Four important Bluffton College women in the 1940s

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Here's a photo showing four important women who had significant connections to Bluffton College, as you will soon learn. Leland Gerber took this photo.

We rely on Alice Ruth Ramseyer's [her husband, Bob, is the son of Ferne Ramseyer in the photo] identifiction of the women. Here's her explanation with The Icon's [comments inside brackets]:

The woman on the far right is Ferne Ramseyer [her husband was Dr. Lloyd Ramseyer, then-president of Bluffton College, who served from 1938 to 1965]. The woman on the left is Mrs. Mosiman [her husband was Dr. S.K. Mosiman, an earlier Blufton College president, who served from 1910 to 1935]. 

The woman with her eyes shut is either Mrs. Rosenberger [her husband was Arthur Rosenberger, Bluffton College president from 1935-1938], or possibly the wife of William Mohr, who was a long-time board chairman of Bluffton University. 

Perhaps the fourth woman, whom we don't know, had some relation to Noah Hirschy [the first president of Bluffton College.]

Alice Ruth continues: At first I thoguht the photo was taken in First Mennonite Church basement, but there are windows there, which the basement never had at that height. It fits with the old Ropp Hall dining room, which had windows like that, and pillars. If the photo was taken in Bluffton, my guess is Ropp Hall.

Perhaps it was some kind of college function. Mrs. Mosiman looks quite energetic, and considering the hats, I would guess it was taken in the 1940s. Bob says early 1940s because his mother looks younger.

The Icon welcomes additional comments from viewers.

 

 

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