Mary Baldwin College - Bluestocking Yearbook (Staunton, VA)

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ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

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-£ 2 EIGHTEEI1 FOETYTWO EIDEimi SIXTY TYJO

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HISTORY OF THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS 1842-1862 T. ( ) the town of Staunton, Virginia, with its popula- tion of about three thousand, its many comfortable homes and rich farms, its healthful climate and beau- tiful scenery, there came in the summer of 1842 an adventurer of unusual caliber even for days when ad- venture of whatever kind secured the best talent of America. A native of Maine, graduate of Dartmouth, ex-minister, lawyer, teacher, and author, he had travel- ed widely, his latest field having been educational work among young women in South Carolina. )ther reasons there surely were for this last move and for later ones, but certainly the dominant one was to start in this ter- ritory, rich in so many ways, a proper school for the daughters of prosperous and devout citizens. For the man who had taught and preached for twenty years, the author of the widely read Scholar ' s Companion, was guided all his life by a strong belief in the power of moral precept. His name was Rufus William Bailey, and the college which today celebrates its cen- tenary recognizes him as its founder. Although the town which he selected as most suit- able for his enterprise had supported several similar experiments previously, and although later decades started several more, his was the first successful one, and the longest lived. Why? What did Mr. Bailey and the number of ministers and other gentlemen do and say at their meetings that summer that laid so sure a groundwork? Their object is simply stated in the Plan or Constitution of Augusta Female Semi- Reverend 1 nary printed in Aug stitution design it to literary and Christian of this portion of the Board of fifteen Tru FRANCIS MoFARX UTD, V. J) Pruida i.uir.s ciiAUTojai. WILLIAM BROWN 31 LINK, E.,j. EXPLANATION. !e number of pupils for (he Rbrft-iKfietcrk 2 -riJistry 20, As 12. H— History sophy 50. KJi— i,; ; I ' ■ L— Latin 2. TEACiJKUfc I ' vges From The Firsi ( i i ocui it i s William Bailey ust : The founders of this In- jfford the means of a thorough education to the female youth country. A self-perpetuating stees was appointed to manage the funds and property and promote the interests of the Seminary, whose pupils were to be admitted after examina- tion of their literary attain- ments. The Principal was to plan the course of study, subject only to the stipulation that such courses shall al- ways contemplate a daily rec- itation by all the pupils able to read, of a portion of the Sacred Scriptures. With this meager blue- print and an abundant faith. Air. Bailey, as Principal, as- sisted by his wife and two daughters, opened school that fall in rooms over a Cabinet- maker ' s shop in Court-House Alley, but moved soon to a large frame house on Green- ville avenue. Two years later a new building was ready, with its portico and columns in front, the center — and it