Meredith College - Oak Leaves Yearbook (Raleigh, NC)

Page 27 text:

IN MEMORIAM ELSIE RUTH ALLEN Born October 21, 1889 Died October 13, 1917 In her brief connection witli Mcrcditli CoUege, by her genial manner, her unselfish thought for others, her thorough work in her specialty, she won the respect and admiration of our entire community.

Page 29 text:

ilErebitf) College -Jiesinninss anb JSebelopment Less than a score of years ago, with nothing material in sight, hut vith a subUme faith in God, with an overmastering conviction of duty to the young women of our State and Country as well as to the Kingdom of God, with an unfaltering determination to attempt to meet heroically that oliligation, our leaders started the Baptist Female University, which by a succession of meta- morphoses became Meredith College. The College was appropriately named in honor of Rev. Thomas Meredith, who had such a large share in the organization of the Baptist State Convention. One of the fourteen devoted men who in Greenville, N. C, in 1830, organized that Convention, he was through the remainder of his hfe a firm believer in its mission and a vahant worker in its interest. As editor of The Interpreter, later called the Biblical Recorder, he did much of the work of organizing and correlating the enterprises of the denomination in this State. Wake Forest College was begun in that same decade, and Thomas Meredith was among the foremost of its champions. So ardently did he believe in education that he was not satis- fied to have a college for young men alone, but in 1838 presented to the Conven- tion a report strongly urging the estabhshment of an institution of equal grade for young women. Such a record is worthy of a perpetual memorial and brings a holy benediction on the institution chosen for that honor. Beginning in September, 1899, with scarcely an acre of ground and a single building, Meredith College has expanded from year to year in order to meet the demands of an ever-increasing constituency. The progress has been gradual but unceasing. The ground occupied has been enlarged several times over. One building after another has been added until now there are ten with an aggregate value of $168,500, with equipment worth $42,550. The land on which these buildings stand is valued at $93,000, and the total endowment is now $170,052.09. From these figures it wll be seen that the total assets of the College have reached the sum of $474,102.09. While this is a most remarkable achievement in so brief a time, additional equipment and endowment are needed immediately if Meredith is to measure up to the opportunities which are presented to it. It is fortunate in having 23