Spaeth Alumni Collection
From SPSU Wiki
Bill and Eloise Spaeth were a couple who both attended and worked in the Southern Polytechnic community from 1949 to 1965.
William Olin Spaeth specialized in the study of Electronics and Radio, and the university hired him as an instructor before his graduation in 1951. He taught at Southern Technical Institute for 14 years, introduced the Telephone Option for students who wanted to work for Southern Bell. Professor Spaeth taught many courses; at one time he was teaching 85 quarter hours' worth.
As a former Navy nurse, Eliose Cliatt Spaeth was the first female student to attend the university using the G. I. Bill, and the fifth female student admitted. Although she did not graduate, Eloise was an active member of the campus community.
The Spaeths left STI in 1965 when Bill went to work as an engineer for Standard Telephone in Cornelia, GA, and in September 1969, got a new job at what was then Southern Bell.
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Spaeths as Students, 1949 - 1951
William Olin Spaeth graduated 4th in a class of 38. He and his wife lived in the Tech Lawson Apartments, also called the Ga. Tech Apts.
This photo shows a front porch of Tech Lawson Apartments, also known as Ga. Tech Apartments, where the Spaeths lived in 1949-55. Left to Right: Eloise Spaeth, daughter Susie, Louise Hughes(family member), unknown couple.
This might have appeared with an article in The Technician about the Tech Annes. Photo probably by Robert Carter, who worked on the staff as a student. Middle figure is Eloise Spaeth, holding a physics text. Tech Lawson Apartments are in the background.
Photograph of William Spaeth at Tech Lawson Apartments.
Eloise Spaeth (pictured above on left) joined her husband at STI in 1951 for his last 3 quarters and was a member of the Tech Annes. She became STI's 5th coed and 1st female veteran of WWII to attend under the GI Bill. She quietly dropped out when she could not pass the math and physics, even with her husband's tutoring. She gave it her best try, but her talents lay elsewhere. After Marsh Business College, and office work for Warner Brothers in Chamblee, she became a Licensed Undergraduate Nurse, worked until a back injury at DeKalb General Hospital ended her nursing career for good, and then turned to writing. From 1969-1976, Eloise Cliatt Spaeth wrote for The Times in Gainesville GA.
W.O.Spaeth and his aunt Louise Hughes. This picture shows a little more of Tech Lawson Apts, which were sold and moved after STI moved to Marietta. They were located on the East side of Hardee Ave near Sixth and Fifth Streets. The buildings North of Sixth Street and Hardee Ave made roughly an I-shape with the base of the I a little longer. The buildings South of Sixth Street were larger, shaped in a group like an E on its back with a little tail. From c.1950 aerial photo at Peachtree-DeKalb Airport Administration 15 Sep 2006.
After the new campus in Marietta was built, the buildings of Tech Lawson Apartments ended up in many places as apartment buildings. One, according to Dannis' sister, ended up in Cornelia, GA, and people rented apartments in it for many years! Others may be in metro Atlanta. Some of these buildings might still be in existence. March 20, 2007.
Map Of 1960 Campus
This map, drawn by Dannis, shows 2 possible locations of classroom buildings and definite location of Tech Lawson Apartments. Based on aerial 1960 ASCS map of area and visit to Peachtree DeKalb Airport. ASCS maps are available from University of Georgia at this site [[1]]
The possible location of STI near the old hospital is the wrong one, according to Dannis' sister, who was very young during this time. She said it was nearby across a street from the apartments. She also told Dannis there was parking all around the buildings, which were not connected as the drawing shows, just close together. But, she did not remember which building their father worked in or taught in, or which building was for which classes. Most likely they were across Hardee Av from the apartments. Dannis will upload an updated map later.
Spaeth1951 20 March 2007 22:03 (EDT)
Will Spaeth as an Instructor and Advisor
William Olin Spaeth sits at his desk in his office, with a smile, circa 1955. Photo probably taken by Robert Carter, fellow faculty member and good friend, who was also a part-time photographer and took excellent pictures. Bill Spaeth taught Electronics-related courses, including Boolean Algebra.
To the left is his rotary-dial black phone. They were either the candlestick kind or the desk kind, and all phones were black then. His students said he had eyes in the back of his head. His daughter has recalled that he could hear the whine a TV set makes when you turn it on, which is about 20,000 cycles, or the upper range of human hearing.
Spaeth's sharp ears heard students planning to cheat at times. Occasionally, he caught them with formulae written up their arms under long sleeved shirts, or written on a shirt, on scraps of paper, or even on their pencils. Most students, of course, gave him no troubles. He talked one man out of working overtime and taking a full load. Wrote a sweet letter to another with fatherly advice. Once when Spaeth had a severe kidney infection he taught his class at home, lying on his sofa, for several weeks until he recovered. A constant flow of students visited the Spaeth's home, some with wives and families, when STI was a small school and close-knit community.
W.O.Spaeth was the on campus advisor for Tau Epsilon Sigma, and he is on right of this 8x10 photo.
Other Items
Rememberances of the Spaeth family can be found on their daughter's talk page.
The Spaeth collection also includes a commencement program and a Black Tassel 1951 tassel.
Spaeth took several shots of the Marietta campus construction, which can be seen here. Masking tape connects two Polaroid pictures showing buildings nearly completed on Southern Tech's Marietta Campus. Probably 1960 or 1961. There is no written information on the back.
Electrical Tech Building, nearly complete, on Southern Tech Marietta Campus. Probably 1960 or 1961. No written information on back of picture.
Building, nearly complete, on Southern Tech Marietta Campus. Probably 1960 or 1961. No written information on back of picture.
Call for Information
Friends of the Spaeth's. Taken at graduation 1951, at Tech Lawson Apts, so he graduated same night. Please contact Spaeth 1951 with ID information.
Also, where was the Southern Tech Campus? Dannis spoke with a gentleman in Administration of PDK, who has worked there since the 60's and was not aware that STI had a campus there! He pointed out the location of the old Naval Air Station barracks on a c.1950 aerial photo, where there were many H-shaped buildings that could've been where it was, to the West of the Admin Building, which is the last existing WWII-era building at PDK. But, there was also a large area to the Northeast that had many buildings, which were torn down when the NE-pointing runway was extended. This man was familiar with old documents in their archives, because he has reason to search them often, and there was nothing about STI. If you know about the early days of STI in Chamblee, 1948-1963, please contact Spaeth 1951. Thanks!
