Weber State University (pronounced /ˈwiːbər/ WEE-bər) was founded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Weber Stake Academy in 1889. “Weber” comes from the name of the county where the university is located. Weber County was named after John Henry Weber, an early fur trader. The university opened for students in 1889 with 98 students enrolled for classes on January 7. The first principal of Weber Stake Academy was Louis F. Moench; he served from 1889 to 1892 and again from 1894 to 1902. In the latter year, Moench was succeeded as principal by David O. McKay, who served in that position until 1908. From 1914 to 1917, James L. Barker was the principal of the Weber Stake Academy.[5]
In the early 20th century, the school underwent multiple name changes: Weber Stake Academy from its founding in 1889, Weber Academy in 1902, Weber Normal College in 1918, and Weber College in 1922. By the late 1920s, however, the college was in financial difficulty, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faced four choices—transfer the college to a partnership of the city of Ogden and Weber County, transfer it to the University of Utah as a branch campus, transfer it to the state of Utah as a junior college, or shut it down. In 1931, the Utah Legislature passed a law providing for the acquisition of Weber College and Snow College from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In 1933, Weber College became a state-supported junior college.[6][7] In 1954, the college moved from its downtown location in Ogden to a spacious and scenic area in the southeast bench area of the city.[8] The school became Weber State College in 1962, and in 1964 became a four-year college. It was a charter member of the Big Sky Conference in 1963.[9][10] The first graduate program (accounting), was added in 1984,[11] and it gained university status on January 1, 1991.[6][12]
Weber State University has developed into a major state undergraduate institution serving northern Utah and areas beyond, including American and international students. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weber_State_University)
Take note of how nicely dressed the students were then. There is the now-popular Lowe’s shown in much smaller version.
While working on this, thoughts of lost brothers, sweethearts, and friends surrounded me. After all, the war was not long over. This generation of kids had endured much. And the Korean Conflict was just around the bend. How many were married while still in college – and pregnant?
The music of this era was one of the best, with the 50’s yet to come.
The topic of Queens took on a different meaning then it does today. They were wholesome and feminine looking as if they could still be in high school and not college graduates.
Towards the end, just before the advertisements, is a listing of all the students. I have enlarged the list as much as possible to make finding special people easier.
Speaking of the advertisements, take a look down memory lane or history lane. Notice how the operator handled the phones. Notice the wedding dresses, the photography studios, or how the people dressed while on errands. Notice the differences that are different than today.
Angel Prairee 