Bradley University - Anaga Yearbook (Peoria, IL)

Page 19 text:

te.. 9 ef Mrs. Bradley's original proposition to the trustees contemplated an expen- diture of ,lfiIO0,000 in buildings and 3250.000 in equipment, but generosity has been continually drawn upon until building and equipment accounts represent a total expenditure of ,8220,000. Bradley Hall in addition to its administration department, faculty officers, and school rooms, contains the manual training and domestic economy depart- ment, and their furnishings are marvels of utility and practical demonstration not excelled in any schoolg and the horological department justly contends for the distinction of having the best building and the best equipment of any watch making school in the country. Ground was broken April Io, 1897. October 4, 1897 had already been fixed upon by the Board of Trustees for the beginning of school work. Mr. Eclward,O. Sisson, at this time President of South Side Academy, Chicago, had been secured as Director of the Institute to enter upon his duties, March 5, 1897. The departments of manual training and domestic economy were to be, and ever remain, special features of this school, tho not more thorough and important would be their instruction than in every department. Mr. Charles Alpheus Bennett was secured for the manual training department and Mrs. Nellie Sawyer Kedzie was given charge ofthe Domestic Economy Department. On October 4, 1897 there assembled in Bradley Hall a full corps of in structors and 105 pupils. The students rapidly increased in number, nearly reaching the limit of ISO, the number which had been fixed upon as a proper number to be cared for the iirst year, altho the buildings would well accomo- date five hundred. - The Dedicatory and Founder's Day was October 8th, IIon. Lyman j. Gage, Secretary of the Treasury, was the orator. The only words of Mrs. Bradley, in public presence, were on this occasion in presenting the keys of the buildings, and in charging the trustees with their responsibilities. At the dedi- catory exercises the members of the faculty appealed in their academy caps and gowns, and wore them before their classes, for the iirst time, at chapel exercises October II, 1887. The first issue of the college paper, ft The Tech, appeared in February, 1898. Its editor-in-chief was Miss Lucie B. Clark, and the business manager, Mr. George R. MacClyment. The first lecture in Bradley Hall, open to the public, was by Dr. Harper, on the subject, Art among the Hebrews. 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 tt College Course, and to divide the entire six years into the tt 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 train- ing equal to the First two years in the great colleges and universities. On June 24, 1898, occured the tirst convocation, or graduating exercises. The only graduate was Miss Corrine F. Unland. She received her diploma

Page 18 text:

Pfeiffer, Zealey M. Holmes, Harry A. Hammond, Albion W. Small and Oliver J. Bailey. The objects, ethics and aim of the Institute are defined by section two of the charter as follows: t' The objects for which this corporation is formed are to organize and maintain forever a school for the education of young people of both sexes, in all the practical and useful arts, sciences and learning usually taught in poly- technic schools, including a department of ethics, in which instruction shall be given in the principles of morality and right living as exemplified in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ: so far as the resources of the Institute shall warrant there shall be added such courses of study and means of instruction in science, literature and art as may be deemed advisable by the trustees, but the chief aim of the Institute shall be to furnish its students with the means of living independent, industrious and useful lives by the aid of a practical knowledge of the useful arts and sciences. To establish the terms of admission of students to the Institute, to make and enforce rules and regulations for the government of the faculty and students, but neither in the terms of admission nor in the treatment of students, the selection of officers, agents or instructors, nor in the appointment of trustees, nor in any manner whatever connected with the Institute shall there be any distinction made or preferences given on account of sect, creed, nationality, politics or party, but with a view to its gre ater usefulness, this Institute shall be, and remain non-sectarian, non-politi- cal and non-partisan. The entire management of the Institute is invested in a board of seven trustees, two of whom by the terms of this charter are to be representatives of the University of Chicago. The other members of such Board are to be residents of Peoria County or vicinity, and all hold office during life unless disqualified by incompetence, insobrency, or other sufficient cause. The ser- vices of a Court of Chancery of Peoria County may be invoked in perpetuating the successions of such trustees, in emergency. Four members constitute a quorum and all matters of important business must have the sanction of at least a quorum. Q The first meeting of this charter board of trustees was held at the resid- ence of Mrs. Bradley, November 16, 1896, when the charter was tendered and accepted, by-laws were formulated and the following officers elected: Oliver J. Bailey, President, Leslie D. Puterbaugh, Vice president, .Harry A. Ham- mond, Secretary, William R. Harper, President of Faculty. Mrs. Bradley's will 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. She also tendered a contract for the payment of one-half her net income, estimated at 525,000 per annum, for the support of the school during her life-time. Affil- iation with the University of Chicago was petitioned for. 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 sotial and advisory. On the day following the Board meeting, Mrs. Bradley placed in the hands of the President a deed to additional grounds, extending the campus to Main Street, as at present, thus making a total of seventeen and a half acres. I g 77,77 , Q-4, , ,,. Y. ....., , .,,,,. .Ls -i.- I, s..-4..-

Page 20 text:

from President Bailey. The exercises occurred in the morning and the address was by Hon. Christian C. Kohlsaat of Chicago. Un Founder's Day, October 8, 1898, Prof. C. T. Chamberlain of Chicago was the orator. Dr. Harper delivered an address and Mrs. Bradley occupied her place of honor. The orchestral pipe-organ, given by Mrs. Bradley and placed in the audi- torium of Bradley Hall was played for the first time at chapel exercise Nov- ember I6, 1898, Mrs. Henry Velde presiding. On May I7, 1899, Mrs. Bradley conveyed to the Institute all her real estate wherever situated Qsaving only her homesteadj, subjected to her life use and management, such estate comprising much of the best improved and unimproved property of Peoria, and the best farm lands in this and surrounding counties. A conservative estimate of Mrs. Bradley's endowment is ,g2,000,000, but in the natural improvement of city and country, the values placed should be largely increased. But wonderfully enriched is such endowment by the life and presence of Mrs. Bradley. May she yet witness many years of the unfold- ing and development of the life of Bradley Polytechnic Institute. Many important gifts have been made to the Institute and publicly ac- knowledged , the most important of these, perhaps, was the collection of the Scientific Association of Peoria, presented june 23, 1899. But these gifts are not 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 great and noble work in behalf of Peoria and the cause of education. The bust was given a prominent place in Bradely 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.