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

Page 29 text:

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

Page 28 text:

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

Page 30 text:

4, 1' The ,admit U75 faith, and 'tworksv as well. In addition to heavy Work in the class rooms-many of our classes numbered more than lifty-we we1'e going here and there all over the state, talking at teachers, meetings and instructing at teachers' institutes. VVe made many, perhaps most, of our journeys by night, that we might not trespass on the working hours of daylight. Special summer sessions for teachers were held here in t-he Normal building in 1863, 1864, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872. These meetings were generally several days or Weeks in duration. Most of the work was done by members of the faculty, for which I do not remember that we received a cent of extra pay. When the Normal University began its operation, the principal and teachers determined to avoid all high-sounding titles. So, in the catalogs and in personal address, it was simply Principal Hovey,77 or Mix So-and-Sof' But in 1866 the board decreed that the head of the institution should be known as president, and the principal male teachers as t'professors,'7 so we had to submit to the enforced dignity as gracefully as we might. At the close of President Edwards' administration, the present writer was made president and continued to hold that otlice till June, 1800. Of these fourteen years, but little need be said. They were years of peace, prosperity, and progress. It has been well said that years of peace and quiet afford but little material for history. To be sure, we had our biennial struggle to secure our appropriations from the liegislature. But we were never defeated, and I am sure we had little cause of complaint against the honorable gentlemen on the whole. In June, 1890, John IV. Cook was chosen president and held the oliice nine years. Mr. Hook graduated with the class of 18653 and he is the only alumnus of the institution who has held the oiiice of president. President Uook was succeeded by Dr. Arnold Tomp- kins, who held the otiice but one year, and was succeeded by David Felmley, the p1'esent incumbent. Two noteworthy things occurred during the administration of President Cook. Une was the erection of two fine buildings-one for the Practice School and one for the Gymnasium. The other was the abolition of the High School, which, in my opinion, was the greatest mistake the man- agers of the Normal University ever made. I can think of many 7'f1r'w I'1l!II4'N rr lfnn' in lllf' fill' ffl' I'l'l'l'fl,JlIllIl, H'ln'n ln' is :iff fmmls mul l'l,l1lll'N,,l M- 1 inovicn Ifkomcv. Hllw flfffnll n'rflr lllul r'm1fffffrlIm1 NlN'l'l'!l.ll'xXvhl. llrlili. .. V Ill s in lowrg N1l1'lNll!N'IH'l,' .sludsIwi-l11'1l1fr'rl, full jfwl .sllfdx ll ffl-I'l.ll 'cVlII.lS. l'illI'1 I'IN. Zh