Material related to Sadie Stutsman Wampler:

Write-Up about Sadie Stutsman Wampler by former Archivist, Sara Smith.

Write-Up about Sadie Stutsman Wampler taken from the Newsletter of the North Manchester Historical Society, Inc., Volume VII, Number 2 (May 1990): "Sadie Wample," by Allen Willmert, College Librarian Emeritus, Manchester College. Internet article printed on 12 December 2017: http://www.nmanchesterhistory.org/biographies-sadie-wampler.html

J. S. Willmert paper about "Sadie Irene Stutzman Wampler," in the Sadie Stutzman Wampler materials.

Sadie studied at the "Chicago Art Institute" and at "The Columbia School of Expression," "The College Standard," June 1907, pg. 4 and pg. 11.

Sadie will teach Art, Elocution and Vocal Music at Manchester College (pgs. 13 and 14).

For additional material related to Sadie Stutsman Wampler, see: Filing Cabinet 2;  Manchester College Bulletin, August 1963; August 1964. Newsletter of the North Manchester Historical Society,  v.7:2 (May 1990). Oak Leaves, 21 February 1952; 19 September 1963 p.2; 29 October 1964 p.1.

Sadie (Stutsman) Wampler – Manchester College Alumna and Professor

Seated in the viewer’s far right, and wearing a paint speckled smock, Sadie (Stutsman) Wampler is photographed while instructing a painting class in 1910.  Several of Wampler’s paintings from this period are here on exhibit.

Professor Wampler was an instructor at Manchester College (now University) for over forty years, and was respected for her skill as an artist, musician, teacher, interpretive reader, speaker, playwright, drama critic, and as the creative director-producer of numerous theatrical productions. 

When 14 year old, Sadie enrolled as a student in Manchester College’s “Academy,” a division of the institution that was similar to a high school (1900).  Sadie’s widowed mother remarried a minister who pastored a Church of the Brethren congregation in Washington, D. C. and Sadie moved to that culturally rich environment (1903).  In Washington, she studied art at the Corcoran Gallery and took classes at Maryland Collegiate, from which she graduated in (1904).  Sadie worked as a printer’s assistant in the United States Bureau of Printing and Engraving before moving back to North Manchester in 1905 to enroll in the College’s music program and to teach orthography in the business department.

During the summer of 1906 Sadie studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, returning to Manchester College both as a student and as an instructor, teaching choral music, drawing, and expression (a term used for interpretive reading and speaking).   After receiving a Music Diploma (1907) she once again summered in Chicago, studying at the Columbia College of Expression.  That fall, Manchester employed Sadie as a full-time instructor.  In 1908, “physical culture” (physical education for women) was added to her teaching load.  In addition to teaching, Sadie continued as a student, taking one or two courses at a time to complete requirements for an A.B. degree, which she received in 1916.  During these and other years, she studied several additional summers at the Art Institute and the Columbia College of Expression, earning a diploma from Columbia in 1919. She wrote to a friend about these times, “During these years I was in classes from 7:30 to 5:00 five days a week, so my nights were rather short for sleeping and rather long for study.”  In 1920, Manchester President, Otho Winger, conferred Sadie with an M.A. degree.  That same year she married B. F. Wampler.

Wampler continued to teach until retirement at the age of 66 (1952).  She had no biological children of her own, yet was completely invested in the edification and education of hundreds of students.  Following her death in 1963, Vernon Schwalm, then president of Manchester College, eulogized Wampler using these phrases:  tall and strong; great and successful teacher; dedicated loyalty and devotion; woman of driving purposes and tremendous will power; unafraid of hard work and mammoth undertakings.

Sadie’s spirit still lingers in Wampler Auditorium, close to her self-portrait.  Once, her apparition appeared and spoke to students during a late night study session.  Sadie was concerned about their health and thought they should be sleeping.

Jeanine Wine, Archivist, 10 September 2014 - from information obtained from an article by A. Wilmert (former library director, see Newsletter of North Manchester Historical Society referenced below), from an "Oak Leaves" article about Manchester College ghosts (MC General File), a 1910 photograph, and three paintings exhibited in Funderburg Library.