網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

KNOX COLLEGE.

Galesburg, Knox County. Founded, 1836.

Rev. JOHN P. GULLIVER, D. D., President.

Knox College is chronologically the fourth college in Illinois; but it is entitled to rank with its elders, in respect to influence already exerted upon the cause of education, and in respect to its power and value as an institution of liberal learning. Central and Northern Illinois and Iowa were rapidly settled by a great immigration from the eastern states, occuring principally between 1828 and 1840; and it was notable that many of the educated and intelligent men, such as before rarely ventured upon pioneer life, moved with this great current, and cared at once for the establishment of all the institutions that at their early homes had created culture and power and knowledge. Of this care, Knox College, like its predecessor in time at Jacksonville, was born full of vigor from the beginning.

This college is peculiar in the connection between a college for young men and one for young women, under the same management, and partly under the same instruction, but upon a plan different from that of most schools for both sexes. The history and statistics of the two are therefore necessarily combined here. Each has a preparatory department attached. The seminary course includes Latin or French; the Latin authors are Cæsar, Sallust, Cicero and Virgil. Its mathematics include Loomis' Natural Philosophy and Astronomy; and the pupils have access to the college libraries, cabinets, apparatus, etc., as well as the lectures.

The following statement is furnished by an officer of the institutions:

"The original endowment of these institutions was 10,747 acres of land, mostly wild prairie, purchased by subscription. The purchase was approved, and a plan for a settlement matured, at a meeting in Whitesboro, N. Y., January, 1836. Donating the land to the projected college, some of the subscribers, with others, moved to the locality, founded a village, repurchased farms and lots at an advanced rate, refunded the amounts originally paid on the subscription, and used the surplus in carrying their literary project into execution. The village was named GALESBURG, from the originator of the enterprise. The institution was at first

called PRAIRIE COLLEGE. But before it was chartered, in 1837, the name was changed to KNOX MANUAL LABOR COLLEGE. The manual labor system was soon dropped. In 1851, the name was shortened to KNOX COLLEGE. In 1838, a faculty was appointed. In 1841, the first freshman class entered. In 1846, the first class graduated. The Female Collegiate Department was soon afterward organized, and graduated its first class in 1851.

"To the original endowment an amount, in itself considerable although relatively small, has since been added by donations. The total has been sufficient to carry on the institution for thirty years, and provide a present capital of between three and four hundred thousand dollars.

"Knox College is distinctively undenominational. Its trustees form a self-perpetuating corporation, and are, at present, of five different religious persuasions, and some of them of no religious persuasion; no denomination has a majority, but the controlling influence is Congregational and Presbyterian. That religious training is not neglected is evident from the fact that, for two years past, the students have steadily and voluntarily sustained three daily, and several weekly religious meetings.

"The college and seminary have each a large and handsome building, well furnished with libraries, cabinets, apparatus, and all necessary appliances. A commodious building for the academy is about to be erected. In this will be taught not only preparatory studies, but also all other branches usually taught in large academies.

"The seminary has a complete boarding establishment for ladies. The gentlemen board at private houses; excepting a few rooms, there is for them no dormitory system.

"It is held honorable for students to help themselves by work, and facilities are afforded to such as wish to do so.

"The ladies' collegiate course is substantially that of Mount Holyoke. The college course is that of first class eastern colleges. There is also a three years' scientific course, embracing all the college classical studies, except Greek and Latin. Students who prefer, are classed as irregulars, and permitted, at the discretion of the faculty, to pursue elective studies. The sexes have usually been educated together in the academy, and separately in the collegiate departments. The ladies of the seminary, however, Vol. II-82

recite to the college professors, and use the college libraries and apparatus.

"Rev. John P. Gulliver, D. D., has just accepted the presidency."

[blocks in formation]

Years occupied in regular course of study....
Number of pupils pursuing a full course.....
Number of pupils pursuing a partial course.....
Number of pupils in preparatory department
Number of pupils graduating during the year.

Whole number of graduates since organization of institu-
tions...

Number of professors and instructors.

Value of buildings, furniture and grounds

Amount of endowment, exclusive of buildings, etc, (for

[blocks in formation]

the entire institution).

243,000 00

Number of volumes in libraries, (for the entire institution.)
Value of libraries, (for the entire institution.)
Value of apparatus, including specimens, (for the entire
institution.)..

6,400

$12,500 00

Charge per annum for tuition in regular course
Room and necessary incidental expenses, per annum.
Average of total annual expenses, per student..

Date of annual commencement

(Fourth
Thursday Wednesday

[blocks in formation]

175 00

9.00 220 00

Fourth

in June.

in June

[graphic]

The front is to be 235 feet in length, facing the south. The wings are to contain laboratories, a cabinet, gymnasium, dormitories, and a domestic hall. The center building is to contain a chapel for religious exercises and rooms for lectures and recitations.

WHEATON COLLEGE.

Wheaton, DuPage County. Founded 1848.

REV. JONATHAN BLANCHARD, D. D., President.

In 1843, a portion of the Methodist Church seceded from the main body on account of dissent from the policy of that church on slavery, and took the name of Wesleyans. Adopting also the doctrine of the independency of local churches and other opinions deemed radical, they founded in 1848 what they called "Illinois Institute," as an educational institution, to be conducted in accordance with their peculiar views, and for the furtherance thereof. But finding themselves unable to maintain it, they turned over their college with a new charter to Orthodox Congregationalists,

in 1861.

Since then the trustees have paid off a debt of six thousand dollars, due under the former management, and have expended on the buildings and grounds two thousand dollars. They have raised $10,000 for the erection of a main building, which is now going up, to cost when finished $80,000. They have secured partial endowments on three professorships amounting to $28,000, which is at interest on first mortgages.

President Blanchard says of the college, "while the college is not technically a manual labor institution, most of our students in one way or another labor, working with their own hands. We believe, too, thoroughly and profoundly, after many years observation, in the superiority of mixed schools over those where the

sexes are separated and taught apart. We believe, too, in the American or "classical" college course, modified and made pliant to the popular necessities, and sound and enlightened progress. And with these views it is our prayerful and steadfast purpose to make Wheaton College a school for Christ and the Christian religion, an ornament to our State, and a source of light and truth to mankind." "And when we consider that the eight years of its collegiate existence began with the war of our late slavery rebellion, during which a multitude of American colleges went down, some of them to rise no more, we feel encouraged to believe that our prosperity during this period of disaster, when our halls, like other colleges, emptied themselves into our Union armies, is a proof of the favor of God."

"There have been few weeks together, since the college was re-chartered, in which there have not been more or less professed conversions to Christ among the students of the college. I believe all the students in the regular classes are now professed Christians."

The Illinois State Congregational Association, the Chicago Congregational Union, and other local bodies, have passed resolutions fully and cordially endorsing and commending the institu tion to the benevolent for endowment.

Of the college building, the central part is now erected and the west wing in progress.

[blocks in formation]

Amount of endowment, exclusive of buildings, etc..........

28,000 un

[blocks in formation]
« 上一頁繼續 »