Christian College - Ivy Chain Yearbook (Columbia, MO)

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Z A... A . Chrz'stz'an Is cz Sjyecial Place . . Hello! I have been asked to be the narrator for the Christian Col- lege story. Legend has given me a title which completely over- shadows the importance of my real name. I am the Gray Lady. I was not acquainted with Christian during her first years, but my spirit became inextricably linked with the college during the Civil War. I have watched Christian's story unfolding for one hundred years and it is truly a special one. On January 18, 1851, the Missouri legislature chartered the first college for women west of the Mississippi. Christian Female Col- lege was the realization of the hopes of men like D. P. Hender- son, T. M. Allen, and James Shannon. These zealous leaders of the Christian Church and supporters of education created a col- lege which would give women an education equal to that which men received at the University of Missouri. Though the majority of the founders belonged to the Christian Church, they stated in the charter that ... no sectarian influence whatever will be exertedf' 2

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l I l 1 1 v l r l l x l A Slbecial To guide this new college, the founders looked for a man that had the right grit. This man was John Augustus Williams. In those days it took grit to propose higher education for women. Many felt women were either incapable of grasp- ing advanced ideas or that women needed only in- struction which would enable them to raise a family and run an efficient household. These ideas President Williams sought to change. On April 16, 1851, President Williams delivered his inaugural address to an enthusiastic crowd gathered in frontlof the courthouse. The next morning he waited for the first students. Elated with expectancy, I went early to matriculate the throng. .. . In an hour, all had assembled: seven girls! In those pre-Civil War years girls came to Chris- tian by steamboat and stagecoach. When the girls arrived the first year, Christian had no dormitories nor even a school building. The girls boarded in the homes of prominent Columbia families. Uni- versity boys also boarded in these homes, so many girls were lost to marriage. A one-room building on Hitt Street served as a temporary school build- ing. The college soon purchased a brick mansion belong- ing to Dr. James Bennett, a Columbia physician. This dwelling, now known as the Conservatory, was near the northern limits of Columbia. i , l H -L as -jf ' viz'-iLg., 1- 3:1-' 7- ff -' we - la 1 Q Zam i, 3 ff l? 2,,9f:- 1 M 5. N- .X , . :.L.' .I . ms V , f A - Q, . li ke ,f 3 gg grgy n A --'El i , V . ,N w ., ' ,. N , .:,:.fg3A,-23... Qs V.. fl V V' v I R V ,. YVQQ VV K . g d Mei, , ' ' ' ' -V A 4312 11 . -V L. V- , V. I . .,-:K - 5 f .3 . ,VV ,,,A:x,'jQ- .- V -V 2 AV? 7 5 .. V VV .V ,V , V , Y A . A, 1 , - ,fiifll V ' -- 1. I V li l f! , L A i 'Z vllh ,VV ,. 5 ---v,,5,. 2 ,,, ., ,V g 1. 51 I V. , V, 1 . , V-14 .... e--ff -' gs -- . , L I ,i , .... V, ,,,V... VV V V T, , VV L. A, A in ' i-f' ' 2'1 ' g 7. tii.vaf' . .1 . fi lifliis ' - W '.I1,'.fQ1,E' ing?-V ' ' ' 1-' iff-, :iy: -'QQT-i i'f M'--l5fff ffii:' -jf C .1 --if f. 1X , 'ffl' Y. ,gi.1w.,k5Q Mrs, 3, .. Q,-.lf 35,1 lg Q,-,mf V I -- -fl'?f,--gg ,JA ' - ,-- I , V ..... . . . I A. V V, VVV.?VV.,,.,.7:l.,:.,- A V VV 'V A XM ,Vi rg.:-Q-, .ifilxilfiy -, 'ft V V f- ,iq f - 4 1, 1 1' -' f 1 sf.:-'Q f -fm' ' f g.,.'--1:31 ' . ' ' ' -- . ..,,,, ,. ,..-. V , ,L f - - 5 .- ,M .1.Q4f-4--f . - -- ' . --' Inraffiwg 'Y '-3? f f.:r 7'? . - ....,. ' A in V ,Q . , , JA-.iw ,V-A H :-r f - iqfsw -' :i',gg KH,:'.1.,:31g..13 . - j. QTN . , ,351 arg V --Ss.. ..g-.,-----f-v----- e-.wf '-'- -,. ..... .L 'T-nt..-.. H-- - P' -- ------ ----I .... ff ---' ,..-W--:wa -f ' -14 '-'f 'f-..f ..' -'. '-- - : ---- ------ - -1' Q---:vii --. ' - - --gn---.S ., -4 . Q . , Eg'-V..f V 3, ga- , ...... ff--Ls-Z.g'--g ..g. ,fg-1, H -of . --.. H - - -'reg 1 -'-'-' ' ' ' -- L f---:f...5g.X:----' f--'--'14-..+aiZ-15:13 1 1 -gy -3::..:--- .. . ..... ., .-A.. ......, W, .53-,A -V3 V . -V I