Old Main, Indiana State Normal School (1917 Normal Advance, page 6)

Shepherd Young (1919 Normal Advance, page 21)
When the Commerce Department was first formed in 1918, Shepherd was its head. He reamained so until his death in November 1940.

1920

Notes: The entry for the commercial department in the 1920 edition of the Normal Advance yearbook (page 31) reads, "The courses are so organized that the whole curriculum of the course can be completed in one year. Courses in advanced bookkeeping, advanced and beginning shorthand and advanced typewriting are offered, the Gregg system of shorthand being used. The department occupies the entire fourth floor of the building and is equipped in the most modern way. The aim of the course is to produce efficient teachers of the commercial department in the high schools of the State. Incidentally, the department furnishes the students with a very practical course which will assist them towards well advanced business positions. The department is gaining so rapidly in popularity that another expansion of the quarters will soon be necessary."

Degrees with majors in commerce were awarded. The two graduates were Frank Grove and Robertine Wilson. Grove became assistant professor of commerce at Indiana State Normal School as it was then known in 1922. 

The Commerce Club was also formed in the Fall of 1920. Its purpose was to "to further knowledge about general business problems." The club offered "an opportunity for its members to meet and discuss the interesting problems of the day, thus gaining inspiration for their own work and a general knowledge of the whole field of business." Officers and members were: President, Rebecca Barack; vice president, Hoyt Spencer; secretary, Virginia Fuerst; treasurer, W. C. Letsinger. The other members are as follows: Erma Mewhinney, Leland Rees, Laura Phillips, Anna Kirkham, Mary Laatz, Helen Schiff, Alice Hopkins, Herman L. Boyle, Vaughn Russel, Dora Warinner, Flossie Davis, Clarice Brewer, Mona Woodward, Wayne Newton, Irene Kunz, Lois Hern, Anna Ryan, Bernadette McMullen, Rose Mary Dodt, Geraldine Dodt and Professor Shepherd Young. (1921 Normal Advance yearbook, page 147)

Typing

Typing (1920 Normal Advance, page 44)

Student: Herman L. Boyle

Freshman Herman Boyle 1920 Normal Advance, page 75

Student: Frank Grove

Frank Grove – Scircleville, Indiana. Scircleville High School, 1915. Major Commerce. One year teaching experience. Ciceronian, Treasurer, Weekly Advance, ’17 and ’18.  Business manager, Annual ’17 and ’18. Treasurer, Athletic Association, Baseball, 1918, Tennis, 1919-20. Graduate of Normal Course.

Frank Grove (1920 Normal Advance, page 48)

Student: Robertine Wilson

Vincennes, Indiana. Wiley high School, 1914. Major, Commercial. Four years teaching experience. Mu Zeta.

Robertine Wilson (1920 Normal Advance, page 60)

1921

Commerce Club

The students of the Commerce Department of the Indiana State Normal School seeing a need of an organization to further their knowledge about general business problems, held a meeting for the purpose of organization. Thus, the Commerce Club of Indiana State Normal became a reality during the Fall Term of 1920.

During the first meeting the the following officers were elected: President, Rebecca Barack; vice president, Hoyt Spencer; secretary, Virginia Fuerst; treasurer, W. C. Letsinger. The other members are as follows: Erma Mewhinney, Leland Rees, Laura Phillips, Anna Kirkham, Mary Laatz, Helen Schiff, Alice Hopkins, Herman L. Boyle, Vaughn Russel, Dora Warinner, Flossie Davis, Clarice Brewer, Mona Woodward, Wayne Newton, Irene Kunz, Lois Hern, Anna Ryan, Bernadette McMullen, Rose Mary Dodt, Geraldine Dodt and Professor Shepherd Young

This club offers an opportunity for its members to meet and discuss the interesting problems of the day, thus gaining inspiration for their own work and a general knowledge of the whole field of business.

The Commerce Club is a wholly student organization, however, visitors ae cordially invited to lectures to the students on business matters.

