Olivet Nazarene University - Aurora Yearbook (Bourbonnais, IL)

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The Called Missionary Band in 1933. The chemistry laboratory at Old Olivet. The next several years were troubled times for the university. The indebtedness continued to in- crease. A growing student body called for additional buildings and equipment. The difficulties of World War I years and of the post-war depression, together with many changes of administration, brought the school precariously near to ruin. In the year 1923, the school ' s name was changed to Olivet College. In the same year the school filed bankruptcy. N. W. Sanford was elected president, and T. W. Willingham was elected treasurer of the college. Six seniors received the Bachelor of Arts degree, among whom was Carl S. McClain, our present registrar. The next three years were ones of heroic struggle and unspeakable sacrifice. In spite of it all, the battle seemed lost. In the spring of 1926, it was announced that the school might not open in the fall. On June 10, 1926, the college was put up for auction. Heavy hearts witnessed the ordeal. Heaviness was changed to rejoicing, however, and tears of sorrow became tears of joy when Dr. Willingham ' s bid was accepted, and Olivet was saved. T. W. Willingham succeeded N. W. Sanford as president. The Board of Trustees was composed of twenty-three members. In 1928, the dark financial picture began to brighten. Over $3,000 was appropriated for laboratory, library, and classroom equipment. Fifteen seniors were graduated this year. The Ministerial Fellowship in 1950. Social gathering in The Nook in 1946. Pufjf iifjhtf ' rn

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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

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Missionary Band in 1935. The baseball team at Old Olivet. The years following continued to be trying, but they were years of progress. Debts were retired, im- provements made, and scholastic standards were raised. The next year Walter B. Larsen and Dwight J. Strickler became members of the faculty. The Silver Anniversary of the college was celebrated in 1932. In that year, C. S. McClain was ap- pointed academic dean. The next year, Orpheus Choir was organized by Professor Larsen. In 1936, Olivet ' s debate teams won distinction in intercollegiate forensics. The following year, student enrollment increased to a new high of fhree hundred thirty-one. A. L. Parrott was elected president of the college. Also this year the construction of the gymnasium-auditorium was begun at an estimated cost of $27,000. The future looked bright. In the spring of 1939, the college was accredited by the University of Illinois and the Illinois State Department of Public Instruction. But in the midst of this brightening prospect, on November 19, 1939, disaster struck again. A huge blaze was discovered in the administration building. Townsmen and collegians alike rallied to fight the fire, but their efforts came to naught. The people stood by helpless while the building went up in flames. In it were the chapel, the classrooms, the laboratories, the library, the offices — every- thing was lost except the college records, which were stored in a fire-proof safe. It seemed the end of Olivet College had finally come, but God works in a mysterious way. Classes met wherever space could be found, and school continued. Today ' s Olivet students using their spare time by playing checkers, eating popcorn The Indian baseball team in 1956. and drinking pop. Page Nineteen