Occidental College - La Encina Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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1 x X vii X N' Xu X xx 7 X w 4 X - K1 X-,. 1 11 . . X '- Rev. SamuelH. Weller President of Occidental College 1887-1891 Born in the midst of a Southern California real es tate boom, the Articles of Incorporation for the Occidental University of Los Angeles were adopted in February 1887 by the Presbyterian Ministers Union of Los Angeles . Five years later, the name of the school was changed to Occidental College of Los Angeles . On April 20, 1887, OXY's F ounderls Day, the articles were approved by the California Secretary of the State. Five months later, the corners tone of Occidental's first building in Boyle Heights was placed. The doors to the school were opened the following October, 1889, to twenty-seven men and thirteen women. Expenses, including tuition, room, and board amounted to 295 dollars , a rather large sum at that time. But the early years of OXY were hit with many financial dis as ters as the land boom died out. At one time, college furniture and equipment were even pawned off to keep the school alive. Nevertheless, OXY conferred its first degree in June 1893. But the biggest dis as ter struck in I anuary 1896 when the school's only building was gutted by fire. The cause was due to a deficient chimney. Classes convened until the following fall, when an all time enrollment low of seven students held their classes at a nearby campus. A new campus was erected in Highland Park. Fifteen students enrolled the first year the college opened there in 1898. Due to the efforts of Occidental's fifth president, Rev. Guy Wadsworth, enrollment significantly increased as did the number of faculty members and academic departments. Eventually, seven buildings were constructed on the treeless campus. In 1906, Presidentjohn Willis Baer was selected to office. He was largely responsible for - trans forming Occidental into the liberal arts college it is today. He envisioned a great campus in a new location. By 1910, due to the increasing enrollment and other factors, the Board of Trustees found the Eagle Rock site. That same year, the college amicably withdrew its official connection with the church and became nonsectarian.

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