First column – Flossie Davis, Mona Woodward, Geraldine Dodt, Dora Warinner
2nd – Herman Boyle, Irene Kunz, Rebecca Barack, Alice Hopkins, W. C. Letsinger
3rd – Anna Kirkham, Mr. Young, Erma Mewhinney, Hoyt Spencer
4th – Vaughn Russel, Gerogia Hughes, Mary E. Laatz, Ann Ryan, Leland Rees
5th – Laura Phillips, Virginia Fuerst, Helen Schiff, Clarice Brewer. 1921 Normal Advance, page 147

Faculty: Shepherd Young

Shepherd Young, head of the Commerce Department (1921 Normal Advance, page 20)

Student: Herman L. Boyle

Sophomore and Athletics Officer Herman Boyle 1921 Normal Advance, page 63

Student: Mary E. Laatz

Wiley high school 1917 – Commercial and Mathematics alpha – commerce club – secretary senior class winter – assistant in commercial department – treasurer senior class spring

Mary E. Laatz (1921 Normal Advance, page 44)

Student: Erma Ruth Mewhinney

Garfield high school 1918 – commerce club – part-time teaching at Garfield High School – Major – Commercial

Erma Ruth Mewhinney (1921 Normal Advance, page 47)

Note: Erma was born on May 6, 1900. After graduation from Indiana State Normal School she taught commerce at Gafield High School. The entry in the Garfield year book "The Bendictus" of 1928 for Erma simply reads "All doors open to her courtesy." Erma passed away in December 1985 and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Riley, Indiana.

Around Campus

A little inter-college rivalry (1921 Normal Advance, page 197)

Around Campus: A Student's Lament

The prof is my mentor;
I shall not lag.
He maketh unto me hard assignments;
He leadeth me into the intricacies of wisdom;
He restoreth my humility.
He exposeth my ignorance for my intellect’s sake.
He maketh a fool of me in the presence of my classmates.
Yea, though I walk in the paths of the upright,
I shall fear failure,
For he is with me.
His wrath and anger confront me.
He heaps maledictions upon me.
My grouch runneth over.
Surely ignorance and failure will follow me all the rest of my life,
And I shall dwell in darkness forever.

A Student's Lament (1921 Normal Advance, pages 202 & 203)

Gabble, gabble little prof.
Don’t you think we’ve had enough?
Four hard subjects we must take.
Four small credits we must make.
Don’t you know the others too
Make assignments just like you?
Twenty-four hours in the day
Four to sleep and none to play.
Four for recitations here
The rest to study, teacher dear.
So herr professor, have a heart!
Give us, at least a chance to start
In four small hours our preparation.
Withhold your words of condemnation,
And up in heaven, when you’re through
We’ll recommend a crown for you!

1922

Notes: One of the first graduates with a major in commerce, Frank Grove, was appointed assistant professor of commerce at Indiana State Normal School in 1922. 

Commerce Club

The Commerce Club has completed on of its best years since its organization. The ideals of the club have been furthered under the direction of F. Burget Manhart as president, Margaret Houff as vice president, Gladys Arthur as treasurer and Herman Boyle as secretary.

A number of inspirational meetings have been held this year in which men from the business world have come in and brought their actual experiences to assist those who are studying business. Among them were Mr. Sherwood of the Southwestern Publishing Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio. He delivered a helpful talk on that much discussed subject, Income Tax. Other talks that were of a most helpful nature were given by Mssrs. Earl Cox and Herman Boyle and Miss Catherine Zahm, all students of this institution.

Among the social events held by the club one of the most enjoyable was a taffy-pull and dance at the Student Building.

This club is open to all students who are carrying at least one commercial subject and its object is to enlarge the field of the student’s experience in these subjects.

1st Column – Gladys Arthur, Professor Grove, Edna Hall, Margaret Houff
2nd – Mary Kirkpatrick, Catherine Zahm, Herman L. Boyle, Marie Rucker
3rd – Professor S. Young, Edith Tucker, Helen Wood, Burgett Mnhart
4th – Anne Hetherman, Ruth Wagner, Madge Roll, Edna Bennett
5th – Rebecca Barack, Mae Small, Alberta Roller, Earl Cox. (1922 Normal Advance, page 102)

Faculty: Frank Grove

Frank Grove, Assistant Professor of Commerce (1922 Normal Advance, page 34)
[Frank graduated from Indiana State Normal School in 1920]

Student: Rebeca Barack

Rebecca Barack 1922 Normal Advance, page 54

Senior Rebecca Barack from Terre Haute. Graduated from Wiley High School in 1919. Majoring in Commerce. Member of the Commerce Club and El Circulo Espanol.

Student: Edna May Bennett

Edna Bennett 1922 Normal Advance, page 61

Senior Edna May Bennett from Terre Haute. Graduated from Garfield High School in1918. Majoring in Commerce. Member of Alpha, Philomathean and the Commerce Club. Edna has 2 years of teaching experience.

