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.
Computer programming was added to the curriculum in 1963. Keith Faulkner was hired as the Director of the Data Processing Center, later renamed the Computing Center, and the department was established in Sheridan 209.
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.
Offices presently housed in Sheridan Hall include: Administration & Finance, Budget & Planning, Business Office, Career Services, President's Office, Provost, Assistant Provost for Quality Management, Academic Affairs Marketing, Purchasing, Registrar, Student Affairs, Student Fiscal Services, and University Relations.
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.
Administration and Finance, Campus Building, Sheridan Hall
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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: Brochure, Q & A: Fort Hays State University $2,000,000 Sheridan Coliseum Campaign
Sheridan Coliseum Campaign
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
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: Draft, Q & A: Fort Hays State University $2,000,000 Sheridan Coliseum Campaign
Sheridan Coliseum Campaign
Draft for a future brochure with questions and answers about why and how Sheridan Coliseum will be renovated.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Newsletter, Memories of Sheridan
Thaine Clark
A short article for the "Retired Faculty Newsletter" written by Professor Thaine Clark in which he reminisced about Sheridan Coliseum.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Letter, to Ronald Pflughoft, from Clarita and Don Crawford, September 30, 1986
Clarita Crawford and Don Crawford
Descendants of John Schlicher supported the Sheridan Coliseum renovation campaign by sponsoring a seat in the new performing arts center in his memory. John Schlicher was the State Representative from Sheridan County who helped approve funds for the new coliseum in 1915. Clarita and Don also tell the story of how the coliseum recived its name, according to family history. When it was proposed that the name of the coliseum be named for him, Mr. Schlicher refused and suggested that it be named after General Philip Sheridan, the Civil War officer for whom the county he represented was named.
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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, draft, for 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: 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 description
Fort Hays State University
A typed half sheet of a description of the building: "Fort Hays Kansas State College at Hays SHERIDAN COLISEUM: This all-purpose building, built in 1915, houses a gymnasium, dressing rooms and small swimming pool; the administrative offices of the president, the dean, the registrar and business manager; the division of music; the division of health, physical education and recreation, and the campus radio station. Named for Civil War General Philip Sheridan who was once stationed at Fort Hays."
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![Sheridan Coliseum: Events held in Sheridan Coliseum (1917-[1977]) by Fort Hays State University](https://scholars.fhsu.edu/sheridan/1011/thumbnail.jpg "Sheridan Coliseum: Events held in Sheridan Coliseum (1917-[1977]) by Fort Hays State University")
Sheridan Coliseum: Events held in Sheridan Coliseum (1917-[1977])
Fort Hays State University
Listing of events that were held in the coliseum from 1917 through 1977.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Outline, Sheridan Coliseum Brief
Fort Hays State University
An outline of the history, the construction time table, the funding, the facilities and the planned opening ceremonies for the newly renovated Sheridan Hall.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Paper, Sheridan Coliseum history
Fort Hays State University
A paper about the history of Sheridan Coliseum which opened as a showplace for conventions, festivals and stock shows.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Script, Sheridan Coliseum Multi Media Show
Fort Hays State University
A script for a video of the history of Sheridan Coliseum that was most likely shown to donors of the proposed performing arts center.
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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: Letter, draft, from President Hammond
Edward Hammond
Letter of invitation to attend the signing of House Bill 2040 in the Memorial Union. Passed in 1989, it provided funding for completion of the Sheridan Coliseum Project two years ahead of schedule.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Letter, from Dale Johansen, to the Joint Committee on State Building Construction
Dale Johansen
Information on Sheridan Coliseum, including the architects, funding proposals, budget, 3 year building plan, contingency plans, square footage, seating capacity, and proposed timetable.
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Sheridan Hall Program Statement, to President Tomanek and Ron Pflughoft, from Dale Johansen
Dale Johansen
Program of the Sheridan Coliseum renovation project which includes descriptions about the space requirements, schematic plans, room/space details, structural condition, a geological investigation report by Barnett, Stuart and Dow, Inc., and utilities and site information.
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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: Letter, to various people, from Nita M. Landrum
Nita M. Landrum
In a letter appealing for donations for the Sheridan Coliseum Campaign, Nita, a retired Alumni Association director, writes about her support for the project and why it is so important to her.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Newspaper, Sod Broken for Coliseum Twenty-five Years Ago
State College Leader
Article that commemorates the 25th anniversary of the ground breaking for the new coliseum. In 1941, the Administration offices, the Extension divison, the printing office, the health department, and the music department were located in this building. It also states that the building was named in honor of General [Philip] Sheridan, commandant at the old Fort Hays in the early days.
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Sheridan Coliseum: Kansas Senate Bill no. 522
Kansas State Legislature
The official documentation of the Senate Bill No. 522 drafted by the Committee on Ways and Means that appropriates $3,912,000 to renovate Sheridan Coliseum.
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Sheridan Hall: Pamphlet, History of Sheridan Hall written by Bob Lowen, January 1991
Bob Lowen
A pamphlet that contains the history of Sheridan Coliseum and the plans to renovate it into a Performing Arts Center and offices with the new names of Sheridan Hall and the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center. Includes text and photos.
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Sheridan Hall: Pamphlet, History of Sheridan Hall written by Bob Lowen, January 1993
Bob Lowen
A pamphlet that contains the history of Sheridan Coliseum and the plans to renovate it into a Performing Arts Center and offices with the new names of Sheridan Hall and the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center. Includes text and photos.
