![\"Rodgers'](\"https:\/\/blogs.iwu.edu\/asc\/files\/2015\/03\/1934Wesleyana-p40-Rodgers-copy.jpg\")
<\/a>Rodgers’ Senior Class photo from the 1934 Wesleyana<\/p><\/div>\n
The Argus<\/em> editor in 1932 posted a summary of sociology research completed by Senior Edlebert Rodgers. “In\u00a0 a\u00a0 survey\u00a0 of the\u00a0 Social and\u00a0 Economic progress of Negroes in\u00a0 Bloomington\u00a0 and Normal Edelbert\u00a0 Rogers has found that the negro population of these two\u00a0 cities\u00a0 is\u00a0 804.\u00a0 This number makes up 2.8\u00a0 percent of\u00a0 the\u00a0 entire\u00a0 population of these\u00a0 two\u00a0 cities.\u00a0 The\u00a0 negroes\u00a0 of Champaign make up 7.8\u00a0 percent\u00a0 of the population\u00a0 while\u00a0 4.7\u00a0 percent\u00a0 of\u00a0 the people in\u00a0 Springfield are negroes….”<\/p>\n There are only a few mentions* of Rodgers in The Argus<\/em> at different points in his campus career, but the story above is the only substantive information from his IWU days that we know of at this time. All the stories linked below only share\u00a0his debate team activities. Other information is available during his\u00a0only known return to campus.<\/p>\n Edelbert Rodgers at Founders’ Day Convocation 2001. Provost Janet McNew is pictured on the left.<\/p><\/div>\n The quote that follows\u00a0is from a Press Release for Founders’ Day 2001<\/a> (similar wording appears in an\u00a0Argus Article<\/a>\u00a0about the event). At that event Dr. Rodgers was awarded an\u00a0honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.<\/p>\n “Edelbert Rodgers, class of 1933, IWU’s oldest living minority alumnus, retired professor, Flint Junior College (now Mott Community College) in Michigan. Rodgers also was a practicing psychologist. He will meet with a group of students at 4 p.m. on Feb. 20 in the Cartwright Room, IWU Memorial Student Center, 104 E. University St. Rodgers also will meet with psychology faculty and students in C009B of the Center for Natural Sciences, 201 E. Beecher, at 9 a.m. on Feb. 21.”<\/p>\n The stories related during Rodgers’ visit had an impact on then-Dean of Students Jim Matthews. In a Fall 2007 IWU Magazine story<\/a>, Matthews recounts the visit and his decision to use Rodgers’ picture as one of the focal points for visitors in the newly-remodeled Hansen Student Center.<\/p>\n Next time you’re in Hansen, stop by the front desk and take a moment to consider the life of\u00a0Edlebert Rodgers.<\/p>\n *Other Argus stories Rodgers is mentioned in. Note: Spelling in these stories is for Rogers without a “d.”<\/p>\n Debate team activity described on page 1 of the issue at\u00a01931-12-15<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cJames Hidden and Edelbert Rogers argued the question [not specified] with a team of men from the same school” (see p2 at 1932-02-24<\/a>).<\/p>\n The story on p8 of\u00a01932-04-27<\/a>\u00a0is for another debate. Rogers was timer for one \u201csection\u201d of the competition.<\/p>\n And on p3 of\u00a01932-05-04<\/a>, Rogers is listed with Titan Varsity Debate team: \u201cDuring the season Edelbert Rogers, and James Hidden also saw action. The debaters wish to thank the fraternities and sororities of Wesleyan for their splendid cooperation in entertaining visiting teams during the season. Teams from eight different schools were taken care of overnight at the various houses. With the majority of the debate squad returning to school next year the outlook for another successful season is very bright.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This entry marks the start of a new series in this blog: stories of IWU Alumni that emerge during research with the collections in the University Archives. The Argus editor in 1932 posted a summary of sociology research completed by … Continue reading
\nJanuary 13, 1932 Argus<\/a> headline: WESLEYAN SENIOR MAKES
\nCIVIC SURVEY OF HIS PEOPLE<\/p>\n<\/a>