Student: Vernah Jarvis

Senior – Vernah Jarvis – Terre Haute, Indiana – College Course, A.B. – Major: Commerce – Wiley high School, 1919 – El Circulo Espanol

Vernah Jarvis (1922 Normal Advance, page 52)

[It seems Vernah was working as an English teacher at Woodrow Wilson Junior High School in Terre Haute for the 1927-28 school year - "The History of Woodrow Wilson Junior High School" by Grace DeVaney (1933)]

Student: Edith Wade

Senior – Edith L. Wade - Terre Haute, Indiana – College Course, A.B. – Major: Commerce – Garfield High School, 1918 – Llamarada

Edith Wade (1922 Normal Advance, page 54)

1923

Notes: The first undergraduate degrees in commerce awarded to Herman Boyle, who eventually retired as an executive of Standard Oil Company. The other recipients were Thelma Keller and Marie Rucker. Rucker became an assistant professor of commerce at Indiana State Normal School in 1926. The Normal Advance yearbook was published from 1896 to 1923 when it was renamed the Sycamore.

Faculty: Marie Rucker

Terre Haute, Indiana – Four year Commerce Course, B.S. – Athleta – Commerce Assistant ’21, ’22, ‘23

Marie Rucker (1923 Normal Advance, pages 29 & 48)

Student: Herman L. Boyle

Herman Boyle 1923 Normal Advance, page 32

Senior Herman Boyle from Riley, Indiana. Majoring in Commerce. Activities: Press Club, Daedalian, Basketball Manager ’22 ’23 and Tennis ’22 ‘23

[Herman L. Boyle graduated from Indiana State Normal School in 1923. He worked for Standard Oil Company (later Amoco) for 40 years holding numerous positions within the company. Among his accomplishments was the successful set-up of the accounting systems for the company’s foreign holdings. In 1959, he was a recipient of Indiana State's Distinguished Alumni Award.]

Student: Thelma Keller

Seniors – Thelma Keller - Terre Haute, Indiana – Four Year Commercial Course, B.S. – Y.W.C.A. ’22 ‘23

Thelma Keller (1923 Normal Advance, page 33)

Student: Helen Schiff 

Terre Haute, Indiana – Major: Commerce – Commerce Club

Helen Schiff (1923 Normal Advance, page 48)

Student Gretchen Shea

Gretchen M. Shea – Terre Haute, Indiana – College Course A.B. – Major: Commerce – commerce club – Psi Theta – Alethenai – Student Council

Gretchen Shea (1923 Normal Advance, page 40)

1924

Faculty: Kate Browning

Kate Browning, Assistant Professor of Commerce 1924 Sycamore, page 24

1926

Notes: One of the first graduates of the commerce department, Marie Rucker, was appointed an assistant professor of commerce at Indiana State Normal School in 1926.

Faculty: Marie Rucker

Marie Rucker, assistant professor of commerce (1926 Sycamore, page 28)

1928

Faculty: George F. Leonard

George F. Leonard, Assistant Professor of Typing (1928 Sycamore, page 27)

Commerce Club

President – Raymond Price
Vice-president – Howard Stewart
Secretary – Virginia Combs
Treasurer – Maurice Kessel

1^st Column – Howard Stewart, Miner Joyce, Vachel Breidenbaugh, Roy Hunter, Ray Price, Mary Downs
2^nd – Virginia Combs, Maurice Kessel, Permelia Anderson, Charles Chappelear, Joseph mooter, Mary Lindley
3^rd – Harry Grover, Katherine Blair, Augusta O’Neal, Hazel Dwiggens, Thelma Martin, Donald Bowen
4^th – Beatrice Keller, Carolyn Wolff, Elwood Hookey, Kathryn Puckett, William Dillon, Wilhelimina Schaufler
5^th – Carl Persinger, Ethel Dick, Margaret Mayrose, Nance Sherwood, Mynena Anderson, Loren Breeden (1928 Sycamore, pages 199-200)

1929

Commerce Club

President – William Dillon
Vice-president – Harold Kester
Secretary – Olive Carnahan
Treasurer – Mary Connelly

1st row - William Dillon. Harold Kester, Olive Carnahan, Carl Persinger
2nd row – Mary Downs, Loren Breedon, Marian Kessel, Wlwood Hookey, Nance Sherwood
3rd row – Winifred Wittenberg, Mynena Anderson, George Joyce, Mary Poindexter, Martha Prather
4th row – Hazel Creal, Rachael Scott, Josephine Dwiggins, Hazel Stewart, Permelia Anderson
5th row – Opal Laughlin, Margaret Zimmerman, Kathryn French, Anna K. Oltean (1929 Sycamore, pages 205 - 206)

Faculty: Helen Wood

Helen Wood, instructor in commerce (1929 Sycamore, page 26)