Illinois College - Rig Yearbook (Jacksonville, IL)

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'-f o 9 -- H T' CENTENNIAL RIG 'VJED A the i-irst college annual, the Cerebrus. Stu- dent business enterprise must also have been awakening since a prep student was given permission to furnish a college bath- room, admission to which was obtained by 4 the purchase of a ticket. In the meantime Doctor Tanner's duties as college president had been under- mining his strength, and in February of 1892 he died at the early age of fifty-four. The trustees selected to succeed Dr. Tanner, Dr. John E. Bradley, who was not a minister but a public school man. He was able to increase the registration of the college probably because of connections established before his election. Dr. Brad- 1ey's interest in educational administra- ff - ,WM.,.Hm.,,Um. tion manifested itself ln the adoption of 1-'i,rv,',,.-.thi.u..,:,:nk.l.-azllvr1,rr:xunT..x-iw.1m41-,.rn-maxim--.lrki the elective Systern the college. is 1 ll .I Il!! I Pllw. . v n . TI rs an 5 I .H til :N . , -.- significant of the character of the institu- ' tion and its president that Illinois College, one of the few small colleges in Illinois to be so honored, was a charter member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Preparatory Schools formed in the early years of Dr. Bradley's presidency. The year 1894 was a successful one from the standpoint of athletics. The football team won seven outof eight games and the college placed first in the Intercollegiate Athletic meet. One of the most interesting events of this same period was the visit to the campus of William Jennings Bryan, then engaged in his first presidential campaign. In 1897 a very valuable addition was made to the college plant when the jones Memorial Building was dedicated. Present day students will be interested to know that it was about this time that Sunday Chapel was abolished and Bible introduced into the curriculum. At the end of the year 1899 came the resignation of President Bradley, presumably because he was unable to cope with the heavy financial burdens which the trustees had so definitely placed upon him. The trustees accepted the resignation and appointed Milton C. Churchill dean and acting presi- dent of the college for the next year. By the end of the year 1900, the trustees had finally selected Mr. Barnes, who accepted on three conditions calculated to keep the college on its feet financially until a sufficient endowment could be secured. One of the first things which President Barnes did was to offer to build the president's home on condition that the college buy it from him later, after which time Reprinted from the Literary Digest ,l ff IT E '-cw, I 5-,iff i , ff H :le Q 1 ..t -J' lx, ?!I, .- -W .H 25.3125 all f , Twenty two

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. ' ,U ,A I ,lill--15 N'lFlENNllAlL RIG WED burn lands an opportunity to put the college on its feet again. After the lands had all been sold, the Supreme Court of the state decreed that the Blackburn trustees had no right to transfer the lands to Illinois College. In this case Abraham Lincoln and David A. Smith were attorneys for Illi- nois College. One can well guess that this decision caused a great deal of inconvenience for the college. During Sturtevant's presidency there occurred another catastrophe which, however, some members of the faculty were disposed to consider good fortune. This was the burning of the dormitory, Which, of course, relieved the administration of the disciplinary problems of dormitory life. A new dormitory was not built until 1876, when Dr. Sturtevant at the age ' of seventy-one years resigned his position as president, but expressed his willingness to continue as a professor. It was not until 1885 that he was released from all duty at the college. In 1879 Illinois College celebrated her fiftieth year, Dr. Sturtevant giving the commencement address. Many alumni and old friends attended. Thomas K. Beecher was present and gave the closing address of the after- noon. President Crampton's administration was a short one, and it suliices to say that intercollegiate athletics were developed during his administra- tion as they had never been before. Expressions of student life, such as the wearing of class insignia, were prevalent. When William Jennings Bryan was a junior, his class wore plug hats. In 1881 the college relieved Professor Crampton of his financial duties because of his feeble health. These duties were assumed by Edward Allen Tanner, who was elected to the presidency the next spring. Under the vigorous administration of President Tanner college finances which had been growing worse every year were improved. Part of the campus on the west side of Park Street which had been sold was retrieved, and the old osage orange hedge was grubbed out, which grubbing gave rise to the present custom of celebrating Osage Orange Day. However, in President Tanner's time the day meant much more than it does now. Athletic events, addresses, speeches by the students, a picnic lunch, and a baseball game were features of the day. Cycling and tennis became prominent sports of this period, although football developed slowly. Athletics became intercollegiate enough in character that the Western Intercollegiate Athletic Association was formed at Champaign, delegates from Illinois College being prominent in the movement. The students grew to be so interested in athletics that they started a drive for a new gymnasium and in 1892, after four years of hard work the new gymnasium was completed, one of the finest in the state and a splendid evidence of student spirit and initiative. This period seems to have been a period of organization for it witnessed the organization of a glee club, Dorm Court, several alumni associations, the incorporation of both existing literary societies, and the publishing of ,-,gf A 1 w nty one f -L. A Q. l 'J!' N . 'Tl' 3 .-firm? Q B 4 A - .4. Q. :V lf i KW mm- fl U v P' f L ' 'x

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CJE Twenty-three '-r ,- ' '. 1.5.2. A lL 'I R ll G V lE D NTHENNI he would pay rent. In fact, Mr. Barnes entered upon his duties with so many fresh ideas and projects and so much enthusiasm that everyone took heart. He made many changes in the faculty, selecting young competent teachers and he inaugurated the policy of electing prominent and rich men of Chicago to the board of trustees. In a further attempt to induce such men of Chicago to become interested in Illinois College, the semi-annual meetings of the board were held in Chicago. In addition, the curriculum of the college was greatly enlarged and more elective courses offered. In spite of all this the number of students decreased. With the increased expense due to the upkeep of the new jones building and repairs on the old buildings, the decreased income from stu- dents, and the usual failure to collect interest on investment, the college was no better situated financially than before. In the midst of all the worry about money came the celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of Illinois College. A large tent was erected on the campus and here the occasion was commemorated by sermons, speeches, and talks during a period of three days. There were present at this celebra- tion many men prominent in educational and scholastic circles. In 1901 Mr. D. K. Pearsons offered to give the college 350,000 in case SB150,000 more could be raised in a certain time. When the trustees failed to obtain the Sl50,000, Mr. Pearsons agreed to extend the time limit. Even then the money was obtained only by consolidation with the jacksonville Female Academy, which necessitated making the institution Presbyterian. About this time very definite and detailed plans were made for aiiiliating Illinois College with the University of Chicago. The plans, al- though they would probably have'been ben- college, were never carried out, were distasteful to William jen- who promised to be quite useful elicial to the because they nings Bryan, to the college in the future. Mr. Bryan objected on the grounds that the University 'of Chicago was established with Standard Oil money. On january 1, 1905, the resignation of President Barnes became effective and a short time later President Rammelkamp was elected. With President Rammelkamp's inauguration there began a period of greater prosperity for the college. The beginning of this prosperity - ' was accompanied by the break with William V President Bradley Y I --Q A . cs, X E- ' E F14 .-- - i l T lr ,-. - Z. 4 . ' lk. mm' H vpffw 1 ' 'l.