MacMurray College - Tartan / Illiwoco Yearbook (Jacksonville, IL)

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MacMiirray is rich not only in its legacy of illustrious founders but also in the character of its courageous presidents. Knotty problems such as the acquisition of property, erection of buildings, growth of the curriculum, and maintenance of acad- emic standards have been the heritage of each. Jaquess, Andrus, McCoy, Adams, DeMotte, Short — were men of strength and faith who piloted the struggling college through its most difficult years, years of fires, financial exigencies, and war. They knew days of discouragement and fading hope. But through their painstaking efforts, the foundatifyns were laid on which Dr. Marker was able to build during his long and successful administration. Now today, in this Centennial year, we are witnesses to the prodigious achievements of our present head. Dr. C. P. McClelland. Dr. Mac came to our campus in 1925, bringing with him great plans for a future of achieve- ment. Following closely tipon the heels of his arrival, our greatest friend and bene- factor of recent times, Mr. MacMurray, became an immortal member of the college heritage, when in 1930 I. W. C. was rechristened MacMurray College. Through the years new faces may come and go, but a college ' s buildings remain a lasting memorial to her progress. Dearest to our hearts is Old Main, rich in the dignity of memories and traditions. The present building, headquarters of freshmen and the administration, was erected in 1872 on the ashes of the great fire. During its early years Main was the center of all activity. It is interesting to us, accustomed as we are to an extensive campus, to note the interior arrangement in those days. On the first floor were a gymnasium, recitation rooms, laboratories, the elocution department, kitchen, and dining room. A vestibule, reception room, chapel, library, art studio, two society halls, and offices were located on the main floor. The second floor accommo- dated resident students and teachers. The third floor ivas devoted to the College of Mtisic. Old cuts and catalogue descriptions have pictured for us the original college building — four stories high, red brick, massive Corinthian columns in front, crowned with an observation cupola (the delight of presidents ' children, it is said) . The corner - J Page Seven

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The Reverend Peter Akers had a vision — a vision of young -women, educated, refined, fitted to take their place in the world. Supported by the Illinois Conference of the Methodist Church, this dream found reality. And on October 10, 1846, nine pioneers of Illinois education met to create the Illinois Conference Female Academy, the genesis of our MacMurray. Perhaps the most striking figure among our founding fathers ivas Peter Cart- wright, first president of the Board, a righteous, vigorous man of action who tvorked for the Lord and fought the Devil and all his works. He and the other members of this first Board of Trustees met in Jacksonville to unite their varied backgrounds and experiences in a common enterprise. The town named after Andrew Jackson was but a small pioneer village nestled around its courthouse square. West of town stood the venerable Illinois College. Plans for the state institutions for the blind and the deaf were under way. Serving the two thousand inhabitants were six churches, including the Methodist in which the I.C.F.A. was organized and held first classes. Past the site of the new academy puffed the first

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one of thi uildihg was laid ceremoniously in 1 849. In it was deposited a tin box conSiiing stick rejics as a Bible, a Methodist hymnal, the discipline, church and city papers, and the names of the trustees. A great financial crisis came upon I.C.F.C. with the burning of the west wing in 1861. It ivas reconstructed again after much difficulty only to be sicept away completely in 1870. But even the new building was not safe from the ravages of flame — a third fire occurred in 1872. After this there was no building activity until 1899, the date of extensive improvements upon Old Main. But, as Dr. Barker so often stated, Contentment with present attainments means retrogression. Accordingly, the history of the college has been punctuated with the erection of more buildings. Music Hall, Marker, Hardtner Gymnasium, MacMurray, McClelland, fane, Ann Rutledge, and Pfeiffer Library form a chain which ivill in the future become longer and stronger as MacMurray groivs. The history of a college is also the story of its organizations. MacMurray is proud of her vital service organizations, societies, and publications. Their annals reveal the development of the College Woman. Perhaps one of the most impressive features of MacMurray life is the Student Government Association. With the purpose of unifying student life and promoting college spirit and loyalty, Dr. Marker took first steps in this direction in 191 h The original College Council was augmented by a temporary form of house government ivith the co-operation of the faculty. Proving itself worthy of trust, the student body was rewarded in 1914 with a full-fiedged student government charter— a great ay to those who sought self-reliance, honor, and loyalty in their student relations. % ivithout its Y.W.C.A. ivould be difficult to visualize. From a tiny nucleus ffmes called an Epworth League, the Y.W. was born in 1899 and by 1902 had