Bradley University - Anaga Yearbook (Peoria, IL)

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il' AIS' .l 1 l 41 .ii-if U History of the Institute .U BY OLIVER J. BAILEY. Build to-day then strong and sure, With a firm and ample base: And ascending and secure, Shall to-morrow find its place. -I.0lIg:fi'f!f07l . 6 g , RADLEY POl.YTliCHNIC lNSTl'liU'l'li is a beautiful . memorial, linking the sweet memory of departed life i JAM i.,,W with all that is truest and best in the elevation of human- ,p ity, through that cuiture which enlightens the mind and 1 A7TI,lULl ! directs the hand in harmonious development. It is the Q expression of a thought not dreamed in a night or !4 ',e.,I,l ,.I. wink brought forth in a day, but dreamed over and over in .ITT the night-time and in the day-time, through months and years of earnest purpose and patient waiting, until its growth burst forth into rugged being endowed with the attributes of immortality. Laura Bradley, a beloved daughter of Tobias and Lydia Bradley, though called away while young, had lived to noble purpose: and the going out of her life brought into being an inspiration to father and mother prompting a determination never departed from, to establish with their fortune a memorial which should have life and power for good. Not a graven monument of stone or bronze, but a living force with shielding arms and helpful interest. The death of Mr. Bradley in H67 interrupted the progress of plans then under way, but later these were renewed by Mrs. Bradley, who devoted herself unreservedly to the accomplishment of a great undertaking. She traveled much, personally investigating the best polytechnic and manual training schools in the country, considered carefully plans adopted for the perpetua- tion and maintenance of such institutions, as well as their structural arrange- ments and advantages, her strong mind grasping details with wonderful accuracy, and suggesting new problems to be thought out with greater cer- tainty. She knew the value of money and realized the difficulties in guarding an endowment against contingencies of coming time. That no institution is better guarded in the perpetuation of its endowment is the Firm conviction of those best acquainted with the undertaking. Mrs. Bradley first gave to her plans definite form through will made in lS85, the purpose of which was to convey the bulk of her estate at death, for

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l---11, --ii' l 'ls .nf 4:- 5 M id Prologue M id M l 1' 1 .l L - Be patient till the last. Members of the fziculty, school mules, :ind friends, hezir us for our cziuse, and he silent that you nizix hezirg believe us for our honor, and hziyc respect for our honour, that you may believe gill that we max tell you, censure us with what wisdom you m.ix have, and awake your senses that you may the In-t ter perceive and understand our deep wit. ll' there be anything' in this hook to which some one ol' you may take offense, to that person we sary that it is not that we love you less, but that our desire to lill up blank spzice is more. As you loyc us, we -iollV you: as you are good-nzitured, we impose upon you as you are wise and lezirned, we honour youg hut :is you :ire conceited, we rozist you. 'lihere is jollyino for your love, laughter for your laughter, liollolll for your wisdom, and death thy ronstingb lor your conceit. W'ho is there so rude that would criticise this, our first attempt? It ziny, let him iutlge not that he be not judged. NVho is there so Vile ns not to purchase this book? If any we will forthwith present it to him. XVe would otfend none: we Imm- done no more to you than you would have dont to us. VVith this we depart. 2 i IHE 'UI PoLi'sr:o1'i2 litjlllill. ,gf . x B - .I xx

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1-? f 'ff I 1 il the endowment of an institute similar in character to the present school. Such will was redrafted several times within the following ten years, securing with each rewriting a greater strength and fullness. In 1895 the interest in her work was greatly quickened and she took new steps for obtaining larger and more definite knowledge along the line of manual training schools, send- ing Mr. NV. VV. Hammond as her personal representative to the Wfashington School for Boys, in St. Louis, Throup Institute in Pasadena, California, and to the National Educational Convention which that year assembled in Buf- falo, New York. She conducted large correspondence with the Louisville High School, Rose Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology, the Case School of Applied Science, and other schools of like char- acter, procuring their catalogues and copies of their charters for refer- ence. From individuals of large experience she gained much aid, especially from President VVoodward, of the XVashington School for Boys, in St. Louis, and Mr. Kleinschmidt, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, who had organized the Louisville High School Manual Training Department, he made suggestion of plan for buildings and outlined to her his idea of a proper course of instruc- tion. Dr. Gunsaulus, of Chicago, and Mr. George N. Carmen, Director of the Lewis Institute of that city, kindly furnished her with data regarding size and character of buildings and expense of supporting school. Later, Mr. N. C. Dougherty, Superintendent of the Peoria Public Schools, suggested to Mrs. Bradley that she have conference with Dr. Harper, President of the University of Chicago, and Dr. Harper in his Hrst interview with Mrs. Bradley, realizing that her plans were well matured, urged upon her the advisability of such action as would establish the school and perfect its endowment in her life time. This was a new view of the undertaking, as every consideration of the matter so far had contemplated the execution of her purpose after death. This new idea was like the opening of a bud into the full fruition of its possi- bilities and brought with it the interest of new life, new courage, new hope. W'ould she now be able to look upon this child of her old age, for whom she had so long expected the closing of her eyes forever that it might have being, would she with active hand and moving lips guide and direct the foundation life and character of this her all-absorbing ambition? It might be so. Her estate was in readiness at any moment when needed, and her physical strength of body and mind gave happy promise. Renewing her search for still more definite knowledge, she visited the Chicago Manual Training School and Lewis Institute. Returning from them she entered at once upon the administration of her estate and plans. Novem- ber 13, 1896, a charter was secured under the University Act of the State of Illinois, giving to the school its name, Bradley Polytechnic Institute, out- lining the scope, aim and powers of the institution and methods of perpetua- tion, naming as the first Board of Trustees, Wlilliam R. Harper, Leslie D.