CENTRAL COLLEGE, PELLA. L. A. GARRISON, B. A., VICE-PRESIDENT AND ACTING PRESIDENT. HISTORICAL SKETCH. The Baptists of Iowa, realizing the need of a denominational college for the training of their young people, called, in October, 1852, a convention for the consideration of the educational problem. This convention met November 10th, at Oskaloosa. Owing to the inclement weather, a small representation was present. They therefore adjourned to meet again at Pella, in June, 1853. This last named body was one of the most complete representations of Iowa Baptists ever gathered together. When the convention met, full time was given to the deliberation of the various questions before it, and much prayer was offered especially for the direction of Almighty God in selecting the proper location. As a result, the following resolution was unanimously passed: Resolved, That this convention accept the proposed donation of the citizens of Pella and vicinity and hereby locate our denominational institution at said place. The articles of incorporation declare the object to be the establishment and holding and government of a literary and theological institution in Pella under the particular auspices of the Baptist denomination. To this purpose the institution has ever been true, and is to-day, as always in the past, distinctively a Christian school. It is here believed and taught that all truth rests ultimately upon the nature of God, that the best learning is that which recognizes Him in his personal relations with men, that the highest culture reaches the heart as well as the intellect, and that the noblest life is a life in Jesus Christ. There is no narrow sectarianism in the policy or work of the institution. To all worthy students of whatever faith, Central opens her doors, welcoming them to an equal place in her work and life. For forty-eight years the college has steadily pursued its work increasing in strength and influence, never closing its doors for a single term from the effects of our civil war, financial embarassments, or any other cause. Central College was still in its infancy when Sumpter was fired upon and Lincoln issued his call for troops. Her brave and loyal boys, to the last man able to carry a musket, volunteered and marched to the front one hundred and twenty strong, including A. N. Currier, the latin professor. Over twenty laid down their lives to save our country and free a race from bondage; the largest roll it is believed, from any college of its age in all the land. For the past thirty years Central has been doing full college work. the thoroughness of the work done in the class rooms. The aim is to do work that will tell for life; to send forth men and women thoroughly fitted for that sphere in which their lot may be cast. Pella, the city in which the college is located, was founded by a little band of Hollanders who, having been persecuted in the home land for their religious belief, fled to this country for refuge. Amidst these liberty-loving and God-fearing people, our early Baptist forefathers decided that their children would be safe, and founded the institution at Pella, Iowa, in 1853. With broad, well-shaded streets, water system, electric lights, telephone system, beautiful homes, attractive churches, refined society, Pella, now over fifty years old, having 3,000 inhabitants, is an ideal place for under graduate school work. A STATISTICAL SUMMARY. When established.... Number of professors Number of other teachers Students in college work..... Students in preparatory work.. Students in other courses.. Number enrolled 1900-1901... Value of buildings, furniture and grounds.... Amount of endowment, exclusive of buildings, etc..... Number of volumes in libraries..... Value of libraries.. 1853 7 8 20 69 161 234 .$ 60,000 24,000 4,000 .$ 5,000 3,000 24 Value of apparatus....... 110 Charge per annum for tuition in regular courses.. COE COLLEGE-CEDAR RAPIDS. SAMUEL B. M'CORMICK, A. M., D. D., PRESIDENT. Coe College had its origin in a school which the Rev. Williston Jones, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, opened in his own house in 1851. Fifteen hundred dollars were given to it by Daniel Coe, of New York state, one thousand dollars of which were used for the purchase of eighty acres of ground adjoining the then small town of Cedar Rapids. The college campus is situated on a part of this ground, now in the heart of the city. The college still owns about forty thousand dollars in lots; the remainder has been sold from time to time and has provided the college with most of its assets. In 1881 the school was incorporated as a college, with Rev. Stephen Phelps, D. D., as its first president. In 1886 he resigned, and in 1887 Rev James Marshall, D. D., of New York, was chosen as his successor. He served until his death, in 1896. In 1897 Rev. S. B McCormick, D. D., was chosen the president and is still serving in that capacity. The college is under the Presbyterian synod of Iowa and is managed by a board of thirty trustees. The college has one hundred and twenty-one graduates, all living. Its productive funds amount to sixty thousand dollars, but steps are now being taken to increase this to two hundred thousand. Its professors number sixteen. In 1900-1901 the students in the literary department numbered two hundred and forty-three and in all departments three hundred and twentysix. It has a preparatory school and a musical department. Coe is distinctively a college, having courses leading to the three college degrees, bachelor of arts, philosophy, and science. The semester term plan is in operation and the group system of studies has been adopted. The standard of the college is high and its work is noted for thoroughness. A large number of elective courses are offered. The language requirements for admission to the freshman class include, in the classical course, two years of Greek and three of Latin, in the philosophical, three of Latin and two of German, and in the scientific, two each of German and French. Graduates from the accredited schools, as listed by the committee of the State Teachers' Association, are admitted on certificate. The college is favorably located, both as to its moral and intellectual surroundings and as to the city itself, a railroad center and easy of access from every part of the state. Besides the college library, which numbers four thousand volumes, and to which additions are being rapidly made, there are in the city two other libraries open to the students. These libraries are valuable and are growing in size and usefulness, under the very careful management of the authorities. The Masonic library and museum is close to the