Illinois State Normal University - Index Yearbook (Normal, IL)

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HD NDEX 'I hold, and to administer its affairs with wisdom and vigor till Janu- ary l, 1876. There had been what was called a Model Schoolll connected with the institution almost from its beginning. In old Major's Hall a school of small children had been taught with rare success by Miss Mary M. Brooks, a teacher of extraordina.1'y skill and sweetness of temper. During the iirst year at Nornial. this school had been con- tinued and a class of somewhat older pupils added. But thus far there had been no attempt to teach pupils of a high school grade. DR. ARNOLD TOMPKINS, PRESIDENT 1899. However, soon after Mr. Edwards came, such a grade Was established and put in charge of Mr. C. F. Childs. a teacher of rare ability whom Mr. Edwards had induced to come from St. Louis to take the place. WI 51 ffff rl llflllli' ix bfflfwf- Numprwf'i.Lmsoi'21fn11'n1. -BERTHA Brrzow. -'mn' .llf i.s1'. s . -Hifznnlznr llixox. 24

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drill grounds were where the public scliool buildingnow stands. Just after the second commencement came the disaster of Bull Run, quick- ly followed by the presidentls call for 300,000 men. This took away all the male members of the faculty buttwo, and nearly all the young men in the institution. Hovey was made colonel of the Thirty-third Illinois Infantry, and most of the young men joined that regiment, which was often called the Normal Regiinentfl 'His enlistment in the army linally severed Hovey7s connection with the institution. He is deserving of great credit for his services in the establishing and conducting the allairs of the institution thru a most trying period. A man of inflexible will, tireless en- ergy, persistence, and audacious courage, it is doubtful if the history of the Normal University would not have been quite dilierent had he not been at the head during the linancial troubles ot which I have spoken. In fact, I think the1'e is some reason to doubt Whether there would have been any history to write. Charles Hovey was a native of Vermont, a graduate of Dartmouth College, a teacher in Massachusetts, and the head of the schools in Peoria, Ill., before he became principal of the Normal University. After the war he nev- er engaged again actively in educational work. But it is very clear that no work of his life ever engaged his deepest interest and ener- gy like the establishing and di1'ecting of the Normal University in its early days. This is the one achievement recorded on his monu- ment, as Iread it last summer in Arlington Cemetery, WVashington, D. C. I Mr. Hovey had been principal of the school for four years, and, for the next year after his resignation, Perkins Bass, Esq., of Chi- cago, a member of the board, was acting-principal. During this year the aH'airs of the school went forward in a quiet and fairly pros- perous way. There were few young men among the students, and the whole number was much smaller than the year before. But as the year passed on the ranks gradually lilled up. In March of 1862, a man came to Normal who was destined to have much todo with its affairs in the years to come. This was Mr. Ricliard Edwards, who had been principal of the City Normal School in St. Louis. VVhen the war broke out, in that city aliairs were very much demoralized, and he came to Normal and Hlled a subordinate place for the re- mainder of the school year. At the close of the year the board chose him to be the head of the institution, which office he continued to I lilllllld' lin' srrfnls I IIHI no!grwll.7'-Alzl+1I.I,A lVl. lillcovli. 'tflf' Nllltffll-NHIIII' .will fn' fluff flu' ffrfn lflfll H'rn1'l funn' fgffiit-CIARENUIC BA!-illlli. 7 Quik llidi UIKKAQK EJ CEP Q

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Under him the school soon began to have a standing and a growing reputation. After two or three years St. Louis recalled Mr. Childs to that city, and Mr. Wlilliam L. Pillsbury, a recent graduate of Harvard, was put in charge and held the position for several years. Under his management the school gained wonderfully in power and reputa- tion, and came to be regarded highly by the authorities of some of our best eastern colleges. After Mr. Pillsbury, the school was in the hands of several remarkably able teachers, among them Dr, Edmund J. James, now at the head of Northwestern University. The reputation achieved by the high school did much for the fame of Normal University at home and abroad. Early in the administration of Dr. Edwards, Mr. Thomas Metcalf came to us, also from St. Louis, and he remained in the faculty, doing most efficient work, for thirty-two years. Also about the same time came Mr. Albert Stetson, who remained here twenty-tive years. It is, perhaps, worthy of note that Mr. Ira Moore, Dr. Edwards Mr. Metcalf, Mr.Stetson, and the writer had all been mem- bers ofthe State Normal School at Bridgewater, Massachusetts,as stu- dents, and all but one had assisted in the instruction at that school. But when Dr. Edwards took charge of the University, all was not smooth sailing by any means. The darkest daysof the Civil War were in 1862, and our national affairs continued dark for some time thereafter. Besides, serious financial troubles for the University had again arisen. The State Legislature had appropriated some time before, rl465,000, which it was supposed would fully clear oil' the debts that had accumulated from the diiiicult circumstances un- der which the building had been erected But it was found that this was quite insuilicient. Claims to the amount of some 3435.000 still remained. The holders of some of these claims had obtained judgment in the courts. And some of our enemies were heard to boast that the days of the Normal were numbered and nearly iinished. We kept up a brave front, but wished things were dillerent. .How these iinancial troubles were iinally settled, I shall not attempt to tell, but refer any who are curious about the settlement of these, or the former troubles, to the book that I have mentioned several times already. Meanwhile, the school was gaining in power and prestige. In its faculty were several men and women who were putting into the institution the best that was in them. They were young and full of H llrllll will:l1i.wlonym'lnrll1 flI'lIlil'N f'o11Iwfl. A l,1'll,Il'FIRIAN l5l..u'KI:l'ItN. 1irfjllfl.lh1'.1i.sl1ingf. W L.w1:.x l'i,X'l'lQS. 25