Bradley University - Anaga Yearbook (Peoria, IL)

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f. E l I I i fi lil? ill-li fit s -ii Ya J. ,1 i ui if fl , :RA K-,fix l',,.. i . ..:fL 4 y X1 7 N. . ..,1 ll ll. Jf , , '.1. 'v- sf.-1 7' . 'K l 1 I l.,,j M Y Y L I g , V -. .1 iv. .,.. .. , Q -x,Jv , -rzx 5 Y.- A.,-f X, J ' l ll Wil if lif' W W ,e Q. get LYDIA MOSS BRADLEY Two years before Illinois became a state in 1818, a baby girl was born in Vevay, Indiana, on the banks of the Ohio, who was destined to become the founder of a great educational institution. On the sixteenth of January, 1908, her long, useful life came to an honored and peaceful close. For ten years she had been permitted to see her cherished dream realized, not only in red-tiled, grey stone buildings, but in the faculty and student group which gathered there. During this period every Founder's Day and Con- vocation was graced by her presence. On October eighth, 1907, she entered Bradley Hall for the last time. Mrs. Bradley was a woman of many virtues. She loved her garden, with its old fashioned flowers, and her home. She was frugal, yet gave to the Institute with lavish hand. Though advanced in years she did not lose contact with the present. She was a shrewd business woman. Her judgment regarding politics, religion and social questions was remarkably sane and well-balanced. Modest and unostentatious herself, she detected and abhorred shams. Her great wealth had no power to disturb the even 'tenor of her principles and conduct, nor did honor and applause ever for a moment turn her head, through all she kept the perfect balance of mind and life. She might well feel that for her the prayer of the Psalmist had been richly granted, and that the Lord had established the work of her hands. CHARLES TRUMAN WYCKOFF. if l r

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r - . Q ll?fOvLYSfCfQflQlig- i Charles Truman Wyckoff, Ph. D., L. H. D. whose name has long since become synonymous with Bradley, is a graduate of Knox College and the University of Chicago. Doctor Wyckoff came to Bradley when thc College was found- ed three decades ago, and decided then to make teaching at Brad- ley his life work. In this he has succeeded well with the result that his name is engraved on every page of Bradley's history. His courses are unique, for he is not merely an encyclopedia of historical dates, but a Widely traveled gentleman and a zealous student of human nature. Students marvel at his enthusiastic and scholarly investigation into the important issues of the dayg and they consider his classroom discourses on such questions of utmost interest. His pleasant personality has gained for him a permanent place in the hearts of his students, for they realize they have in him a true friend, a sympathetic listener to all their troubles and woes, as well as an ardent co-partner in their activ- ities. Ds X my xi, i -.Saws f

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rf'1,.pI ,-M? ' '-at .1,eA.' r . lf L.,--HV mx-,,.f.,.J, .,,, , , ., - s rr, fall-.. r L r Three Decades and a Year Bradley as an institution did not spring into life full grown, its development was a gradual process. As with an oak tree it has taken many years for the acorn of the institution which Mr. and Mrs. Bradley planted to grow into a flourishing college. Al- most forty years before the actual founding of Bradley, they planned to build a school as a memorial for their children, who had died in early youth. In 1867, Mrs. Bradley, by the death of her husband was left to develop her plans alone. Active in many phases of Peoria life, Mrs. Bradley left her most enduring work in the college which slre founded, for she especially loved and fostered it. She herself enjoyed working and was never so happy as when after the College was successfully functioning, she could visit the Manual Arts and Domestic Science classes, seeing the students busily employed. In fact, her first intention was to found a school which would teach the trades only, but she was disuaded from her original purpose and induced to add courses in the Arts and Sciences to the curricula. Her chief aim, however, was to provide a practical and serviceable education for the youth of Peoria and the surround- ing country and especially to teach these young people to work and to regard work as honorable. Mrs. Bradley had given about ten acres of her' land to be used as a site for the new school. At the time of the formal dedication on October 8, 1897, only two buildings had been erected, although the Institute had already enrolled one hundred and fifty students. The location of Bradley has helped to nrake the West Bluff what it is today. At the first opening, Edward O. Sisson officiated as director. He was assisted by an able Board appointed by Mrs. Bradley. Dr. Wyckoff, present Dean of the College, was one of the faculty members at that time. Mr. Comstock, now head of the Mathematics Department, was made faculty r'ecor'der, an office which he has filled efficiently for tlrirty-one year's. On November 19, the Horology Hall was dedicated. It has grown till it is one of the greatest watch and jewelry schools in the United States. The first class to be grad- uated was the class of 1898. Summer school session was inaugurated not long after- ward. In 1904 the United States VVeather Bureau was established on the campus. During the same year, Theodore C. Burgess, who served Bradley most capably as presi- dent until 1925, succeeded Director Sisson. It was owing to his unusual foresight and wise administration through some of the most critical years that the College has been able to endure so well. On the Tenth Founder's Day, plans were discussed for the erection of a new gynr- nasium to cost about seventy-five thousand dollars. In ten years the College had gained an attendance of 711 students in Bradley Hall and 211 in the Horology Hall. lVIrs. Bradley lived only a short time after' tho successful close of the decade of the College which she founded. Her life has remained an example of the highest type of wornanhoodg her college has left its impression on the thousands of students who have passed through its portals. The greatest progress in the Histor'y of Bradley came in 1920, when Bradley changed from a two year to a four' year college. Bradley was then recognized and approved as capable of conferring the A. B. and B. S. degrees. It was due to the inter- est of the Board and the Business Department that this change was made possible. During the period between the death of Dr. Burgess and the appointnrent of Dr. Hamilton, Dr. Wyckoff served as president. He proved to be a very wise, loyal, and sympathetic leader and friend. Dr. Hamilton has done nruch for Bradley since his inauguration. Since then the college has been given an A ranking by the North Central Assn. It was recognized as such in March, 1924. Through the help of the Board of Trustees and the Business Office, a 3750000.00 endowment has been raised. Now, tlrirty-one years after its founding, Bradley can look back proudly on an unsullied record. Making a principle of Mrs. Bradley's idea that the College be non- partisan, non-sectariarr, and non-political, Bradley Polytechnic Institute has grown steadily in spiritual wealth. The roots of the Oak have taken deep hold of the soil, and the tree, though not yet mature, can face courageously whatever buffetings the winds of tinre may bring. Mrs. Bradley planted more wisely than she knew. FLORENCE CECIL ROYALTY. c , c yxxr Q,-Q'73XC:,s,N.ri,x,,,'iBXNiR.x,iiDvin 1,55 X,fiyQ,'g.xkj.,'D, Qs, 'E-1 Spy, , XA-Eats. N