Gem City Business College - Yearbook (Quincy, IL)

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The Four Musselmans and Their Great Business College REPRINTED FROM THE QUINCY OPTIC MORE and more is the world disposed to do homage to man ' s creative faculties — to his powers to create or to perpetuate. There is a distinct fascination in writing about the creation, the strengthening, the broadening, of things of great useful- ness. Especially does this intense interest apply to writing about the creating or perpetuation and development of great things in the educational sphere, things having to do with the right fitting of youth, things having good and useful influ- ence on thousands and thousands of human lives. Such a great and educational cre- ation for instance, as the Gem City Business College, of Quincy, Illinois. It is not easy for the present gen- eration in Quincy to realize that this magnificent seat of learning, so much admired and respected by all, has been built up in the short space of two score years, and none but our oldest citizens can remember when there was not a Gem City Business College. Prof. D. L. Musselman, the Founder As the sculptor makes from the clay the marvelous figure; as the painter makes from his colors the wonderful picture; as the composer creates the immortal melody, so Pro- fessor Musselman created the Gem City Business College. His clear, true vision saw the need of such an institution. His remarkable abilities, his splendid qualities, his knowledge of youth and its needs, his industry and application, enabled him to supply that need. He began with three students forty-one years ago. Today the total enrollment nears the fifteen hundred mark. Every year adds to the enrollment, because every year adds to the prestige and influence of the institution. Perpetuated by the Founder ' s Three Worthy Sons Fortunately for the continuation of his great College, its steady development, its broadening of influences. Professor Musselman had three worthy sons of his own to train. Sons not only worthy of their D. L. MUSSELMAN Sr. Founder D. L. MUSSELMAN President father in point of character, but sons whose ambition was to take up and continue the great work he so well founded. If the great educator can look down and behold the carefulness, the capacity, the splendid interest and enthusiasm with which his loyal and talented sons are carrying on his magnificent College, he must indeed feel that his care in training these sons has borne excellent fruit. D. L. Musselman, the Eldest Son D. L. Musselman, the eldest son, named after his father, took his pre- paratory education in the Quincy High School, Shattuck Military School in Fairbault, Minn., all the courses in the Gem City Business College and also studied law under Judge Mc- Crory. Upon the completion of his courses in the Gem City Business College, he taught in the college for two years. In 1900 he became Secre- tary and Treasurer of the College, and in 1906 he became General Manager, which position he held until 1910, since which time he has been Presi- dent and Treasurer of the institution. Among the other activities of this fine young man, he is vice president of the Quincy Chamber of Commerce, a director of the Quincy National Bank, a director of the Quincy Boule- vard and Park Association, a director of the Y. M. C. A. and a trustee of the Methodist Church. Among the important positions he has held with notable credit, was the presidency of the National Commercial Teachers ' Association, which held its convention in Pittsburg in 1907. The ability and sound judgment with which Mr. Musselman is filling the responsible position of President of the College, have won the highest commendation everywhere. V. G. Musselman, the Second Son The second son. V. G. Musselman, attended the Quincy High School, after which he matriculated at the University of Illinois, taking the liberal arts course, following which he took the courses in the Gem City Business College. While at college he was Sergeant Major of the University Regiment. V. G. MUSSELMAN Secretary T. E. MUSSELMAN Instructor

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a: ORGANIZED . . . 1870 INCORPORATED 1893 PAID UP CAPITAL $7 5,000.00 ■FACULTY- D. L. MUSSELMAN, M. Accts. President V. G. MUSSELMAN, M. Accts. Secretary WILTON E. WHITE Vice-President Law and Mathematics J. H. CRAFTON, Ph. B„ M. Accts. Superintendent, Bookkeeping Department Principal Actual Business and BanfcinQ . ' . .... [. P. BEHRENSMEYER, Artist Penman Principal o f Normal Penmanship CHARLES I. SMITH, M. Accts. Principal of Advanced Bookkeeping BERTRAND CAPPS, M. Accts. Principal of Introductory Bookkeeping THOMAS T. GOFF, B. S., M. Accts. Bookkeeping and Mathematics T. E. MUSSELMAN, A. B. Business Department GEO. W. BLAIR, M. Accts. Advanced Bookkeeping Department JOHN W. DOERR Business Department ]. HURLIE COOPER Business Department WALFORD W. LEWIS Principal Advanced Shorthand PAUL G. DUNCAN, M. Accts. Principal Introductory Shorthand MISS DAISY JELLISON Pitman Shorthand Department MISS NELLIE DOMINO Advanced Dictation Department MISS N. MAY MILLER Shorthand Department MRS. MAUD BUTLER Typewriting and Mimeographing MISS BERTHA SEIDEL Shorthand Department MISS IDA E. HENRY Shorthand Department MISS HELEN ROCHESTER Office Stenographer MISS KATHRYN KERKERING Office Stenographer MISS RUBY BREDER Office Stenographer MISS CARY VENGHAUS Stenographer CHARLES E. LANE Cashier and Bookkeeper

