Cassia Stake Academy 1,000.00 St. Johns Stake Academy 1,000.00 Snowflake Stake Academy 850.00 Uintah Stake Academy 750.00 92,372.50 The Church Board of Education instituted a new policy in May of 1903 to assist gifted and worthy young people to receive the benefits of higher education. The proposal obligated the Church on an annual basis to contribute 1000 to a fund to assist in educating the young people identified, and all teachers in the church school system would be asked to contribute 1 2 of 1 of their annual salaries to the fund. The fund was to be administered by the Church Board of Education; and, as the policy developed, teachers in the system were also able to apply to use the funds for the benefits of an education at home or abroad. Over the next several years contributions from the Weber Stake Academy Faculty to the one-half of one per cent fund averaged about 55 a year. Total faculty salaries during this period was about 11,000 with Principal McKays salary averaging 1800. Salaries of regular faculty members ranged from 450 to 1200 a year. In the Fall of 1902 as David O. McKay began his tenure as principal, the Preparatory Department consisted of only eighth grade work. Most children received their earlier education in public schools. The faculty of the academy placed emphasis on the development of high school courses. Domestic and practical courses were offered along with courses considered part of the intellectual culture. Instruction in the sciences was promoted. The 1902-1903 catalogue noted: The Laboratory is well equipped with apparatus to illustrate the course offered in physics and chemistry. The most important items are a Wimhurst electrical machine, a Becker analytical balance with weights of precision, a Ruhmkroff coil and movable coils, electric motor, Wheatstone bridge, rheostat, Geissler tubes, lifting and force pumps, adjustable inclined plane, galvanometer, electro-magnet, sonometer, lenses, and chemical thermometers. The cabinet contains a fair collection of gold, silver, lead and copper ores, and concentrates from the leading mines and mills of Utah; specimens of the more common rocks and minerals; and a number of cretaceous and tertiary fossils. One section contains a number of stuffed birds and mammals, and a variety of zoological specimens preserved in alcohol. Miss Jennette McKay, Principal McKays sister who taught elocution, grammar, reading, and rhetoric, promoted an interest among girls for literature. She organized the H.C.P. Club and the Rosebud Sorority to promote an interest in literature, and she also served as lady superintendent (later this position was called Dean of Women). During the tenure of Principal David O. McKay, the curriculum of the Academy developed and changed in many areas. Sewing, dressmaking, and art needlework were taught under the direction of Sarah T. Evans as Domestic Arts and Domestic Science were stressed. Training for teachers was underlined in the Normal Course and Kindergarten training was made part of the curriculum. Music courses were expanded during this era and Ernest W. Nichols was hired in 1905 to develop the program in music. Nichols eighteen years at Weber (1905-1923) saw the development of a fine school band program. Joseph Ballantyne taught a course for choristers, directed the Ogden Tabernacle Choir and directed the Academy Choir. Piano, organ, and violin courses were added to the curriculum and monthly recitals allowed students to perform in public. Student groups continued to be organized for social, intellectual, and religious purposes. Since 1895 the Literary Club had sponsored debates and speeches. Speakers included local, state, and national personalities from William Glasmann editor of the Standard speaking on Expansion to James Talmage speaking on Russia and the Russians. Field days were often held in either Ogden Canyon or at Lagoon. Students and faculty together assisted in maintaining the facilities including putting in the lawn and looking after its upkeep. The Olympian Society sponsored debates, and the Edina Society for women students held weekly meetings, planned picnics, and promoted school spirit. During the 1902-1903 school year the Olympian Society assessed its members increased dues in order to provide the means to place the leading national magazines in the school library. Athletic groups and teams gained popularity under the McKay administration. Basketball teams for both girls and boys were formed, and by December of 1902, the school colors were changed to purple and white. A decade and a half later Purple and White became the school song. In January of 1903, the Mormon schools in the state of Utah formed a basketball league. The league included teams from B.Y. College, Logan; the L.D.S. University, Salt Lake City; B.Y. Academy, Provo; and Weber Stake Academy, Ogden. Basketball games were often followed by receptions and dances for the visitors with such activities in Ogden often taking place at Dignans Hall on 23rd Street which was part of Dignans Dancing Academy. The Weber Academy boys basketball team played other teams as well as those in the church league. The Standard reported Yesterday afternoon at 4 oclock the Ogden High School basketball team met defeat by W.S.A., 12 to 16. The decisions of Umpire Newey were unpopular. The girls basketball team of the Academy played teams from the same institutions as the boys team from the Academy. In April of 1903 the Weber girls defeated the B.Y. Academy girls 9 to 7. Baseball was added to the league sports and in the spring of 1903, games began. Weber men played the L.D.S. Business College in April of 1903 and won by a score of 18 to 10. Games in basketball and baseball were also played with the School for the Deaf, the Fort Shaw Indian School, the faculty of the Academy, the Hooper School (Weber won 17 to 4), Fort Douglas, and the Agricultural College (Logan). In 1904 a state league in athletics was organized and the Weber Academy began to participate with more schools throughout the state. In this first year, the girls basketball team won the state championship. During the 1903-1904 basketball season, Thomas E. McKay coached the mens team. The first school newspaper, The Acorn, was initially published in 1903, and the first telephone was installed at the Academy during September of 1903. Although the number of books in the library was increased three-fold through the efforts of Principal McKay and Professor William Terry in 1903, the library continued to be a focal point for improvement by McKay and the faculty. Discussions were held concerning increasing the space in the library as well as increasing the holdings of the library, and in January of 1904 the shelf capacity of the library was more than