college, and the city library is but a few blocks away. The two Chistian associations of the city, with finely equipped gymnasiums, furnish a splendid opportunity for physical development. The athletic grounds on the campus, for tennis, base-ball, and foot-ball, have been made complete by the addition of a field house fitted up with baths and lockers. In the summer of 1901 a quarter-mile cinder track was laid, and thus opportunity is given for physical training throughout the entire year. In its laboratories, physical, chemical, biological, and psychological, Coe College excels. All these are thoroughly fitted with apparatus and provision is thus made for a thorough study of psychology and the sciences. The museum is a valuable addition to this equipment, and has been classified thoroughly, so as to be at the service of the student. Williston Hall, designed to accommodate about fifty young ladies, is their home while attending college and is delightful in all its appointments. The young men find rooms in homes adjoining the college at the most reasonable rates. Like all Iowa colleges, the annual expenses of the student at Coe are very low. They need not exceed two hundred dollars. Abundant opportunities for self-help reduce these expenses in a multitude of There are four literary societies connected with the college, and these occupy their separate halls, exquisitely furnished, on the second floor of Marshall Hall. Special facilities are possessed for preparing the student for the four great professions, of law, medicine, theology, and teaching. Two papers are issued from the Coe College press, one managed entirely by the students, The Cosmos, and the other, The Courier, published under the direction of a committee of the faculty. A course of lectures by eminent men from abroad is given each year on Friday mornings. The college is Christian, not sectarian. The two Christian associations flourish and their membership includes the great mass of the students. A great many prizes have been provided for students who excel in the various departments of the college work. A summer school has been in successful operation during cases. the past three years. Its design is to give the student an opportunity to remove conditions, to make a study of special subjects, and to enable teachers to review branches of study necessary in order that they may secure certificates to teach. Coe aims to secure the highest scholarship among her students and develop in them the noblest traits of character. Fidelity to duty, thorough. ness of work, habits of promptness and accuracy, are held to be of first importance. Attendance at chapel daily is required of all the students and on the Sabbath attendance at the church of the students or parents choice. The faculty is in closest touch with the student and at the same time the young people are given the largest liberty for the development in themselves of self dependence and upright character. Such institutions, and Iowa has a large share of them, are of the greatest importance in the development of manhood and womanhood and they form a most valuable part of the educational force of our state. Depending as they do for their support upon the beneficence of good people and aiming at the highest things in both education and moral excellence, it is not strange that they have been, from the beginning of our history as a nation, sources of power and influence. As such, they will doubtless continue to be nurtured and will find a larger place in the affections of the people. A STATISTICAL SUMMARY. When established (incorporated as college 1881).... 1851 16 Charge per annum for tuition in regular courses....$ 37.00 Average of total annual expenses per student, 200.00 CORNELL COLLEGE. WM. FLETCHER KING, A. M., LL.D. Mount Vernon, the seat of Cornell college, is celebrated for its beautiful location and its high moral and literary atmosphere. Tradition records that when Rev. George B. Bowman, D. D., the founder of the college, first ascended this forest-crowned summit, in the early fifties, and opened his eyes to the beautiful landscape stretching amphitheatre-like in all directions, varied by undulating plains, semi-circular river-bluffs, blooming prairies and waving forests, he was deeply impressed with the conviction that Providence had designed this for the seat of a Christian college. And withdrawing to nature's temple, within a clump of trees, he with uncovered head dedicated the site and himself to the holy cause of learning. He and his co-laborers at once determined to realize his vision. The first building was completed 1853, and school was opened in November of that year under the name of ‘‘Iowa Conference Seminary," with Rev. Samuel M. Fellows, A. M. principal. The school grew rapidly in numbers and influence till 1857, when a college charter was secured. The first president was Rev. R. W. Keeler, D. D., who was succeeded by Rev. Samuel M. Fellows, A. M., in 1860. Since his death in 1863 the institution has been under the presidency of Rev. William F. King, LL.D. The faculty has increased to thirty-five. No immature or inexperienced teachers are employed in any grade of work. All are specialists in their several departments, and they live close to the students, carefully studying their aptitudes and needs, and giving them the best they possess. Great care is exercised in seleeting professors with a view to long and useful service. As a result their present average term of service is 18 3-5 years, giving to the college the advantages of continuity of life and policy. Cornell has always been endowed with a splendid body of students. The annual attendance in forty-four years, as shown by the catalogs, aggregates 20,560, an average of 467 3-11 per year. The number last year was 716, the largest in the history of the college; of these, 360 were in the regular college classes. There have been graduated to the Baccalaureate degree 900, and about an equal number have received certificates from shorter courses. They are prominent in church and state, in all lines of business and in all professions. The governor, the superintendent of public instruction, and the congressman from the district in which the college is located, all received their degrees from the college. Four courses of study are provided, classical, philosophical, scientific, and civil engineering, leading to the Baccalaureate degree. The requirements for admission to these several courses are as near as possible equivalent in amount and educational value. The college is in close affiliation with the high schools of the state and admits the graduates of a large published list of schools to the Freshman |