From 1944 to 1949, William Penn College had the honor of having Cecil E. Hinshaw as its president. A Quaker minister, who was originally from Kansas and North Dakota, became president of Penn in 1944. During his time at Penn, he welcomed students…
Basketball at Penn really started taking off in 1900. They became Hawkeye Conference champs in 1914-15, and Iowa Conference champs in 1970-71. Both men's and women's basketball went on to become state champs multiple times during the 70's and 80's.
The May Day Pageant was started around 1901 by the Y.W.C.A. The May Queen is selected from the senior women, by the men students, while the women elect a Cardinal to crown and attend to the Queen. The procession marches across the campus to the…
A poster for the Iowa Brigade Band in Oskaloosa.The first settlers deep love of music led to the creation of the Municipal Band in 1864. The band became known as the Knights Templar band in 1880. In 1882 a double-deck bandstand was erected in…
The first football team at Penn was formed in 1892, with James R. Howard serving as captain. The first full season of football was in the year 1896. Penn's first undefeated football team was in 1904 (7-0), and Penn's first Iowa Conference…
The rock holds an old tradition at Penn known as the Class Scrap. The "scrap" was between the freshmen and the sophomores. Whoever won the scrap would get to paint their colors on the rock, but would have to guard it for the night to prevent the…
C. L. "Chuck" Barnhouse came to Southeast Iowa in the 1880's, where he took leadership positions in bands in Mt. Pleasant and Burlington. Barnhouse’s first publication was “The Battle of Shiloh in 1886. He permanently took residence in Oskaloosa in…
