Kalamazoo College - Boiling Pot Yearbook (Kalamazoo, MI)

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HISTORY OF KALAIVIAZOO COLLEGE. HE early settlers of Michigan were largely from New England and New York, and regarded educational facilities, such as they had had in their former homes, a necessity. The history of the founding of Kalamazoo College is intimately connected with the early educational de- velopment of the state, and is of especial interest, as this is the oldest classical educational institution within the borders of Michigan The plan of founding such an institution originated with Rev. Thomas W. Merrill, a graduate of Waterville College, now known as Colby -University, who worked and travelled continuously for several years to raise the necessary funds, and to obtain a charter. Most valuable assistance was given him by Hon. Caleb Eldred. The original charter for The Michigan and Huron Institute, or, as it was later named, The Kalamazoo Literary Institute, was granted April 23, 1833. The French name, institute, was chosen instead of the English term, college, but the following extract from the charter makes the character of the institution sufhciently evident: Said trustees shall establish in said territory at such place as they may judge best, a Literary Institute, to promote the knowledge of all those branches of education usually taught in academies and collegiate institutions. The provision for preparatory instruc- tion was necessary, as there were few regular prepara- tory schools at that time. In 1835, the citizens of Kalamazoo contributed 32,500.00 and a large tract of land in the southern part of the city to the new institution. The first building was erected in 1836. Later the school was connected as a branch with the newly founded University of Michigan, but the connection was soon severed. The Baptists of the State, who had been from the hrst the principal supporters Of the institution, pur- chased the present grounds of the college in the western part of the city, and, in the years 1848-50, erected the main building, which is now used as a dormitory. In 1849, Rev. J. A. B. Stone, pastor of the church in Kalamazoo, was appointed Professor of Biblical Theology. He also served as principal of the institute from 1843 until college powers were added by charter in 1855, when he was elected president and continued such until 1863, when he resigned his office and Prof. Anderson was made acting president. The next year john M. Gregory, LL. D., was elected president, and continued until 1867, when he lay down the work to be taken up again later by Rev. Kendall Brooks, D. D., who Hiled the office nineteen years. Changes in the corps of professors during this period were as follows: Samuel Brooks, elected professor of Latin, Decem- ber, 1869, still serving, Henry M. Fish, instructor and principal of the preparatory department, Misses Catherine and Sarah Eldred, and Mrs. L. H. Trow- bridge, Professor VVilliam C. Morey and Instructors C. W. Bardeen, VV. W. Beman, A. R. Bretzel, Mrs. Estelle E. Davis, and Miss Carrie I-I. Daniells, Professors Wil- liam T. Stott and Lewis Stuart, lady principal, Miss Kate Brearley, instructors, Miss Minnie Brearley, Mrs. Bleaz- by, Miss Ellen Price, instructors, Howard G. Colman, Hutson B. Colman, E. J. W. McEwan, A. D'Armand, A -I. Teed, C. J. Toof, Mrs. V. A. Cadman, and Misses Sarah Howell, L. J. Newcome, Mary E. Clark,

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Q 9 C L Eff, A .P 4 QQ, Q in '- 'U 'gf' rj Q3 gf- QQL. EJ , l A . J f E 'L-. -' L g '. Aw C' 6,2 W J KL 1. LADIES, HALL. DORMITORX 2. KALAMAZOO HALL. 22

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Dr. N. Burton, professor, Ernest D. Burton and VV. K. Miller, instructors, professors, A. Hadlock and F. D. Haskell, instructors, C. L. Dean, Thomas C. Green, F. M. Hodge, Jacob Poppen, Z. S. Harrison, N. A. Anderson, Misses Alice M. Northrup, Marian Chase, Helen M. Brooks, Mary A. Sawtelle, L. A. Beer- man, Mrs. S. C. Hascall, Professor J. Montgomery and Instructor Ignatz Mueller. The Ladies, Hall enterprise was matured during this period, greatly aided by Miss Chase, Mrs. C. E. Conley, Mrs. H. B. Colman, Mrs. Kate B. Ford and many others who bore leading parts with untiring patience. A year after the resignation of Dr. Brooks, Dr. Monson A. VVilcoX, of Oswego, N. Y., became presi- dent and continued until 1891, when at his resignation Rev. Theodore Nelson, LL. D., was called to become the head of the college. During this period the 3100,000 endowment was raised through the liberality of the friends of the college, aided by 315,000 from the National Educational Society. Dr. Nelson was in poor health when he took up the work. He performed his duties the first term, but the second term he was obliged to withdraw to the sick room, and on the lst of May, in calm relinquishment of the work to which till then he had clung, he departed to be with Christ. Arthur Gaylord Slocum, LL. D., graduate of Rochester University, and for sixteen years superin- tendent of schools in Corning, N. Y., was the unani- mous choice for the next president, entering upon his duties with the college year, 1892. With him have been associated Professors Brooks, Axtell, Putnam, Jenks, Haskell, and Lankheet, and Instructors Karl Graf, Misses Ella M. Hayes, Emma Shafer, and Lelia A. Stevens. Later have followed Profressors R. H. Tripp, VV. N. VVilson and P. F. Trowbridge, permanent Professor C. B. NVilliams, and Instructors Misses Maud Willcinson, Mary Relihan, Lucy johnson and Carolinne H. Swart- out. VVith this year Clark Mills Brink, Ph. D., in- structor in Brown University, became professor in the collge. During the college year 1895-96, an agreement for mutual advantage was consummated between the trustees of the college and the University of Chicago. By the terms of this agreement the college will be known as a college affiliated with the University of Chicago. Students receive credit on the records of the University for approved work done in Kalamazoo College. Those who complete the course on the pre- scribed conditions can secure their degree from the University after twelve weeks' additional work there. Three Fellowships are granted each year to mem- bers of the Senior class. silk S 7'Q 47155