The 1940s

Feb 9, 1940      Famous newspaper correspondent, H.R. Knickerbocker, spoke at LEC.

Feb 18, 1940    Seventeen-year-old LEC student, Patsy Donovan, captured the Ohio State Women’s Badminton Championship.

Apr 30, 1940   Alumna and novelist, Dawn Powell, spoke at LEC.

May 31, 1940  The first three LEC women to complete the Civil Aviation Authority pilot training program passed their final flight test.

Dec 22, 1940   LEC women knitted sweaters for Britishers who were at war.

Sep 1, 1941      Dr. Vivian Small, president of LEC from 1909-1941, retired and Dr. Helen Bragdon took the position.

Nov 1, 1941    Dr. Helen Bragdon was formally inducted as LEC’s president.

Feb 10, 1942    LEC tennis instructor and Wimbledon champ, Dorothy Round Little, lived in a trailer on campus with her three-year-old son. She was run out of England due to the war.

Feb 20, 1942    Colleges felt enrollment drops, but LEC experienced a six percent increase.

Mar 7, 1942     LEC women entertained and hosted 30 Coast Guard men in the College gymnasium.

Mar 20, 1942   LEC announced a program to help speed up the education process so women could assist with wartime needs.

Mar 17, 1943   Air Raid Protection course was offered at LEC.

Jul 17, 1943     Camp Tiber, a Girl Scout Day Camp, was held on campus. It was the first of its kind in the Painesville area.

Dec 15, 1943   Students remodeled the gymnasium space in the basement of College Hall to include a “Date Room.”

Feb 22, 1944    World famous violinist Albert Spaulding played at LEC. Tickets to the event were $2.20.

Feb 23, 1944    Dr. YC Yang, former Chinese government official and visiting LEC professor, gave his first lecture on campus.

Feb, 1945         The College hosted the Aviation Institute for Women.

May 15, 1946  Former LEC president Vivian Small passed away.

May 8, 1948    Trees fell during a major windstorm, breaking several windows in the College dormitory.

Oct 12, 1948   LEC President Helen Bragdon attended Columbia University’s inauguration of its president Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Oct 28, 1948   LEC commemorated its 90th year.

Oct 30, 1948   LEC announced its expansion program for the “Institute of Learning.”

Jan 25, 1949    LEC launched campaign for the Garfield Center building. The goal was to raise $300,000.

May 22, 1949  Lightning struck the steeple of College Hall and slightly damaged the roof.

Jul 16, 1949     Alfred T. Hill was named vice president of LEC and placed in charge of the 10-year development plan.

Nov 29, 1949  LEC seniors pledged $500 to purchase a 1946 station wagon.

Dec 11, 1949   A small fire started in the basement of College Hall.