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Book Cover for: Penn State Altoona, Kenneth Womack

Penn State Altoona

Kenneth Womack

Founded in 1939, Penn State Altoona began its life as the Altoona Undergraduate Center, owing its genesis to an inspired group of local citizens who built, financed, and nurtured the college through the economic woes of the Great Depression, an enrollment collapse engendered by World War II, and the rise and fall of the region's railroad fortunes. After relocating to the site of an abandoned amusement park in the late 1940s, Penn State Altoona enjoyed a rapid postwar growth spurt that culminated in 1997 with its newly minted charter as a four-year college in the Penn State University system. Using lively period photographs from the school's archives, Penn State Altoona chronicles the school's transformation into a flourishing teaching and research institution of national acclaim.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (SC)
  • Publish Date: Oct 12nd, 2009
  • Pages: 128
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 9.10in - 6.50in - 0.30in - 0.70lb
  • EAN: 9780738565996
  • Categories: HistorySchools - Levels - HigherUnited States - State & Local - Middle Atlantic (DC, DE, MD,

About the Author

Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry, chancellor of Penn State Altoona and professor of biobehavioral health and women's studies, is the author of numerous articles and book chapters in her academic disciplines. Kenneth Womack, interim associate dean and professor of English, is the author or editor of more than 20 books. The late Robert L. Smith was the first employee of the Altoona Undergraduate Center, which he joined in 1939. He retired from Penn State Altoona in 1983 as associate director emeritus.

Praise for this book

Title: Penn State Altoona dynamic duo release commemorative book about college
Author: Staff Writer
Publisher: The Centre Daily Times
Date: 10/9/09

Chancellor Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry and Kenneth Womack, interim associate dean for Academic Affairs, announce that their collaborative book effort, Penn State Altoona, has been released. The book commemorates the college's seventy-year history through period photographs which chronicle the school's transformation into a teaching and researchinstitution of national acclaim. Penn State Altoona began in 1939 as the Altoona Undergraduate Center. After relocating to the site of an abandoned amusement park in the late 1940s, the college enjoyed a rapid postwar growth spurt that culminated in 1997 with its newly minted charter as a four-year college in The Pennsylvania State University system.

Penn State Altoona includes a look back at Ivyside Recreation Park, one of Altoona's key prewar attractions. It features the inspired group of local citizens who built, financed, and nurtured the college through the economic woes of the Great Depression. The book explores the enrollment collapse engendered by World War II while also showing the rise and fall of the region's railroad fortunes.

Bechtel-Wherry and Womack will sign copies of the book from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m., during Penn State Altoona's 70th anniversary event, Sunday, October 25 in downtown Altoona. Penn State Altoona is available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com.