Monmouth College - Ravelings Yearbook (Monmouth, IL)

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There have been in all but four presidents. The first administration was under Dr. Wallace, the second under Dr. McMichaei, the third under Dr. S. K. Lyons, and rhe present one under Dr. T. H. McMichael. a son of the former president. Thus tvvo of Monmouth ' s four presidents have been trained within her own walls. At present ihercare offered seven groups or courses of study, each leading to a degree of Bachelor of Arts. In each group 305 weeks of work are specified and required. In order to be graduated in any group, ihe student must add to these 305 weeks 125 weeks of elective work. In her work of fifty years. Monmouth has sent forth from her walls 1,250 graduates, who have gene cut to various walks of life. 141 have devoted themselves to the business world, 85 are lawyers, 294 are preachers, 143 have devoted themselves to teaching. 75 minister to the sick and needy as physicians, at least 23 have gone as foreign missionaries, 36 are professors in colleges and State Institutions, seven have served terms as college presidents, two as professors in theological seminaries, twelve are at present in the service of the United States Government. Others have helped govern this great nation in the capacity of congressmen and senators. One hundred and seventy have passed away, eleven of whom v ' ere killed in battle. Besides these who have gone forth with their diplomas, some 9000 have been students in either the academic or college departments. The original control of the academy from which Monmouth College grew, was by a board of trustees appointed by the Second Illinois Presbytery of the Associate Rerormed Synod of Illinois upon condition that it be raised to the rank of a college. This offer was accepted and the board of trustees increased. The synod then included the entire northwest territory. Since then the synods of Iowa, Nebraska, and the second synod, in- eluding the territory of Indiana and Western Ohio, have been identified with the maintainence of the college. The presbyteries of Keokuk, Cedar Rapids, and Le Claire in Iowa and the Alumni Association of the college have shared its responsibilities. At present the college is under the control of the synods of Illinois and Nebraska, the second synod, the Presbyteries of Keokuk, Cedar Rapids, and Le Claire, and the alumni association. At the time of the incorporation of the college, Feb. 16, 1857. the corporate powers were vested in a board of trustees. This power was, on March 12, 1869 by an amendment to the charter, vested in a senate which consists of directors outside of Monmouth and trustees who compose the local board of control. The senate convened in joint session, meets annually. The trustees meet monthly. Such in brief is the history of Monmouth College. Great as have been her achievements, still greater are her possibilities. So let us one and all. Senate, Faculty, Alumni and Students forget those things which are behind and press toward the prize of a greater and more efficient Mcnmouth College,

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Monmouth College. pjHILE Monmouth Wis yet a village and five years beforethe United Presbyterian Denomination war- formed. Rev. J. C. Porter, then pastor of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian at Cedar Creek; stopped at the court house in Monmouth on his way to a meeting of presbytery, at Clayton. While at the court house he stated that Presbytery would very likely consider the question of an academy, to be located in this part of the country, and that if Monmouth wanted such a school, she should offer some inducement. A subscription sheet was started at once and within two or three hours $1,150 were subscribed for the proposed acad.my. Presbytery considered Monmouth ' s proposition favorably, and thus began Monmouth College. The academy opened the first Monday of November 1853, with Rev. J, R. Brown as principal and twenty-one students enrolled, A few months later it was combined with a school held by Prof Jenks in the basement of the Presbyterian church. The academy grew with the town and within two years the propositicn was considered to raise it to the rank of a college, and September 3, 1856 found the school no longer an academy but a CDllege, with Rev. David A. Wallace of Boston, Mass., as it ' s President. The inaugural exercises of our first President were conducted in Brown ' s Grove which became the scene of many such great college exercises. The next college building was completed in November of 1856, and for twenty years was used for regular college work Later it served in the capacity of a factory for the Maple City Soap Works. In I860 Messrs. A. Y. and David Graham donated the greater part of the present campus amounting to ten acres, together with twenty-five acres in lots. With the money realized from the sale of these lots, a building fund was started, and June 24, 1863 a part of the present building was ready for occupancy. It was then 54 by 80 feet, four stories high containing fifteen rooms. The structure was made of brick, which were burned on the grounds. With the growth of the institution, the accommodations proved too cramped and ten years later an addition 54 by 63 feet was built making the present college building, consisting of twenty-four rooms, besides basement, and representing donations amounting to $32,500, The College campus is one of the beautiful spots in Monmouth, although as yet it has not received the touch of the landscape gardener. Its rustic beauty is an inspiration. Standing on the South East corner of the campus, facing BroadA ay, is the house built in 1885 to be used as a home for the President In 1897 a large brick auditorium, with a seating capacity of some 800. was built on the South West corner. Directly behind the auditorium is the college gymnasium erected in 1900. Thus has the institution grown in 50 years, from an academy occupying eight rooms m all. to a college with four large and well equipped buildings on a campus of about fifteen acres. Whatever may be the advantage in equipment of buildings, no school can prosper, without an able faculty and with such a one Monmouth College is certainly blessed. From a faculty of three, fifty years ago; consisting of Dr. Walllace, President; P ev. J. C. Brown, Professor of languages and Kev. Marion Morrison professor of mathmetics; the faculty has nc grown to twenty-three professors and instructors. Since the founding of the institution 1 15 professors and instructors have been employed, seventy of these have come from cur o vn United Presbyterian denomination, forty-four from among the alumni of the college. Of these Dr. S. P . Lyons, of the class cf ' 77 has served a term as president, and Dr. T. H. McMichael of the class of ' 86 now serving the college in that capacity.

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During the past year Monmouth has been the recipient of several valuable gifts. Among these the five acre lot adjoining the campus on the north, ' as given by Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Brereton. Another valuable gift vja.s that of Andrew Carnegie, who gave $30,000 for the building of a library provided that amount could be raised to equip and maintain it. Of the $30,000 necessary to receive this gift $18,250 have been received and it is hoped that the ground for the new library may be broken this summer. It is the plan at present to build it about 100 feet west of the main building. The fund for the Wallace Memorial (the girls dormitory) is being sibscribed by the classes up to ' 80 as that was the last class who entered under Dr. Wallace. The classes since 80 are giving toward the erection of a new Science Hall. Both these buildings are however some ' what in the distance. It is proposed to locate the dormitory on the Brereton lot facing North 9th St. The Science Hall will likely be placed just east of the main building, corresponding to the library on the west. The college authorities are ' seeking, with some encouragement, men who will endow difl srent school.% such as a school of music, of science, of oratory and public speaking, of art, and also the academic department. In the erection of the new buildings every class will have an opportunity to give something to the future equip ' p-ent of the college. May the work not lag. For want of funds, but long may the red and white wave o ' er cur heads and hearts, and may generations of students yet to come, swell her numbers and increase her fame. Then: — Here ' s to Monmouth College With her wisdom and her knowledge; Drink her down. Drink her down. Drink her down. down. down.