William Penn University - Quaker Yearbook (Oskaloosa, IA)

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A Time to Begin . . . Destruction of the Spring Creek Boarding School building by fire in 1853 provided a motive for constructing a liberal arts college in Oskaloosa. The Society of Friends in 1866 volunteered cooperation and financial backing for the venture and the doors of Union College were finally opened on September 23, 1873. With a registration of over 200 students to 5 faculty members, only 19 actually qualified for college courses. Facing the challenge of a new adventure, Presidents Woody and Morgan laid the foundation of educational instruction at Penn. Adapted to the outlet of meeting needs of western people, the college aimed for a positively Christian program that was non-sectarian in character. 1879 witnessed the election of Benjamin Trueblood to the presidency, and educational emphasis shifted to instruc- tion by scholarly excellence. New departments of art and music were added to the curriculum along with the beginnings of an elective system. 1400 library volumes were termed insufficient and new drives for books and equipment were begun. Under Rosenberger's administration, steady, conservative progress was continued with strong emphasis on liberal arts and religion. Lab equipment was added, including electricity for chemistry and physics classrooms, and the library was enlarged. Along with the growing number of electives, the physical education department was added. In 1904 the semester plan was adopted in place of the older tri-quarter system. The Aurora, first yearbook publication, appeared in 1893 while the Penn Chronicle had came on the scene previously in January, 1886. Completed in 1873, Old Main furnished the west wing of the college building complex and housed the first classes. Construction of the central section was concluded in 1877 while the east Wing failed to reach completion until 1890. Consisting of three floors and a basement, the large first floor room possessed a seating capacity of over 100 and was utilized for study hall and chapel. Classrooms filled the second floor while the third level housed students and faculty as well as the library. Dining facilities and janitor's quarters were centered in the basement along with space for indoor activities. Baseball was the first organized sport, beginning in 1874 while football appeared sometime around 1892. Only a year before, the first field day for track had been organized. Basketball failed to enter the Penn curriculum until 1900, and 1907 saw a new gymnasium added to campus scenery.

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