Olivet Nazarene University - Aurora Yearbook (Bourbonnais, IL)

Page 20 text:

Academic March at Olivet, Illinois. The following year, 1908, two farms were purchased by Mr. Nesbitt and Mr. F. E. Richards for the purpose of estab- lishing a permanent school location. Forty-six acres were set aside for a campus, and the rest was divided off into lots to be sold, the proceeds being paid into the school. A frame building consisting of three small rooms was used to house the gram- mar and academy departments. The Lincoln House, a large house across the road so named because Abraham Lin- coln often stopped there, was used as a dormitory, library, and business office. A tent stretched upon the campground was used as a dining hall. Continuing the aim of the school as a place where the Bible and holiness should be taught, the trustees added the College of Liberal Arts in 1909. A large three-story brick dormitory was erected. During this year Dr. A. M. Hills was chosen as the President. The enrollment was over fifty. In 1910, Ezra T. Franklin was made president. A large brick administration building was erected at the cost of fifty thousand dollars. Also a camp meeting tabernacle, seating one thousand five hun- dred people was built near the campus. By 191 1, the campus included nearly sixty acres which subsumed a large maple grove and sugar camp. The following year the student body kept growing. The needs of the college were many. The in- debtedness of the college was increasing, and it was becoming more and more apparent to the trustees that they could not depend upon voluntary support from independent groups to meet their needs. So in 1912 the Board of Trustees of Illinois Holiness University, after prayer and due consideration, believ- ing it to be for the betterment of all concerned, tendered the Illinois Holiness University to the Chicago Central District of the Church of the Nazarene, who accepted this gift and assumed control. The church also assumed an indebtedness of between $80,000 and $100,000. Dr. E. F. Walker, a general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene, accepted the presidency in addition to his other duties. A graduate department was added, and school continued. At the Chi- cago Central District Assembly, a collection was taken amounting to $5,000 in cash and notes to apply on Dr. Walker ' s proposition to strive for 300 students and $150,000. J ' af e Sixiccn

Page 19 text:

Harold W. Reed, President 1949- Professor 1930- preacher, and college president. There has been no greater teacher for young preachers than Dr. Hills. E. F. Walker, in nineteen hundred, preached in Danville on the need of Christian education and gave the impetus that started Olivet. He was elected president v hen the school was taken over by the Church of the Nazarene. N. W. Sanford made every effort possible to make our college strong in those difficult financial days and to keep it true to the Nazarene type of Christian education. T. W. Wiilingham, one of Olivet ' s greatest friends, through his faithful, earnest labor and sacrifice was largely respon- sible for the survival of our co llege in a financial crisis. A. L. Parrott during his administration was able to realize three great accomplishments: the accreditation of the state university, the purchase of the new location, and the liquida- tion of the college ' s debt. Grover Van Duyn was a consecrated layman w+io took over the work of starting Olivet ' s current building program. Selden D. Kelley gave unreservedly to the interest of all, always zealous for the good of the college and the advance- ment of the Kingdom of God. Harold W. Reed, through his wise planning, is not only bringing to realization the ambitions of the earlier presidents, but is launching a program which promises to make Olivet ' s future progressively more glorious. C. A. Gibson, Trustee 1926-1957 E. O. Chalfant, Trustee 1917-1954 Edwin Burke, Trustee 1916-1943 D. J. Strickler, Professor 1930- Carlton Birctiard, Professor 1934-1937 Laurence Howe, Professor 1932-1944 Elsie Jenks, Registrar 1922-1939 T. S. Greer, Professor 1912-1948

Page 21 text:

students at work in old library. In 1914, the first yearbook, the Aurora, was published. It was put out by the high school junior class. At first the stafF was a self-perpetuating organization. In the year 1915, the college, the academy, the school of oratory, and the school of theol- ogy all merited praise; but in music, IHU made notable advance. In addition to regular work in piano, voice, and violin, there were several organizations worthy of mention, including the brass band, the orchestra, the Mandolin, the boys ' and the girls ' Glee Clubs, and the Miriam Quartet. Also in 1915, the name of the school, Illinois Holiness University, was changed to Olivet University. The heating plant was built in 1916, cost- ing $14,000. The academy was accredited by the Uni- versity of Illinois in 1917. Manual training and nurses ' training were made a part of the curriculum. Outside view of new Memorial Library. Students studying in the new library. Page Seventeen