded by Merle Middleton Odgers (1954-1964)
Traditions
Dad’s Day
Celebrated as a way for fathers of undergrads to “get on the inside of The Bucknell Way of Life,” according to Bucknell Alumnus. President Hildreth told a 1950 Dad’s Day audience: “I want to state for all the young men and women who come to our campus the emphasis will be on opportunity not security.”

May Day
This three-day spring celebration had the theme Sidewalks of New York in 1951. An annual highlight: The previous year’s May Queen crowned her successor.

May Queen: Sally Spencer ’53
Sally Spencer ’53
The Mr. Ugly Man Contest
In 1953, Art Kinney ’56 won after receiving the most change, $113.20, dropped into his milk bottle. The money went toward the Mortar Board Student Aid Fund for students in financial need.
Looking Outward
On Nov. 5, 1953, 90 guests arrived on campus to attend the sixth annual Burma-Bucknell Weekend. Until 1965, these yearly gatherings brought together the worlds of university, community, religion, government and business in mutual understanding across diverse ethnic groups.
1958 Weekend guests of sixth annual Burma-Bucknell Weekend
1958 Weekend guests
The campus radio station WVBU had a jam-packed schedule. Two of the most popular programs in 1953 were the 7-8:45 a.m. Jam for Breakfast show, featuring tunes to rev up the day, and its bookend, The Bitter End request show, 9:45 p.m.-1 a.m.
Farmiculture
Bucknell had two University Farms (one between Route 15 and the golf course and another on Route 45, west of Lewisburg) to supply students with “fresh pasteurized milk in abundant quantities.”
Bucknell had two University Farms
FUN ’50s FACTS
1950
Costs: Tuition: $500; room and board for men: $1,010-$1,240; women: $1,133

1952
Student body: graduating seniors: 452 total students — 302 men, 150 “girls.” Most popular majors: 113 commerce and finance, 75 engineering, 44 education, 42 biology

1952
Homecoming: A record 11,000 people attended

’50s Politics & Culture

Photos: Special Collections/University Archives; Wikimedia Commons
Politics
U.S. Presidents

  • Harry S. Truman (1945-53)
  • Below: Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-61)
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-61)
Korean flag illustration
The Korean War (1950-53)
Backed by China and the Soviet Union, North Korea attacked South Korea, which had the support of the United States. Fighting ended in 1953 without a signed treaty.
Sen. Joseph McCarthy
The Cold War
Cold War tensions between the United States and Soviet Union were exacerbated by Sen. Joseph McCarthy, (above), who accused federal employees, entertainers and others of being “card-carrying communists.”
Popular Culture
Movies showing at the Campus Theatre, according to The Bucknellian.

Sept. 25, 1953
White Witch Doctor, starring Susan Hayward and Robert Mitchu

Moulin Rouge playbill cover
Oct. 15, 1953
Moulin Rouge, starring José Ferrer and Zsa Zsa Gabor

Jan. 8, 1954
Kiss Me Kate, starring Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson

Jan 21, 1954
Hondo, starring John Wayne

March 4, 1954
Money from Home, starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis

March 25, 1954
The Glenn Miller Story, starring James Stewart

Music
Top songs
(according to Billboard 100)

1951
“Too Young”
by Nat King Cole

“Too Young” by Nat King Cole
1952
“Blue Tango”
by Leroy Anderson

1953
“Song From
Moulin Rouge”
by Percy Faith and His Orchestra

1954
“Little Things Mean A Lot”
by Kitty Kallen

Politics
U.S. Presidents

  • Harry S. Truman (1945-53)
  • Below: Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-61)
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-61)
Korean flag illustration
The Korean War (1950-53)
Backed by China and the Soviet Union, North Korea attacked South Korea, which had the support of the United States. Fighting ended in 1953 without a signed treaty.
Sen. Joseph McCarthy
The Cold War
Cold War tensions between the United States and Soviet Union were exacerbated by Sen. Joseph McCarthy, (above), who accused federal employees, entertainers and others of being “card-carrying communists.”
Popular Culture
Movies showing at the Campus Theatre, according to The Bucknellian.

Sept. 25, 1953
White Witch Doctor, starring Susan Hayward and Robert Mitchu

Moulin Rouge playbill cover
Oct. 15, 1953
Moulin Rouge, starring José Ferrer and Zsa Zsa Gabor

Jan. 8, 1954
Kiss Me Kate, starring Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson

Jan 21, 1954
Hondo, starring John Wayne

March 4, 1954
Money from Home, starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis

March 25, 1954
The Glenn Miller Story, starring James Stewart

Music
Top songs
(according to Billboard 100)

1951
“Too Young”
by Nat King Cole

“Too Young” by Nat King Cole
1952
“Blue Tango”
by Leroy Anderson

1953
“Song From
Moulin Rouge”
by Percy Faith and His Orchestra

1954
“Little Things Mean A Lot”
by Kitty Kallen