Bradley University - Anaga Yearbook (Peoria, IL)

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gave expression to their feelings in prolonged applause. Director Sisson in an address reviewed the work and progress of the Institute. The invocation was by Rev. Frank lVIcAlpine of the Universalist church, and the benediction by Rev. S. ll. Moore of the Second I'reshyterian church. After the morning exercises luncheon was served in the domestic economy department under the direction of Mrs. Kedzie to Mrs. Bradley, the trustees and faculty and invited guests. Brief addresses were made by Mr. N. C. Dougherty, Director Sisson, Miss llelen Bartlett, Dean of VVomen, Prof. Albion XV. Small, llon. john S. Stevens, Mr. XV. XV. Hammond, Prof. Comstock of Knox College, Mr. Bailey presided. On consenting to speak briefly, Mrs. Bradley arose and was most happily greeted. She said: I thank the trustees with all my heart for the work done for the Institute. I thank the faculty for so carefully and conscientiously training the students here at work. I hope our boys and girls will go out from here to be good citizens of the Republic. Jkt the close of her remarks the audience arose and were led by Dr. NVyckoH' in the singing of Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow. In the evening the build- ings were thrown open to the publie and another opportunity thus given and largely accepted for better acquaintance with the school and its work. On Founders Day, October H, 1898, Prof. C. T. Chamberlain, of Chicago, was the orator of the occasion, and his subject was: Moral Nature of Scien- tific Study. Dr. Harper delivered an address. Mrs. Bradley occupied her place of honor on the platform and enjoyed the exercises as did all present. The orchestral pipe-organ, given by Mrs. Bradley and placed in the auditorium of Bradley Hall, was played for the first time at chapel exercises November 16, 1899, Mrs. Henry Velde presiding. Mrs. Bradley was present at this dedication. It is not the purpose of this writing to detail all that enters into the his- tory and life of the Institute, consequently we do not follow with description of other special days. Each recurring Convocation and Founders Day has brought new interest, has enlarged realizations and broadened and strength- ened future hopes. Mrs. Bradley has been present at the exercises on each Founder's Day and Convocation Day, and has often visited the school acquainting herself fully with the character of its work and accomplishments. Her suggestions have been freely given and her heart has ever rejoiced in the harmony and success of all that has entered into the growth of the school. The growth of the school has been steady and now numbers in all depart- ments between four hundred and five hundred pupils. Many important gifts have been made to the Institute and publicly acknowledged: the most important of these, perhaps, was the collection of the Scientific Association, of Peoria, presented June 23, 1899. But these gifts are not to be regarded with the presentation of the bust of Mrs. Bradley by the citizens of Peoria as an expression to the founder, of the appreciation of her t9

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of the buildings, and in charging the trustees with their responsibilities. The audience crowding every available space of the auditorium, listened with almost breathless silence, in deepest reverence and gratitude, and then, as never before, the importance of this life work culminating in her life-time, impressed itself upon all having to do with it. The next great event in the history of the school would naturally be its first Convocation Day, though in the meantime much was to occur of interest not only to the school, but to the public. On the evening of March 11th, the Institute tendered to the public a reception to all parts of its buildings, and this was a very happy occasion and a revelation to many of the five thousand people or more availing themselves of this privilege. Shops, laboratories, the domestic economy department and other places were making careful demon- strations of the practical work of the school. The public had been told much about such work through the press, and now this opportunity of seeing it was looked forward to and enjoyed. The buildings were accepted from the contractors january 17, 1898. At the dedicatory exercises the members of the faculty appeared in their academ- ical caps and gowns, and wore them before their classes, for the first time, at chapel exercises October 11, 1897. V The first issue of the College paper, THR TECH, appeared in February, 1898. Its editor-in-chief was Miss Lucie B. Clark, and the business manager, Mr. George R. MacClyment, assisted by an able corps. The production was a bright, creditable affair, containing a picture of' Mrs. Bradley and a brief his- tory of her life, and also containing other matter important for future reference. The first lecture in Bradley Hall, open to the public, was by Dr. Harper, on the subject, Art Among the Hebrews. V In planning the courses of study, it was decided to add to the usual four years high school course, two years to be known as the College Course, and to divide the entire six years into the Lower Academy, Higher Academy and College, two years each, carrying forward into the College course special work with large freedom, and allowing a fair proportion of purely elective work, thus giving to the College Course advantages of a home training equal to the first two years in the great colleges and universities. On june 724, 1898, occurred the first convocation or graduating exers cises, closing a successful year, during which the Institute had gained a high rank among the educational institutions. The only graduate on this occasion was Miss Corinne I . Unland, who will ever enjoy the distinction of being the first graduate of Bradley Polytechnic Institute. She received her diploma from President Bailey, speaking for the Board of Trustees. The exercises occurred in the morning and the address was by Hon. Christian C. Kohlsaat of Chicago, on the subject, The Genesis and Genius of Western Life. As Mrs. Bradley appeared in the procession the large audience of invited guests

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great and noble workin behalf of Peoria and the cause of education. This bust is given prominent place in Bradley Hall, as a work of art by the noted sculptor, Mr. Fritz Triebel, and should endure through all generations to perpetuate before the world the face of this noble woman. This gift was appropriately presented by Mr. W. R. Kempshall speaking for a representative committee at unveiling services in connection with the second Convocation Day exercises june 23, 1899. President Bailey responding for Mrs. Bradley and the trustees. On May 17, 1899, Mrs. Bradley conveyed to the Institute all her real estate wherever situate fsaving only her homesteadysubject to her life use and management, such estate comprising much of the best improved and unim- proved property of Peoria, and the best of farm lands in this and surrounding counties, well calculated to remain as a permanent investment of the endow- ment. A conservative estimate of Mrs. Bradley's endowment is bE32,000,000, but in the natural improvement of city and country the values placed should be largely increased, and cannot become impaired by obligations of any char- acter. But wonderfully enriched is such endowment by the life and presence uf Mrs. Bradley, who has been spared in health and strength through these tirst years of the administration of her estate, and tenderly do her labors rest as a benediction upon her life and character in these latter days. May she yet witness many years of the unfolding and development of the life of Bradley Polytechnic Institute.