Evanston Academy - Bear Yearbook (Evanston, IL)

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1-il THE BEAR An Historical Sketch of Evanston Academy This year we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the founding ol the Evanston Academy. As students loyal to our school, it is entirely iitting that we pause to make a brief review of the school's history, to consider how remarkably rapid and yet steady has been its growth, and to think of the glorious future which we have every reason to expect will be the lot of the Evanston Academy. Fifty years ago it was founded, but its sources extended back several years. In 1856 the University's catalogue mentioned that preparatory instruction would be given to students by competent men on their own responsibility. Thus the need of such a school was lelt and an attempt made to meet the need before the Prepara- tory School became a reality in 1860. The first principal that the school had was the Rev. 'Warren Taplin who was assisted by a fac- ulty of one other member. The number of students increased from the first when forty-nine were enrolled. This increase and the an- nual change in principals marked the iirst years of the school's history. During the year 1862-63 the principal was Nathan H. Axtell and the student body was composed of sixty members. The following year Charles Smith, then pursuing studies in the Garrett Biblical Institute, acted as principal. In this year there were eighty- seven students in the preparatory schooland only thirty-nine in col- lege. The next principal was Louis Kistler. It was under his ad- ministration, which extended from 1861-69, that a dehnite order was brought about in the work ol the school. A three years, course, in which the students were arranged as seniors, niiddlers, and jun- iors, and which fully prepared the student to enter Northwestern, was established. The requirements for admission also were fixed at this time. These were not especially restrictive, merely being that the applicant should be at least eleven years of age, and have some acquaintance with the elementary English branches. Mr. Kistler was aided in the administration of the school by a faculty of seven members, including an assistant principal, Mr. Strabridge. At the close of Mr. Kistler's administration there were enrolled in the preparatory department 132 students while the college boasted of an enrollment of but seventy-three students. Nevertheless the college faculty passed resolutions recommending that the trustees