The idea of a cooperative house for women in honor of Miss Georgianna H. Smurthwaite was conceived at the state meeting of the Kansas Home Demonstration Council in the 1940's. Later each H.D.U. member throughout the state was assessed one dollar a year for three years to finance the project. In 1945, a committee of women went to Manhattan in search of an older house to be converted into a cooperative house, since this committee's house hunting attempts were in vain, the Home Demonstration Council decided to construct a new house.
As Kansas State University became more in need of women students' housing and the Smurthwaite funds continued to remain under the lowest construction bids, the University suggested the H.D.U. borrow money from the University so that Smurthwaite House could be constructed. Final plans were drawn up to keep within the combined budget of $240,000. The site for Smurthwaite was chosen to be one block north of campus on Manhattan Ave...the future site of several organized houses.
Construction began in the winter of 1960. The house was completed in the spring of 1961, nearly twenty years after the idea was first conceived. The first Smurthwaite girls set up housekeeping that fall in West Stadium. Mrs. Lisbeth Patton, House Director, greeted the sixty-two girls carefully chosen for the charter membership of Kansas State's first cooperative living unit for women. During the first year, the girls organized and set up basic Smurthwaite policies. Mary Strahm was the first president of Smurthwaite House. Betty Kummer was the first house manager.
The Spring of 1961 became the big moment for Smurthwaite girls as well as the Kansas H.D.U. Council and the University. The big move from West Stadium to Smurthwaite House was made upon return from Easter Vacation. Although Smurthwaite was not entirely completed, the girls were anxious to get into their new home, so they willingly put up with a few inconveniences. The kitchen was not equipped, so the girls ate at one of the girls' dorms. In the Fall of 1961, "Mother Pat" welcomed sixty-two girls to a completed home. All the furniture had arrived, the kitchen was well equipped with electric appliances and stainless steel fixtures. Jeanne Cooper served as president of Smurthwaite.
The official dedication program preceded a tea and open house on October 28, 1961, celebrating the first birthday of Smurthwaite. A Smurthwaite Mother's Club, Father's Club, and an Alumni Association were formed. During the 1965-66 year, each county of H.D.U. conducted a project to help pay for the house. In the fall of 1966, the mortgage was burned.
The house celebrated its Silver Anniversary with an open house followed by a rededication program on October 20, 1985.
The Smurthwaite Women's Leadership Program was installed for the fall of 1988. The intention of the program is to get Smurthwaite women more involved in leadership and campus unity. At the time of its implementation, 40 women were members at Smurthwaite.
History
