Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

See our Purdue University Fort Wayne and the real Mastodons animal page.

Why the Mastodon?

Mastodons roamed the southern Great Lakes region of North America more than 10,000 years ago. But it was in 1968—four years after the university was founded—that Jack Sunderman, chair of the Department of Geology, identified a leg bone of a mastodon found just south of Angola, Indiana. Sunderman and his team of faculty and students subsequently unearthed the entire mastodon skeleton—along with the skull of a baby mastodon.

Later that year, Steve Pettyjohn, who served as the student body president in 1968–69, wrote a letter to the Communicator, the university newspaper, extolling the virtues of choosing the mastodon as the mascot: “It sounds different, strange. That’s exactly why [we should choose it]. I’m tired of slavishly copying what Bloomington, West Lafayette, and other big schools do. Let’s have the courage to be a little different.” [ see below ]

The following year, a student government committee selected the Mastodon as the university mascot. Don lives on as a fierce representative of Purdue Fort Wayne!

Copied from the Purdue Universtiy Fort Wayne History page.

On Caves and Mastodons by Steve Pettyjohn, page seven, November 17, 1969 in The Communicator at the History Center Digital Collection on the mDON mastodon Digital Object Network.

Letter to the Editor by Steve Pettyjohn, page seven, November 17, 1969 in The Communicator at the History Center Digital Collection on the mDON mastodon Digital Object Network.

LETTER TO EDITOR

Mastodons, Mastodons, Mastodone? What the heck is a Mastodon? And why has Pettyjohn been yelling "Go you tuskers" in the halls all week? There's that rumor of a petition supporting Mastodons, or tuskers or something for school nickname. What the heck is a Mastodon?

A Mastodon is or, rather was, a large elephant-like animal that lived during the Ice Age. It became extinct about 8,000 years ago. A Mastodon was nine to ten feet tall with three to four feet long tusks and long reddish brown hair. So what? Why should Mastodons be our school nickname or what have you? Anyway, it sounds different, strange, and even ickey (as one female student put it).

That's exactly why. It's different and, yes, even strange. I'm tired of slavishley copying what Bloomington, West Lafayette, and other big schools do. And I'm tired of these high school attitudes and high school nicknames like Mustangs, Marauders, War Hawks, et. al. For God's Sakes, lets have the courage to be a little different.

A mastodon was a big, strong, courageous, and tolerant animal, who let other animals take advantage of him, something like the students. Mastodons didn't get uptight about too many things-except Mastodons of the opposite sex-something like the IU-PU students. Mastodons did have one bad habit; they had a tendency to get stuck in the mud. Need I say more?

Also, think of the possibilities and ramifications of using Mastodons for a nickname. We'll be the only school in the world called the Mastodons. The geology people are going to put the Mastodon skeleton that they found in the lobby so we'll be the only school with a mascot that's been dead for 10,000 years (give or take a century). And think of the cheers, "Go you tuskers; Yea M----- Tusker; Go your hairy b-------; Stick it to 'em Mastodons," and other possibilities. Think of the newspaper headlines after we win a game, "Mastodons win by a nose." We could save a lot of money by dressing our athletic teams (and marching band) in animal furs instead of uniforms.

For a half-time show, we could scatter Mastodon bones all over the playing field, then let the geology people assemble it while the band plays the "Baby Elephant Walk."

Would it be a relevant name? Mastodons used to roam all over northern Indiana. They're as much a part of our area's history as Johnny Appleseed, Little Turtle, and Anthony Wayne. So why discriminate against Mastodons. Everybody else is remembered in Fort Wayne folklore except the Mastodon. Let's rectify this wrong.

Mastodon, it's no worse (and a lot better) than other school names. After all, would somebody explain what a Hoosier or a Boilermaker is? A Razorback (Arkansas) is nothing but a wild pig and a Longhorn (Texas) is nothing but a skinny cow with horns. Some schools are called Trojans; those guys were nothing but big losers. At least the Mastodon managed to survive for a few 100,000 years or so. He had an ability to survive, something we would all be wise to learn. There's nothing ugly about the Mastodon's appearance. In fact, the paintings I've seen show him to be quite a noble looking animal (at least they exude brute strength and great power).

So why not Mastodons for a school nickname? Let's be different and outstanding. IU-PU Mastodons. Go you Tuskers, go!

-Steve Pettyjohn

Have you seen the mastodon bones in their new display case in Walb? Here's a throwback to the first time the bones were displayed in 1970. #ThrowbackThursday

Posted by Purdue Fort Wayne Library on Thursday, September 12, 2024

Thursday, September 12, 2024 post by the Purdue Fort Wayne Library on Facebook:

Have you seen the mastodon bones in their new display case in Walb? Here's a throwback to the first time the bones were displayed in 1970. #ThrowbackThursday

February 2, 2024 post by Fort Wayne Business Weekly on Facebook:

Welcome back, Donna.

Ben Dattilo Purdue University Fort Wayne #burpeemuseum #naturalhistorymuseum #naturalhistory #museum #indiana #northeastindiana #dinosaur #fossils #science #history #biology #paleontology #geology #destination #animal #midwest

Feb. 2 - Original mastodon bones returning for Purdue Fort Wayne campus display

Yes, we're conducting a poll on the favorable image of the mastodon mascot...