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V. G. has inherited his talented father ' s artistic temperment. His skill with pencil and brush was recognized even while at college. He was chosen on the editorial staff of the college paper, The Illini, as chief illustrator, and he was also art editor for the college year book, the Illio. His poster and cartoon work is of exceptional excellence. For several years he acted as assistant principal of the Actual Business department. He became Office Manager and Secretary of the College, upon the election of his brother to the Presidency. He is Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Blessing Hospital and Secretary of the Civic Improvement League. In every position held by this splendid young man he has manifested the same constant zeal, admirable judgment, and business application, while he possesses the true Mussel- man temperment, an amiable and agreeable personality. T. E. Musselman, the Third Son - The youngest son, Thomas Edgar Musselman, is a graduate of the Shattuck Military School, and the degree Bachelor of Arts was conferred on him by the University of Illinois on his graduating from that school in June, 1910, following which he took a thorough course in the Gem City Business College. He i now an instructor in the Actual Busi- ness department. Besides being a very tine teacher of bookkeeping and the other studies which go with it, Mr. Musselman is considered an authority on birds, and is a member of the American Ornithological Society. He possesses the admirable qualities so characteristic of the family, being industrious, energetic, laudably ambitious, and has a most congenial disposition. All three of the sons possess good physiques, with a well developed taste for athletics, in which each has won distinction. T. E. won the tennis championship of Illinois University for the years of 1908-1909 and 1909-1910 and in 1910 he represented the University of Illinois in the Intercollegiate Conference meet held in Chicago and was runner-up in the tennis doubles. The last year at the University he was president of the Educational Club. In 1908 lie won the championship of the Central Illinois Tennis Tournament at Peoria, Illinois, and together with D. L. won the first prize in the doubles at the same tournament. This sketch of these young men would not be complete without referring to the perfect sympathy of their relations with each other and to the admirable coordination of their successful work for the advance- ment and enhanced prestige and influence of the great educational institution left in their capable hands. Money alone could not have built up and maintained an institution of such wide scope and so national in its character. Time, hard work, careful management, fair dealing, and a clear knowledge of conditions were necessary. All the money of a Rockefeller would not build a Gem City Business College; the work is a growth, and requires many years of patient toil and right supervision. BRIEF HISTORY OF OUR PROGRESS THE GEM CITY BUSINESS COLLEGE opened in 1870 with three students, increasing to thirty-three by the end of the first year. The attendance steadily increased in numbers and in a few years reached the creditable enrollment of five hundred students annually, and thus encouraged it was decided to push for the one thousand mark. It was at this stage of the work that we conceived the idea of the Greatest School in America. Why not have it in. Quincy — the beautiful, healthy town of 40,000 inhabitants, situated on the banks of the grand old Mississippi, in the midst of the finest and largest agricultural country in the world? Why not make it the Yale, the Harvard, the Ann Arbor, of commercial colleges? Would not the public approve and support it? Does not the business public require it? Does not the inefficiency of the work of the multi- tude of weak school s all over the country leave an opening, and a demand as well, for one great school that will stand pre-eminently at the head of business education in this country? To accomplish this result, we bent our best energies. The school had now reached eight hundred students in annual attendance. Newer, larger and better quarters were needed for it than could be rented in Quincy. We therefore purchased a valuable lot and erected thereon the finest commercial school building in the land, costing over $100,000. The students were delighted with the new building and its line equip- ment, and were high in their praise of the excellent business training received within its walls. Additional expert teachers were employed to meet the demands; courses of instruction were revised, and methods improved; and the fame of the Gem City Business College and the work accomplished by its students went abroad, and the patronage increased until not only was the much coveted one thousand mark reached, but passed, several years since, and the annual enrollment now reaches from 1400 to 1S00 students. It is worthy of note in this connection to state that the enrollment of students in the G. C. B. C. since its organization has reached more than the 35,000 mark, and the large daily attendance now requires a faculty and working force of nearly thirty people. The school has been successful beyond the most sanguine expecta- tions of its management, proving conclusively that there is a demand for higher and better business education in America, not only by the business interests of the country, but by the patronizing public as well. To further strengthen the school, to add to its popularity and insure its perpetuity, the G. C. B. C. was in 1893 incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois. The incorporation certificate requires a high class curriculum and authorizes the issuing to its graduates the degree Master of Accounts, and Bachelor of Accounts.