The Western Normal College was established by the public enterprise of the citizens of Shenandoah, in 1882, with Prof. I. E. Wilson, of Bushnell, Illinois, as its first president. The institution was established as an independent normal school and at first had but few departments. Later presidents were L. M. Disney, Wm. M. Croan, and J. M. Hussey who presides over the work of the school at the present time, September, 1901. From year to year the school has grown and expanded solely from the patronage it has received and the revenue it has realized from this patronage. In December, 1891, the old building and all its contents was destroyed by fire. Immediately a stock company was formed and more than $35,000.00 at once subscribed for rebuilding this school which was reopened to the public in September, 1893, and has had a uniform prosperity and success since that date, attracting students in large numbers from Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri, as well as Iowa. Other states also furnish some quota each term. The year is forty-eight weeks, and divided into four ten weeks terms and one eight weeks term. A summer school is always held in connection with the summer term of eight weeks. The institutions present departments are the normal school with four courses, the college of letters and science with three courses, the preparatory school with two courses, the business institute with two courses, the shorthand college with three courses, the school of penmanship with two courses, the school of elocution and oratory with two courses, the conservatory of music with four courses, the college of law with one course, and the summer school with numerous short courses. The institution has graduated in its literary departments 624 students and nearly that number in its business, shorthand, and other non-literary departments. Its attendance has numbered in the aggregate nearly 15,000. The present officers of the board of trustees are A. S. Lake, president; R. W. Moore, vice-president; H. I. Foskett, secretary; R. B. Crose, treasurer. The officers of the school are J. M. Hussey, president; T. W. Keenan, vice-president. The institution controls one main building, a ladies' residence, and numerous cottages for roomers. The main building is heated with steam and lighted by electricity, and is finely appointed throughout. All material equipments including library, laboratory, apparatus of various kinds, and the entire furniture and furnishing of the building are first-class in every particular. The institution is incorporated under the laws of lowa, and exercises all the usual rights of conferring degrees, granting diplomas, etc., etc. Students pass no examination to enter, but are permitted to select their own studies and are admitted whenever they apply. .... 52.80 125.00 200.00 Value of libraries...... Value of apparatus (exclusive of pianos and type writers)..... Charge per annum for tuition in regular courses Western Union College is located in Le Mars, Iowa, the county seat of Plymouth county, at the junction of the Illinois Central and the C., St. P., M. & O. railroads. This is an institution of the United Evangelical Church, and is controlled by a board of trustees representing four annual conferences (ecclesiastical divisions), namely: The Des Moines, Northwestern, Platte River and Illinois. These conferences cover a territory extending into several states, namely: Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma Territory. Other conferences will soon join this enterprise. The Le Mars Normal School building, in which Western Union College had intended to establish itself on September 12, 1900, was destroyed by fire on August 24, 1900. This necessitated the opening of the college in temporary quarters for the first year. During the summer of 1901 the present structure was erected on the site of the old one. The building is large and commodious, well equipped with modern improvements; heated by steam and lighted by electricity. Rev. B, H. Niebel, Des Moines, Iowa, is the special financial agent of the college and who devotes his entire time toward securing an endowment fund sufficient for the maintenance of the college. The aim is $100,000. The amount already raised (during 15 months) through his and other agencies, amounts to $30,000. The interest of this amount or fund, is available for the maintenance of the college. The new building was erected by the Le Mars Normal School Association, with the generous aid of the citizens and people surrounding the city; and they will give a deed of the entire property to the college trustees after the college shall have run successfully for a period of ten years, maintaining a Normal Department during that time; or if at any time during the first ten years the college trustees shall make improvements by erecting new buildings, etc., at a total cost of $10,000, then the property shall be transferred to the college trustees. It is expected that this will come to pass within a few years. Already plans for additional buildings and improvements upon the campus are spoken of. The college campus contains seven acres of choice land, located in the southern part of the city, and is already well improved with shrubbery and trees. It is the most elevated situation within the city limits and this fact secures the best condition for health, and affords a delightful view overlooking the city and the Floyd Valley. Aside from the above advantages, the city has a large and well furnished library, to which the college students have free access. However, the faculty of the college have already a movement on foot to secure a fund of several thousand dollars to be invested in a good library selected by themselves. By this means the college will soon acquire a good library which will be especially adapted to its wants. Since the highest product of education is character, this end controls all methods of government in the college. Students are trusted and are put on their honor. The best ideas are constantly held out to them. It is the purpose of the school to teach politeness, dignity, manliness and womanliness among its students by precept and example, rather than by force and rigid discipline, thus maintaining a strict and firm government. This institution maintains that the co-education of the sexes is a principle necessary to the best development of both the intellectual and social natures of young men and women. No safer, happier and more helpful method of culture can be found than by placing them together in a christian institution. Here they meet in the presence of their teachers, in the recitation room and in the chapel; they meet also at the lectures, entertainments, and other occasions under the supervision of the college. Candidates for admission must be at least fifteen years of age, to give the development essential to the work required in the classes. They shall present themselves on the first day of the term. When a student desires to get credit for studies pursued elsewhere, proper certificates of credit, duly attested, must be presented, stating the subjects studied, the authors of the books, and the length of time spent on the respective branches. If the amount of work done is sufficient, he will be admitted to the Freshman class without examination. A list of accredited schools is kept on file, and is revised from year to year. Western Union College is incorporated under the laws of the state of Iowa. She is entitled therefore, to grant degrees in all departments. The degree and diploma are granted upon the completion of the prescribed college course. Records of all grades are carefully kept and preserved in the college for future reference. This college purposes to maintain a high standard of excellency both as to scholarship and as to attainment in general work. The inquiry is, and will remain, not how many can we graduate, but how many, and who, are thoroughly prepared for graduation. To be thorough in every particular is the aim of the management for the sake of those who employ teachers from this college, and for the sake of the teachers themselves. Value of buildings, furniture and grounds.... Charge per annum for tuition in regular courses..... .... $109.00 to Average of total annual expenses per student $145.00 to Males Whole number of graduates since organization of 1900 7 7 7 42 126 175 $ 40,000.00 30,000.00 230.00 36.00 157.50 193.50 3 3 |