Page 2 of The Communicator by Indiana Purdue Student Newspapers Inc. Publication date February 4, 1988 on Archive.org.

Mascot Mania

What is a mastodon?

It appears that the student body does not particularly care for the mastodon as mascot.

According to a survey conducted by Dr. Joel Rivers of the psychological sciences department, sixtyfour percent of students polled would elect to change the mascot.

Well, who wouldn't?

There arc several reasons why Ihe mastodon should not symbohze IPFW,

• • Mastodons are extinct. One cannot even go to the zoo and see one.
• • Not everyone knows exactly what a mastodon is. It is more like a mammoth or an elephant.
• • Mastodons are bulky. They can't move very fast or very well.
• • Not only are mastodons physically slow, there also seems to Be some concern about their mental capacities. Just how intelligent were tnese animals?

Perhaps it is time for another referendum to choose an official school mascot- The IPFW Bears

would be nice. Bears are strong, powerful, and seem to have sufficient mental capabilities.

Of course. IPFW could forsake animals altogether and adopt Knights as the name of its teams. Unfortunately Fort Wayne already has a high school team with that name.

U one wanted to stick with something in the •'extinct" category, the brontosaurus would be perfect. The brontosaurus. however, does not convey the image IPFW would like to project, especially since the average dinosaur had a brain the size of a walnut,

Considering the university now wants the river to be the focal point of the campus, perhaps a sea faring mascot would be more appropriate. Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, would fit in admirably.

Naturally, after a referendum, any decisions made would have to be presented to President Beering, who would likely inform IPFW what its mascot is going to be.

January 31, 2024 post by Purdue University Fort Wayne on Facebook:

In 1969, students voted in favor of the mastodon as our school mascot. The partial skeleton that inspired that decision, found by a local farmer, was displayed in Kettler Hall from 1984–2016. Thanks to a coordinated effort by students and faculty, “Donna” is set to return this spring.

“There has always been an awareness within the student body of mastodon bones, but it’s always just been considered folklore among us,” said recently graduated SGA Vice President Lynn Herbst-Acevedo. B.A. ‘23. “We wanted the true mascot and spirit of the mastodon to be on display. It wasn’t just about us and the legacy we left behind, but the true spirit of the mastodon.”

Original mastodon bones returning for campus display Blake Sebring January 30, 2024

After sleeping for approximately 14,000 years before being discovered on a Steuben County farm in 1968, the mastodon bones that give Purdue University Fort Wayne its nickname have been tucked away for the last half-decade. Coinciding with the school’s 60th anniversary, PFW’s original Don is on track to stand tall again later this semester.

The bones were displayed in Kettler Hall from 1984 to 2016 until being removed during a building renovation. Most were examined, wrapped carefully, and hidden away, while parts were sent for further study to the University of Michigan two years later.

🐘 Mastodon Bones Find Home It has been a long time coming, but mastodon bones discovered on a farm just south of Angola...

Posted by The Waynedale News on Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Tuesday, September 10, 2024 post by The Waynedale News on Facebook:

Mastodon Bones Find Home

It has been a long time coming, but mastodon bones discovered on a farm just south of Angola in 1968 have finally found a permanent home at Walb Student Union on the campus of Purdue University Fort Wayne. . . See more: Mastodon Bones Find Home

March 10, 2016 post by The History Center on Facebook:

Finally, #TBT to 2005 when Linda Booher, Rose Lantz, Carol Linton, Aaron Nagy, and descendants of Chief Richardville created Mini Don for Mastodons on Parade!

Project Factoids Mastodons roamed northeastern Indiana 10,000 to 13,000 years ago. IPFW geology students helped excavate a mastodon skeleton near Angola, Indiana, in 1968. A 3-ton bronze mastodon on IPFW campus was dedicated September 14, 2004. Mastodons on Parade commemorates the 40th anniversary of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

102 Mastodons on Parade Gallery art project in 2004 on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine for the 40th Anniversary of IPFW.

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Where have IPFW's sculpted mastodons gone? The Dons of a decade past still adorn Fort Wayne by Jonathan Robison published January 8, 2017 in The News-Sentinel newspaperarchived on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

Over 500 comments to an October 6, 2023 request on Facebook for where are the mastodons now. Photos posted there and at fortwayne_mastodons on Instagram.

October 17, 2019 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:

For "Throwback Thursday" we share a Mastodon from Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne's (IPFW) celebration of their 40th Anniversary in 2004. There are still a lot of these Mastodons around town. This is "East Coast Don" at the Penn Station sandwich shop on Coliseum and Clinton. BTW...Mr. Hofer graduated from the Purdue side of IPFW.

December 19, 2019 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:

For "Throwback Thursday" we share this picture of "Dental Don" all decked out as Santa Claus! In 2004 to celebrate Indiana - Purdue Fort Wayne's 40th Anniversary, several businesses and others decorated these Mastodons, many of which are scattered about town and we are featuring on "Throwback Thursday"!

January 9, 2020 post by Hofer and Davis, Inc. Land Surveyors on Facebook:

For "Throwback Thursday" we share another Mastodon picture. In 2004 to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of IPFW, many businesses and organizations painted these Mastodons On Parade and many are scattered about Fort Wayne til this day. Here is Science Central Don!

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