Illinois College - Rig Yearbook (Jacksonville, IL)

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C Seventeen I - E' , a i .. Q el , z .s dn..l' IENTJENNIAL it 1 G y iz in A HISTORIC OLD ILLINOIS EIJITKDIVS NO'I'lfl: 'Phu editors of the Rig Veda and the author of the following account wish to express their grutitudu to Dr. Charles H. Rl'l.llllll0Iii1llll1J for the assistance and information so gl'1ll'lOllSly given. IC:-z1'Ju-vixxlly do they wish to thunk -llllll for the kind permission to use, ns n source hook, the lim-rusting and nutliorltzitive volume, lllmuis College, A Centennial History tThe Yale l 1'1-ssj. - LLINOIS COLLEGE celebrates the Cen- tennial year of its existence in 1929. This year marks the consummation of one hun- dred years of loyal service to the ideals of truth and knowledge. But the true history of Illinois College goes farther back than the year 1829. It goes back into the lives of men farther than it can be traced. Illinois College was founded by the union of two agencies-one, aigroup of farsighted and philanthropic men of Jacksonville, and the other, a group of seven young men from Yale College now known as the Yale Band. There were, no doubt, many things which influenced the founders of Illinois Collegeg but most im- portant, perhaps, was the realization of the need of a cultural and educational influence in the West and a desire to be able to fulfill that need before it became serious. In December of 1828 at Yale College the germ of an association was formed by Mason Grosvenor, Theron Baldwin, and Julian M. Sturtevant. The association soon grew to include-seven members, those not already men- tioned being john F. Brooks, Elisha Jenney, William Kirby, and Asa Turner, jr. It was the purpose of these men to locate on frontier territory and to establish there an educational institution which would derive greater efficiency through their co-operation than could otherwise be obtained on the frontier. p While the Yale Band was forming in the East, somewhat more specific plans were being made in the West. Rev. john M. Ellis, a minister, then at Kaskaskia but soon to locate at Jacksonville, and some friends of his were planning a seminary of learning to be located at Jacksonville. A description of this project written by Mr. Ellis appeared in the Home Missionary. This article was eagerly noted by the Yale Band and com- munications were established which resulted in the formation of the con- stitution of Illinois College, the members of the Yale Band being seven of the ten trustees. By February 1829, 316,000 had been gathered in the East and on jan- uary 4, the next year, Rev. Julian M. Sturtevant met, in an unfinished building, the first class of nine young men. The beginning was inauspi- Julian M. Sturtevant 'Sf 'Brie 1 4 ' , l -I I ll ,gc A4j.g,.3y,, . . nik, MQ- -PI Yrijigp, 'S

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T ,. . Q, , ' 1 Q P- ,l, C1ENTIE'NNlIAIl. RlIG VJED ACADEMY HALL Alma Maternal shelter for the co-eds. A parking plaqe for college men. sffff .Wi ,A -.E lgin-11 if Z 'f r , ' . '3: ' 5 B!! A lk.-fx? ':Q,5,L5, 1 1 :H ,' L' V X r ,.-,r- an ' 41+ A Sixteen

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l 1 3 -' Itr- If Z! A cirwrimisisiat iare virno l cious but inspiring. Dr. Stur- . tevant's opening sentence was, We are here today to open a fountain where future genera- tions may drink. After the address, prayer was offered, com- mending the institution to the care of God for that time and for the long future. It soon became evident that the college building was entirely too small to furnish classrooms and living quarters for all the young men who wished to avail themselves of the opportunity for a college education. Accord- ingly, the trustees authorized an addition to the building which would double its size. This addi- tion was built on the north end of the building and together with the original part, comprises what is now known as Old Beecher. While Sturtevant was acting as sole instructor, the presidency was offered to Edward Beecher, a member of Lyman Beecher's famous family and at that time pastor of the Park Street church in Boston. Mr. Beecher accepted and the faculty was in- creased somewhat later by the addition of Professors Post, Adams, and Turner. The early self-help plan of the college, which was inaugurated during Beecher's presidency, enabled some students to earn part or all of their expenses. Both a work shop and a farm were maintained and at one time the trustees evenconsidered introducing chairmaking in connection with the scheme. However, this system was the cause of much dissatisfaction while still very new, and as early as 1837 it was evident that it would not work. In connection with the fact that the trustees had felt the need for a manual labor department, it is interesting to note that a college education in those days was, from the standpoint of dollars at least, much less expen- sive than now. The estimated cost of board, room, and tuition was 3100, and students have been known to live at the cost of twelve and one-half cents a week for a few weeks. One must conclude that the student life of those days was much different than now when he reads that students dis- turbed the worship of God in chapel by whittling, that it was necessary to Edward Beecher , ,Irs Hi: -'fifth' iimll' I .iH ?Z iraqi! his ,. .if 7w1 1 .R 1-.fi . '- .. I , fn Y s - '- N , gil' f ' ' V P' ull A Eighteen