Lees College - Leesonian Yearbook (Jackson, KY)

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Lees College Campus - - Adminisfralion Building, Jackson

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1- Q V 4' ' I si' ' HK - kv 1' WMA ,f Q.: 3 J aj A Q ff -t N J r., 'AA r '5vEJ'?f'.-xv g i L' s.7rV'f K il-5'nF'Xri-. if Q- f ' . if if 1 VH sr w 2 fi A Regis -. 'iff' 'K J A 2 ' .. - ,ai-'ff 4' '- V g Akai' g, 5 ,ar ..... ',.3ir,,.:. Y . Qfgmw 13' . - 442 'A If '2' ' 1 s rw-.s,,. gf' , v . gin 'W 01, at I J,-I .JH MJ t .. Q '05, - - f A -1 , .ggi 'N . .4 s it Van Meier Gymnasium, Hall, Meteer Hall. The history of Lees is the story of dreams and sacrifices, of struggle and triumph, of meagre resources but great accomplishments, it is the story of a college that stands proud after more than eighty years of service to the people of east- ern Kentucky. This heritage began with the dream of Rever- end John Jay Dickey who, while on a business trip, was marooned in Jackson when his fine horse went lame. Jackson, he decided, was the town for his dream - - an educational institution for mountain people. And in August, 1883, Jack- son Academy, became a reality. For eight years this reality struggled to exist - - principally because of financial difficulty. Sold to Central University of Richmond, Kentucky in 1891, the Academy was directed by Dr. L. H. Blanton, president of Central. It was he who in- terested Mrs. Susan P. Lees of New York and Cy- rus McCormick of Chicago in the small school in Jackson. Giving generously to Lees, these ladies helped the school to partly overcome its finan- cial difficulties and in appreciation of Mrs. Lees generosity, the name of the school was changed to the S, P. Lees Collegiate Institute in 1897. John Jay Dickey, Mrs. Cyrus McCormick, Mrs. S. P. Lees - - these people were largely respon- sible for early Lees. Taken over by the Presbyterian Church, U. S, , in 1906, Lees served as the first grade and high school in the Kentucky River Valley. Seeing the desperate need for a college in Appalachia, the Presbyterian Church made Lees into a Junior Col- lege in 1927 and soon afterwards called the Rev. J. O. Van Meter to be its president. Hardest work, most fun, best food in the mountains, was the motto of Reverend Van Meter, and un- der his leadership Lees progressed from thirty stu- dents to a thriving 225 by 1930. Many in Jack- son and elsewhere remember the inspiring leader- ship and unique personality of Dr, Van. Though closed for three years during World War Il, Lees has progressively continued to offer a Christ-oriented, though non-sectarian, two- years liberal arts curriculum fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Univer- sities. Now with the addition of Van Meter Gymnasi- um, Meteer Hall, and a new President's Resi- dence, Lees has improved its ability to offer a more realistic answer to the problems of Appa- lachia - - - higher education. 5