Bradley University - Anaga Yearbook (Peoria, IL)

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destined to mean so much to Peoria and its youth of the present and coming generations. October 4, 1897, had already been fixed upon by the Board of Trustees for the beginning of school work. Wlhat must necessarily be accom- plished in the interim between these dates, was so great an undertaking that people shook their heads in doubt, many said it was a physical impossibility, but anxiety on the part of Mrs. Bradley and her associates for this attainment was a spur to every effort and with wonderful rapidity and harmony the work went forward, not only upon the buildings, but in plans for the school work as well. Mr. Edward U. Sisson, at the time President of the South Side Academy, Chicago, had been secured as Director of the Institute to enter upon his duties, more particularly of assisting in selecting the faculty, March I, 1897. He remained such President until july 1, 1897, from which date his time in behalf of the Institute has been undivided and untiring. Although at the time of appointment to this responsible position, Mr. Sisson was under thirty years of age, he has shown himself possessed of the qualities of heart, mind and education, essential to the best success, and Bradley Polytechnic Institute will ever profit by the efficiency of his work in establishing the foundations of the school in these first years of its history. For all departments of the school it was the ambition to secure persons thoroughly fitted to the work, both by nature and education, and who would consecrate themselves to the undertaking as a duty and a privilege, and it has been a source of congratulation that the wisdom exercised in choosing from the many applicants presenting themselves for consideration, was so unerring as to seem providential, and it would be a pleasure to name here each one selected and having part in the early days of this school life. The departments of manual training and domestic economy, were to be and ever remain, special features of this school, though not more thorough and important would be their instruction than in every department, for the intention was to furnish so far as it might be carried, the best instruction in all that should tend to a complete education. lVIr. Charles Alpheus Bennett was secured for the manual training department, and it would be well for the Institute if it could have assurance of retaining him for many years to come. Mrs. Nellie Sawyer Kedzie, given charge of the Domestic Iiconomy Depart- ment, has won golden laurels in her work, placing such department in high favor and giving new character and dignity to this branch of education. For some years prior to the establishment of Bradley Polytechnic Insti- tute, Mrs. Bradley had been interested in Parsons' Horological Institute, cou- ducted in a building owned by her and located near the Polytechnic grounds. By co-operation of all parties interested, it was arranged that this horological school should become a department of Bradley Polytechnic Institute, and its conduct was undertaken accordingly. Mr. R. Parsons remaining for a time

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if i Mrs. Bradley's will with its codicils was then read to the Board, and at this time she presented them with a deed for ten acres of ground as a site for the school buildings, contemplating entrance to such campus from Bradley avenue. She also tendered a contract for the payment of one-half her net income, estimated at 55525000 per annum, for the support of the school during her lifetime. These papers were accepted and resolutions of thanks and appreciation were placed on record. Affiliation with the University of Chicago was petitioned for, and the Board subsequently advised of favorable action. This, however, confers no power of control upon such University, or gives any interest whatever in the estate of the school. The relation thus established is social and advisory. The minutes of this First meeting were signed by the trustees individually. lt was an impressive meeting, opened with remarks by Dr. Harper and with prayer by Prof. Albion XV. Small. All felt the gravity of the occasion, as it was to mark an epoch in the endowment of this school, a new era in this undertaking which had so long occupied the earnest thought of Mrs. Bradley. She in her own Way explained her ambition and her plans and the responsibility she was placing upon those whom she had selected to have part with her in the material building of her hopes. Un the day follow- ing this Board meeting, Mrs. Bradley placed in the hands of the President, deed to additional grounds, extending the campus to Main street, as at pres- ent, and making a total of seventeen and a half acres thus devoted. Com- mittees on finance, buildings and grounds, faculty, curriculum and equipment, we1'e appointed by the Board, and at once entered actively upon their respect- ive duties of securing suitable buildings and providing for the opening of the school by the next October. lanuary13, 1897, a contract was entered into with architect llenry lves Cobb, of Chicago, to furnish plans for the Bradley lrlall and llorological build- ings to be erected at an estimated cost of 2f3110,000. Mrs. Bradley's original proposition to the trustees contemplated an expenditure of 315100000 in build- ings and 2fB50,000 in equipment, but that buildings might be improved in char- acter bythe use of stone instead of brick an additional amount of 310,000 was added, and generosity has been continually drawn upon until building and equipment accounts represent a total expenditure of fl52T20,000. But for it stand two beautiful and substantial buildings, wonderfully well adapted to the uses intended. Bradley Hall in addition to its administration department, faculty offices and school rooms, contains the manual training and domestic economy depart- ments, and their furnishings are marvels of utility and practical demonstra- tion not excelled in any schoolg and the horological department justly con- tends forthe distinction of having the best building and the best equipment of any watch-making school in the country, indeed in the world. Ground was broken April 10, 1897, heralding the material beginning of this enterprise

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I I I 1 l . I 1 i 1 li il i I l 1 the principal in charge. Later he resigned such position, and at the present time Mr. A. T. Wfestlake is Dean of such department. In the summer vaca- tion of 1898, Director Sisson visited Europe with special reference to the watch schools of Switzerland, and brought with him, on his return, much information helpful in the subsequent conduct of this department of the Institute. During the summer of 1897, appropriate excercises for the opening of the school and the establishment of Founder's Day were being considered and worked out. Hon. Lyman Gage, Secretary of the Treasury, had been agreed upon as the first Founder's Day orator, if he could be secured, and the institution was to be thus favored and Peoria honored, as Mr. Gage, at much inconvenience to himself, accepted the invitation. On October 4, 1897, there assembled in Bradley Hall a full corps of instructors, and pupils to the number of 105, surprising themselves and every- one else, but with the removal of the first shovel of earth in the excavation for foundations, this gathering was announced, and while it could not be said that the buildings were fully ready for school, they were so far ready that such assembling was possible under circumstances which gave it the character of a first day, and justified the promise of the trustees. The students rapidly increased in number, nearly reaching the limit of 150, which had been fixed upon as a proper number to be cared for the first year, although the buildings would well accommodate tive hundred. The dedicatory and Founder's Day exercises had been fixed for October 8. That was a day to which Peorians interested in educational matters had been looking forwardg in fact, the magnitude of Mrs. Bradley's gift had called attention of the intellectual world to Peoria and to this school. Educators from all parts of the State were to be here, and they came in even greater numbers than anticipated. The program for the day follows: Procession. Invocation. ..... ......... ....................... R E V. A. A. STEVENS Quartette. The Dedicatory Address ..... .................. H oN. LYMAN J. GAGE Orchestra. The Presentation, MRS. LYDIA BRADLEY, the Founder of the Institute The Acceptance ............. PRES. OLIVER J. BAILEY, of the Institute Address on Behalf of the Faculty... .......................... . ..PREs. WILLIAM R. HARPER, of the University of Chicago America. Benediction ........................... REV. Lvcunous KIR'rLEv, D. D. This program was carried out fully, and, while the Institute will enjoy many recurring Founder's Days, in which the life of Mrs. Bradley and the morning of the Institute will be lived over and over again in remembrance, none can have the interest or significance of this one. The only words of Mrs. Bradley in public presence, were on this occasion in presenting the keys