Los Angeles Pacific College - Yucca Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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'i1l1'uc ca 12+-Q History of Los Angeles Pacific College THE Los ANGELES SEMINARY had its origin in the thought and plan of God. God always brings to pass His plan through human agency and so it was with the 'Semin- ary, for God spoke to the heart of Clyde B. Ebey and showed him the need of a Christian school, a place where young people could acquire an education and still be free from the skeptical influence that was so evident in the public schools, In 1902 a resolution carrying out the idea of a Christian school was presented to the an- s , nual conference for consideration. The plan was met with favor and a committee consist- ing of Clyde Ebey, chairman, D. G. Shep- herd, and Ellsworth Leonardson, was elected to consider more carefully the project of such an institution. A resident of Los Angeles, Ralph Rogers by name, heard of the idea of the school and became so interested that he offered to donate a site and one hundred adjacent residence lots as well, on the condition that the con- ference raise enough funds to start and main- tain a school permanently, and that during the thirteen months following the beginning of the sale of the lots, S5000 worth should y be disposed of. After much careful thought and consideration the proposition was accepted, and the dream of a school began to develop into a reality. The sale of the lots began on March 10, 1903, and by June 1, 1903, 54231.48 had been received from sales. On July 6, 1903, nine men formed an incorporation under the laws of California to form the Los Angeles Seminaryg namely, C. B. Ebey, D. G. Shepherd, Ellsworth Leonardson, Stephen D. Sutton, J. G. Baird, Fred J. Heil, M. C. Sperrow, Henry Bush, and J. K. Freeland. lllany measures were instituted to help finance the school. Bonds were sold and campaigns were carried on. There were many struggles and burdens, but nevertheless a lllission style building was erected, and on September 6, 1904, the school was open for its first session. Professor Newell J. Davis of Evansville, Wisconsin, was secured as the principal and was well fitted for the position, having had previous experience ln school work. lllrs. Edith C. Davis came as the Dean of Women. The opening of the school was a great event. Seventy students were enrolled the first day and dormitory accommodations became overcrowded. The school con- sisted of three departments-academic, intermediate, and primary. The first year - Page Fifteen

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THE STORY OF A SMALL COLLEGE IN A LARGE WORLD -..gf lim.- 1904 - 1929 -..qi E..- On This Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Los Angeles Pacific Col- lege, we dedicate this section of the Yucca to the Alumni and former students of this institution.

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if lf' II 0 C cz Hts' passed, and with it many hardships, but new courage and faith was taken with the opening of the second season. Nearly one hundred students were registered the first day. ln the year 1907, the school suffered a great loss in the death of the first prin- cipal, N. J. Davis. Then Professor J. G. Baird accepted the office to fill the vacancy, after resigning his position as financial agent. This year found more students en- rolled than ever before, there being a total of 152 in all departments. During this time the 'May E. Griffith Memorial Library was founded by Rev. G. W. Griffith. The books numbered one hundred volumes. This was indeed a great asset to the school. In 1908 Professor P. O. Cole and M. Jennie Cole, his wife, of Iowa, were se- cured as principal and preceptress, respectively. The year 1909-10 was a trying one in the history of the school, and at the close Professor Cole was forced to resign on account of ill health. Professor Cole was followed in the fall of 1910 by two very efiicient men, B. I. Vincent and H. K. Biddulph. The first bulletin of the Los Angeles Seminary was sent out in August of 1910, and from then on quarterly bulletins were to be published. Professor Vincent retained his position as principal until 1915, when he was succeeded by Professor E. A. Holtwick. lt was during Mr. Holtwick's administration that the Los Angeles Seminary was formed into four departments by the addition of a Junior College to the primary, grammar, and high school departments. Also, it was during this time that the high school was fully accredited with the University of California, hlr. Holtwick's term closed very successfully in 1918. Professor J. Arthur Howard then came as principal. He was a successful administrator and stayed until the election of Professor hlark Horton in 1923. Dur- ing the year 1921-22 the total registration amounted to 203. The next year passed with a few minor but interesting events. The term president was substituted for principal and Dean for registrar. Also in June, 1922, the name Los Angeles Seminary was changed to Los Angeles Pacific Junior College. At the meeting of the executive committee on March 5, 1923, Professor Horton resigned as President for the following year. Paul R. Helsel was secured as Presi- dent. Mr, Horton, speaking with the knowledge of other schools, says: For the real things of life, those things of abiding value, Los Angeles Pacific College stands pre-eminently. 'No effofr in time and energy seems like sacrifice, for the joys of service with the fine young men and women of the school have over- shadowed all the memories of hard efforts. 'Quality, not quantity' is our motto. During the year 1922-23 Los Angeles Pacific College had an enrollment of 150 students--at the end of the school year four college students were graduated, twenty- five high school students, and two eighth grade students. At the close of this year the intermediate department was discontinued. Undoubtedly one of the biggest events in the history of the school was the merg- ing of the California College and the Los Angeles Pacific College, lt was in the Page Sixteen