Gem City Business College - Yearbook (Quincy, IL)

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Introductory Shorthand Department The cut at the left presents a view of the Introductory Shorthand department. Students beginning the subject of shorthand are given a seat in this department, where they learn the principles and practice of the art. The work is graduated into a number of classes, and each stu j dent is allowed to advance from class to class as rapidly as is consistent with good work. A glimpse of the type- writing room may be seen at the left and back of this picture. After students have completed the principles of shorthand and have developed sufficient speed, they are promoted to the Advanced department. The cut at the right is a view of the Advanced Short- hand department in session. The work is subdivided into classes of different speeds. The students are advanced from class to class, as they succeed in making the required tests, until they finally reach the graduating class. A variety of office dictation and practice is given them before they complete the work and receive their diplomas.

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BANKING GROUP: WE PRESENT on the opposite page a handsome group-picture of students recently taking the banking course in the G. C. B. C. The group is sur- rounded by portraits of a number of our graduates who are now employed in banks in various capacities. Mr. G. E. Baker is with the First National Bank, at Sarco.xie, Missouri. In a letter to the secretary he says: I - deem it a pleasure to have the privilege of speaking a word for your worthy institution. I con- sider the Gem City Business College second to none in efficiency, advantages, and management. Since com- pleting the commercial course I have never had occa- sion to regret the step, but have looked back upon the time spent at the Gem City as the most pleasant and profitable of my life. I found the faculty most courteous and painstaking, and feel that my life was greatly benefited for having met them. I was recom- mended to a position in the Mechanics-American National Bank, of St. Louis, which place I held for some time prior to accepting my present position with the bank in my home town. Mr. E. T. Smith is now with the State Bank of Turon, at Turon, Kansas. He re- cently wrote: Upon .finishing the business and banking courses in 1908, I at once located at Turon, Kansas, accepting the position of cashier in the State Bank. I still hold that position and have never experienced any difficulty in any line of banking work. This is due to the excellent training received at your school. I have no hesitancy in recommending the G. C. B. C. as the best in the land in thorough training and courteous treatment. Miss Mae D. Quick finished our Combina- tion Course several years ago, and has since been constantly employed. In a letter dated June 2, 1911, she says: Just five years ago I left the dear old G. C. B. C. carrying with me the long white roll which meant that I had finished the combination course, and of which I was and have ever since been justly proud. I secured a position as bookkeeper and stenographer for a real estate firm in Toledo, Ohio, which I held ab vii. three years leaving it to accept a better posi- tion here with the National Bank of Monmouth. I cannot say enough in praise of your school and its corps of efficient teachers. I would advise all young people to take the combination course. Miss Martha L. Oberly says: I take great pleasure in writing you as to my whereabouts, and what I am doing. I am employed at the Citizens ' Bank here as stenographer. I like my work very much and really enjoy it. I am doing banking work and some bookkeeping, as well as stenographic work. The president of the bank has complimented me on the quality of my work. I have also done some work in a law office after banking hours. Mr. L. T. D. Beckett is cashier of the Dearfield State Bank at Dearfield, Kansas. He writes: I often think of all my Gem City associates and am always pleased to hear from them. Soon after leaving Quincy I secured a position as bookkeeper in this bank. Three years ago I was married and about the same time was elected assistant cashier to the Dearfield Bank. I find no difficulty in performing my duties, and feel that I owe my success to the educa- tion I received at the G. C. B. C. Mr. J. L. Miller is pleasantly located with the Rawlins National Bank, at Rawlins, Wyoming. He writes: I am having no trouble at all in my work, and am getting along fine. I shall recommend my friends to the Gem City. Mr. E. D. Bird writes from the Farmers ' and Traders ' Bank, at St. Joseph, Missouri, where he is employed. He says: I am sure that my success is due to the thorough- ness of the training received at your school. I am confident that the G. C. B. C. has but few if any equals, and no superiors in the commercial world. I recommend it to any one contemplating a commercial course. There is no chance to make a mistake if one decides on the G. C. B. C. Mr. E. M. Oetting was recently placed by us as bookkeeper for the Farmers ' State Ex- change Bank at Dallas City, Illinois. Mr. Rolla Babcook and Mr. S. G. Rowe are also employed in the same bank. Mr. Oetting writes : I took the business and banking course in your institution, and after graduation I was offered several positions by you and finally accepted the one I am now holding in this bank. I find my work very pleas- ant and have no trouble in keeping the books in good shape. The directors seem well satisfied with my work. I can heartily recommend your school. Mr. Spencer Waldron is with the bank of Hamburg, Hamburg, Illinois. He writes: I am glad to state that I have been reaping good results from my labors at the Gem. I have never experienced any difficulty in holding any of the posi- tions that I have had since leaving your school. I have been cashier of the bank: of Hamburg ever since it was organized in 1907. I now receive a salary of $100 a month. Mr. Frank Owens is now head bookkeeper and assistant teller in the Kokomo National Bank, of Kokomo, Indiana. He says: I like the work very much and cannot speak too highly of what the G. C. B. C. did in preparing me for successful work. I hope that all young men interested in their future welfare will enroll in your school. Mr. H. C. Ritter is cashier of the New Melle Bank, at New Melle, Missouri. He says: I am always pleased to hear that the good old G. C. B. C. is making advancement for it is 1 ' The School. ' ' Mr. A. M. Luna is cashier of the bank of Piedmont, at Piedmont, Missouri. He say s: It affords me great pleasure to recommend the old Gem City to any one desiring a business education. I think I can safely say that it is the best school of its kind in the United States, and I feel that my position as cashier of this bank is due to the training I received in your excellent school during 1907. Mr. Thomas C. Smith is with the Farmers ' Exchange Bank, at Memphis, Missouri. He writes : Since securing my position here, I appreciate the knowledge I obtained at the G. C. B. C. much more than ever. I like my work very much, and find my business education of great help to me. Mr. Joiada J. James is bookkeeper and stenographer for the First National Bank, Moulton, Iowa. In a letter to President Musselman he says: After completing the combination course in the G. C. B. C-, I accepted a position as stenographer and bookkeeper with the First National Bank of Moulton. I find my work here both pleasant and profitable. I owe my success to the thorough instruc- tion received in your good school. It gives me great pleasure to speak a good word for the Gem City Business College to any person who is thinking of qualifying for business life.

