Illinois College - Rig Yearbook (Jacksonville, IL)

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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.

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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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CIPJNTENNIAH. R ll G V Jr: DA David A. Smith House Jennings Bryan. Mr. Bryan had been elected president of the board of trustees in order that he might more effectively do publicity work for the college. When it became evident that financial aid could probably be ob- tained from Mr. Carnegie and that the board would gladly accept it, Mr. Bryan resigned, refusing to countenance the acceptance of tainted money. Soon after, a gift of 350,000 was accepted from Mr. Carnegie. In 1910 Coach Harmon was elected and began in his quiet efficient way to build up athletics at Illinois College. In 1911 the book store was estab- lished to furnish some money for the Athletic Association. By 1914 Coach Harmon had turned out a championship track team. In 1915 both the track and football teams were champions. The war and government training on the campus practically destroyed regular college athletics. However, the boys soon came to the front with the track championships of '18, '19 and '23 and the golf championship of '24 and '25. Another honor which came to Illinois College in 1916 was the invitation to present before the Chautauqua assembly in New York three plays, The Tempest, Antigone, and Electra, in which Rollin H. Tanner had directed. This was an indication that dramatics as well as athletics were receiving recognition on the Hill. In 1920 there occured two incidents, unrelated, however, except as to time. Whipple Academy was abolished and the second story of Sturtevant burned. More time of the instructors was then left free for college work. f ,E c gg' if It Luv' ' 1 1 I 1-' el r'i:f - ,F Q lfiii'-E' :..: 121-1 i gui . ' 1 ' ' g L ll Twenty-four