Fort Hays was the only state school to receive a legislative appropriation for a building in 1915. Nearly doubling the classroom space on campus, Sheridan Coliseum was completed in 1917, but without a ceiling. The building included a gymnasium on the ground floor, with seating extending around the arena to the second story of the building. A small swimming pool was also located in the southwest corner of the building on the basement level. Funds were appropriated in 1917 to equip the building and to build a steam tunnel to bring heat to the building. Final completion of Sheridan Coliseum occurred in 1922 when the legislature appropriated funds to put in a ceiling. Prior to that time, the ceiling consisted of some 3,000 yards of muslin that the students in the Domestic Arts classes had sewn together for a temporary ceiling in 1919.
Planning for a complete renovation of Sheridan Coliseum began under President Tomanek. However, before the state would provide the funds needed to complete the renovation, private funds had to be raised for the required match, and this had not been completed. Also, the bids for the renovation were $2.5M high for Phase II. President Hammond set to work to complete the renovation. A gift of $750,000 by Ross and Marianna Beach and Bob and Pat Schmidt provided the necessary private funds for the completion of the building. A state-of-the-art performing arts center was included and was named the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center. The 1,114-seat center ensured that Fort Hays State would continue to be the cultural center of western Kansas. The renovation of Sheridan Hall was completed in 1991 at a cost of over $9M.
The building is named in honor of General Philip Sheridan who was stationed at the Fort Hays military post in the 1800s. This was in accordance with the custom of university president, President Lewis, in naming buildings for military figures associated with western history.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Proposal, to President W. A. Lewis, from T. J. O'Neil
T. J. O'Neil
A letter from T. J. O'Neil, Business Manager for the State of Kansas Board of Administration, with a proposal from the Kelley Roofing Co. to apply asbestos base and asbestile cap to the Sheridan Coliseum roof.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Letter, to President W. A. Lewis, from Chester M. Routledge
Chester M. Routledge
Mr. Routledge, the State Architect, notifies President Lewis that he received a maintenance agreement for the roofing that was installed on the roof of Sheridan Coliseum by the Kelley Roofing Company of Kansas City.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Newspaper, Interesting Facts About Sheridan Coliseum
Colby Free Press
6 facts of Sheridan Coliseum and a drawing from the Colby (Kansas) Free Press in 1919.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Yearbook
Reveille Staff
Page ninety-eight: photo captioned "Enjoying IL Trovatore"; page ninety-nine: Cast for Il Trovatore; page one hundred three: the Music department; page one hundred forty-nine: photo of a women's game in October 1916 with the half-finished building of Sheridan Coliseum in the background.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Yearbook
Reveille Staff
Page 132 of the 1916 edition of "The Reveille" - describes the ground breaking for the new coliseum and how two gentlemen provided the $1000 that was needed after the legislature provided for $100,000.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Newspaper, Sheridan Coliseum at Hays
Salina Evening Journal
An article about the construction of the new coliseum for the Fort Hays Kansas Normal School.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Yearbook
Reveille Staff
Page 17 of the 1915 edition of "The Reveille" - explains the appropriation from the 1915 State Legislature and gives a description of how the building will be used.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Script, Campaign Council Dinner
Bob Doyle
Suggest script for the master of ceremonies and other speakers at the Campaign Council Dinner which took place in Sheridan Coliseum.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Case statement, the Fort Hays State University Sheridan Coliseum Campaign
Fort Hays State University
Showcasing the history of Sheridan Coliseum, this paper makes a statement for why Sheridan Coliseum is to be renovated.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Newsletter, Fund drive update
Fort Hays State University
Update on the FHSU-Sheridan Coliseum Campaign featuring articles on the campaign council dinner, the volunteer committeemen, kick-off of the second division of the campaign, and the Dane G. Hansen Foundation pledge to the campaign.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Newsletter, Sheridan update
Fort Hays State University
Update regarding the campaign to raise monies for the renovation of Sheridan Coliseum.
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Sheridan Hall: Brochure, Margin of excellence and the Sheridan project 1989-90
Fort Hays State University
The Sheridan Project is mentioned on the second page of this brochure with a short history of how the project came to fruition. The rest of the brochure explains the Margin of Excellence program that was approved initially by the Board of Regents in 1987.
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Sheridan Hall: Brochure, Sheridan Hall floor plans
Fort Hays State University
The floor plans for all three floors of Sheridan Hall in a brochure created for the rededication.
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Sheridan Hall: Floor plans
Fort Hays State University
Floor plans for all three floors of Sheridan Hall.
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Sheridan Hall: Floor plans
Fort Hays State University
Floor plans of all three floors of Sheridan Hall with the last names of personnel in the offices.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Brochure, Q & A: Fort Hays State University $2,000,000 Sheridan Coliseum Campaign
Sheridan Coliseum Campaign Office
Brochure with questions and answers about why and how Sheridan Coliseum will be renovated.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Brochure, Sheridan Coliseum Campaign
Sheridan Coliseum Campaign Office
Brochure aimed at the university's alumnae and former students with a form to send in with their donations towards the renovation of Sheridan Coliseum.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Brochure, Sheridan Coliseum Campaign
Sheridan Coliseum Campaign Office
Official brochure published for the Sheridan Coliseum Campaign containing the heritage and history of Sheridan Coliseum, various gift opportunities, and a listing of the campaign leadership and development council members
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Sheridan Coliseum: Draft, Q & A: Fort Hays State University $2,000,000 Sheridan Coliseum Campaign
Sheridan Coliseum Campaign Office
Draft for a future brochure with questions and answers about why and how Sheridan Coliseum will be renovated.
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Sheridan Hall: Card sent at Christmas time to donors of the renovation of Sheridan Coliseum
G. W. Tomanek
An appeal to be a sponsor of one of 850 seats in the performing arts center which would complete the goal of funding the renovation of Sheridan Coliseum.