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THIS department of our school is devoted exclusively to instruction in Shorthand and Typewriting, so as to enable its students to acquire, in the shortest time possible, the art of verbatim reporting. Its object is to equip young men and women to take positions as private secretaries, steno- graphic law clerks, court reporters, govern- ment employees, and as amanuenses in busi- ness houses. The best way to learn shorthand is in the shorthand atmosphere of a shorthand school, under the judicious direction of experi- enced teachers, who know just what difficulties the students will encounter, and how to over- come them. Shorthand for Ladies. No avenue of em- ployment for ladies is so fascinating, so cer- tain in its results, nor so well compensated as that of the stenographer and typewriter. It has opened up a field of labor more re- munerative than ordinary vocations, and is lighter, less fatiguing, and better adapted for them than any other. The Gregg system of shorthand has been taught in our school for the past twelve years, and we have found it to meet every require- ment for amanuensis work or court reporting. It is the shortest, simplest, and most interest- ing system of shorthand to learn. Our gradu- ates are known not only for the rapidity and ability with which they take their notes, but also for their perfect typewriting, good spell- ing, and the general good appearance of their work. The Pitman and Graham Systems. Many students enroll in the Gem City who have tudied shorthand at home or in some other school. If they are familiar with any Pitmanic system, we always advise them to continue in this system. We maintain classes in the Pit- manic systems and often have writers of sev- eral systems in the same class. Shorthand for Young Men. Although there is always a demand for lady stenographers, yet this does not lessen the demand for male stenographers. There are as many young men as young women taking our shorthand and typewriting course. The demand for male graduates of this department is very large. We cannot supply all the calls that are made on us for young men as privvate secretaries, railroad clerks, law stenogranhers, and court reporters. We hope that many young men may select the shorthand and typewriting- course. Typewriters Used. We employ nearly 200 Remington and Underwood typewriters. We also have in use a number of L. C. Smith and Oliver machines. The keyboards of all these machines are the- same, and the student who learns to operate any one of them can readily use any of the others. The typewriting machines are furnished by the college and the students of the Shorthand and Typewriting department pay nothing- extra for the use of the machines — this is included in the tuition paid. The touch system of typewriting is used in our school. The advantages of the touch system may readily be seen, for the operator is not required to take his eyes from his notes to watch the keys of the machine while writing. Office Practice. Each student of the Shorthand and Typewriting department, be- fore graduating, is given a thorough drill in office practice, taking letters from dictation, getting out circular letters on the mimeo- graph or planotype, filing carbon copies of letters, and other details of regular office work, so that on completing this course the student is competent to take up the duties of an office position without hesitation or embarrassment. Thoroughness. A stenographic course that was satisfactory ten years ago will not meet the requirements of today, so exacting has become the business public. Our course has, therefore, been strengthened from time to time to meet this demand, and hence Gem City graduates are competent to fill satisfac- torily any office position from the start. Students of Other Schools. Many students of other schools, and those who have studied at home, attend our school each year for. the purpose of completing- the course in a high- grade school. They find that the diploma and influence of the Gem City Business College assists them greatly in securing paying sit- uations. Civil Service. Our Shorthand Course qualifies the student for successfully entering the civil service work. Many of our graduates have taken the civil service examination, and been placed on the eligible list, after which they soon secure appointments. Court Reporting. Quite a number of students each year qualify themselves in this department of our school for court reporters and as law stenographers, while others take the civil service examination and accept gov- ernment positions.