Randolph Macon College - Helianthus Yearbook (Lynchburg, VA)

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'bv-,NAV L' rw W 9 fx is 2.4. 'lf 1 ' M ,f D , ,, fbi' il e ' ii 1 . ' Lf--ff M- I fi in I Q X lu 1i,fuv-::llI Y, .-. I T il' ' Ni f-f A , i yi 'llwll ifg 9 ll . 1 .ax Mg , U s . N A -A Klan l 3 ,li ,, Qfiarlg Q1-Elagsf nf iglllaaalrhrmrn. QDGQQQ Few institutions have a more interesting beginning than Washburn College. Like her native state, she has attained the present eminence only by hard struggles and an unwavering determination to win. In 1857, the Congregational Association in session at Topeka decided to plant a Christian college in Kansas, and appointed a committee of five, of which Col. john Ritchie was chairman, to secure a suitable location. Topeka was chosen as the home of tl1e college: for she offered one hundred and sixty acres of land near the town-site, and eight hundred and forty acres in the Territory as an endowment, together with a build- ing of stone or brick 40x50 feet, two stories high, to be completed before January I, 1860. Col. Ritchie and lVIr. I-I. D. Rice now undertook to secure the landg they tried first to obtain the George Davis farm, where the college now stands, but were unsuccessful for he was unwilling to sell. The present site of Potwin Place was next consideredg and the twenty acres where Bethany now stands were voted to the college if this location could be secured, but this was out of the questionl So nothing was done until 1859. At this time gold was discovered at Pike's Peak, and Mr. Davis, wishing to go, signified his willingness to sell his farm. But now another difficulty arose Q neither Col. Ritchie nor Mr. Rice had any ready money. But both were in earnest, and Col. Ritchie mortgaged his farm, and Mr. Rice made a trip to the east to borrow two thousand dollars, the amount required. ' I8

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EMMA K. D1zN1soN, fIOD bzstmctor in V om! Mzrsz'c. New York is the city of Miss Denison's birth and education. She began her musical education with the study of the piano and pursued this several years. The death of her master was followed by a change to voice culture. She received vocal instruction of Alberto Lawrence, Mme. Henrietta Beebe, Frank H. Tubbs, and J. Henry McKinley. For four years she gave instruction to pupils and sightsinging classes in a private studio in New York. In the winter of ISQO-'QI a large class in the Scotch Presbyterian Church was under her charge. Miss Denison taught at Williamsport, Pa., in 1891, and in the Voice Department of Gal- loway College, Ark.,in 1893, and was called to herpresent position during the summer of 1894. WILLIAM A. GRIFFITH, fI2J Inslrucfor in Ari. Professor Griffith is a Kansan by birth, and a graduate of the State Normal School of Kansas, and attended Washington University at St. Louis. Mo.,where he received his first instruction in art. He afterwards went to France and studied under Benjamin Constant and jules Le Febvre. Returning to America, he taught one year at Washington Uni- versity. Professor Griffith won a gold medal at the American Exhibition Of Fine Arts in St. Louis in 1890, and received honorable mention at the Exhibition of Fine Arts in Paris, in 1891. His fine portrait of the late Senator Preston B. Plumb was purchased by the State for the sum of five hundred dollars. Departed Days is one ot his best and character- istic paintings. During the past year Professor Griffith has had charge .of the Art Department and has maintained a high standard of class work. 17

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After a two weeks' effort he succeeded in raising one thousand dol- lars. and then, to quote from his own account, being somewhat discouraged a friend of mine suggested that I go w1th h11n to v1s1t Mrs. ' ' ' 'Y ll d M Hooker, a sister of Henry Waid Bcechei. We theiefore ca e on rs. Hooker one pleasant afternoon in May and found there Miss Catharine Beecher, Mrs. Stowe, of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' fame, Mrs. Frances Gillett and other ladies, gathered for an afternoon visit. When they learned m business, they became greatly interested in the enterprise and . , Y Immediately after this I received a line from john Hooker request1ng me ' ' b t th's ove to call at his office. When I d1d so, he wished to know a ou 1 m for a college in Kansas. I gave him the minutes of the association 'f 'I' 'lf andexplained the inducements for the location in Topeka. After con- sulting his partner, Mr. Gillett, they decided to furnish the remaining one thousand dollars. I think it was the infiuence of those women that prompted their husbands to make me the loan. But during Mr. Rice's absence the Association had met at Lawrence, and as Topeka had not fulhlled her pledge new propositions for location were called for, though Topeka protested and desired that they wait U til th ' t 'n th east be heard from. Lawrence put in a bid which n 1 e1r agen 1 Q was accepted, and the college was thus fin wordj moved to Lawrence and called Monumental College. On learning of the Lawrence proposition M1'. Rice let Col. Ritchie have the money to pay for the Davis place in case Lawrence should not fulfill her pledge. Col. Ritchie took the 82,000 draft, but here he met again with trouble. There was not money enough in Topeka to cash the draft, and it had to be taken to Leavenworth to be cashed. 1 In I86O the Association met at Topeka. Lawrence had not fulfilled her pledge, and the college was moved to Topeka and called Topeka Institute On account of the war nothing was done until 1865, when S IB I - f Maine visited Topeka, became deeply interested 1n amue ow CCI, o , the movement, and was elected first principal and financ1al agent of the ' d l'ft d 't to a realit Academy. He took up what was a meie hope an 1 e 1 y, It was then incorporated and chartered under the name of Lincoln Col- lege, and the Davis claim was deeded over. Specifications were drawn up for a building, and sealed bids advertised for, but on the appointed day not a bid was yet received on account of distrust of the financial Strength of the enterprise. Disliking to be foiled in this manner Mr. ' ' ' t d to erect for 87,000 a Ripe then made a propos1t1on, which was accep e , bullding of stone or brick, the wood-work and shingles to be of pine. He hauled the lumber by ox team from Atchison and Leavenworth. The bu1lding now stands on the northeast corner of Tenth and Jackson streets, and was then-the most magnificent edifice in the city. In 1869, Dr. Q. H. Butterfield was elected first President of Lincoln College. He resigned in 1870 and in 1871 Dr. McVicar, who has ever since so ably stood at the helm, guiding our educational ship through the rough seas, succeeded him as President. Th- fi ' t d was then turned on the present site, .for the foundation e IS so Of Washburn College, so named in honor of a gift of 225,000 from - ' l de. rees the college has Deaconnlchabod WaSlIbUlll. Since then by s ow g EFOWI1 t1ll to-day it stands in its present place among the educational insti- tutions of the West. 19