USA > Indiana > A history of education in Indiana > Part 35
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The Friends' Boarding School, as it was first called, was the creation of the Indiana Yearly Meeting, whose sessions were and are held in Richmond. Steps were taken to raise money, and the building was begun in 1838. The school was located one mile west of Richmond, in Wayne County, on a farm of three hundred acres, and was meant by its original promoters, though not indorsed by the meeting, to combine manual and intellectual pursuits, it was hoped to
* German readers will find an interesting history of this institution in Geschichte des Concordia Collegiums, von einem Concordianer. St. Louis, 1889.
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their mutual profit. The industrial aspect of the enterprise was soon lost sight of, although more than one hundred acres of farm remain as a source of revenue to the school. The first principal of this " boarding school " was Lewis A. Estes, recently of Bowdoin College.
In 1859 the scope of the institution was enlarged; it was chartered as a college, and the present name, "Earlham," adopted from the estate of an English Friend, who had made a considerable donation to its enlargement. Its first graduates were in 1862. Until 1881, though patronized by members throughout the State and elsewhere, its manage- ment was wholly with the original founders-the Indiana Yearly Meeting. In that year the responsibility and the control were shared, as they have been since, by the Western Yearly Meeting also, the school becoming thereby the repre- sentative of the largest body of Friends in America, and the principal school of the denomination west of the Alleghany Mountains.
From 1855 it has been co-educational both for sexes and races. For the first thirty years of its history its policy in all other respects was that of extreme conservatism. It es- chewed the ways of the world, enforced plainness of dress, speech, and manners from students; was content with small numbers and a narrow field ; had almost no endowment, but exacted a quality of teaching and learning, and a practi- cal recognition of the regenerations of purity and integrity in life, that greatly exalt its service among those who best know the institution.
Ten years ago the endowments were increased, the course enriched and extended, new departments added, provisions made for new buildings, the appliances for teaching in- creased, and an aggressive educational movement begun.
The present endowment is something more than $100,000, with $300,000 in permanent improvements and lands. The faculty, including associates and assistants, numbers thirty. Seven parallel courses of study are offered, as follows: An- cient classics, modern classics, science, Latin and science,
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mathematics, history, and English-representing fourteen fairly independent though co-ordinate departments of study, including, besides the usual ones, elocution and oratory, Bib- lical studies, drawing and painting, and music.
Besides well-selected though not large libraries, the col- lege has one of the most complete and best-arranged cabinets in the State. It comprises twenty mounted skeletons, includ- ing one specimen each of the elephant, lion, horse, eagle, and python; more than two hundred stuffed specimens of birds and animals; more than a thousand specimens of shells and corals; two thousand specimens of palæontology and archæ- ology (exclusive of a valuable collection of arrow-heads) ; a working herbarium, a collection of twelve hundred coins, besides a body of systematically collected and arranged arti- cles gathered from missionary fields, and representative of the industries, implements, culture, and religions of various pagan peoples.
The college has had three presidents-Hon. Barnabas C. Hobbs, who resigned the position in 1868 to become State Superintendent; Prof. Joseph Moore, who is still connected with the institution, and who is to be chiefly credited with the collection and arrangement of the admirable cabinet; and the present president, Joseph John Mills. Among its alumni and students may be found an honorable record both among men and women. Of its two hundred and nineteen graduates, one hundred and thirteen, or more than half, are fairly classed as teachers .*
G. BUTLER UNIVERSITY.
As early as 1847 the need of an institution for higher learning among the Christian churches of the State was felt, and six years later its establishment agreed upon. In 1849 it was located at Indianapolis as the Northwestern Chris-
* For a number of interesting facts concerning Earlham College, and particularly its early history, and of Bloomingdale Academy, the author is indebted to a monograph, Earlham College, by Mr. E. D. Allen, of Fort- ville, Ind.
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tian University. It was meant to be emphatically Christian, and be made equally open to both sexes. About $100.000 had been subscribed, a board of directors elected by the hold- ers of stock, and the institution opened for college classes in November, 1855. In 1873 the institution was removed to Irvington, a suburb of Indianapolis, and in 1877 the name changed to "Butler University."
Its present organization includes two regular courses of study, comprising, besides the Preparatory School, four co- ordinate collegiate departments, viz .: (1) Philosophy and Civics; (2) Languages; (3) The Sciences; and (4) Arts. The study of the Bible is required of all students through the Freshman and Sophomore years. Electives first appear in the Junior year. Women are admitted to all the classes of the University, subject to the same conditions and enjoying the same educational privileges as men. With the class of 1890 the institution had sent out three hundred and nine graduates.
HI. UNION CHRISTIAN COLLEGE.
About 1850 the Merom Bluff Academy was founded at Merom, in Sullivan County. In 1858, at a convention of "Christians " in Peru, a new institution of collegiate rank was projected, finally located at Merom, and opened in 1860, absorbing the academy mentioned, and using to advantage its former patronage. The school is managed by a board of sixteen trustees, is liberally Christian, and patronized by stu- dents of various denominations, though chiefly by its own membership. It has a nominal endowment of about $100,000. Rev. N. Summerbell was its first president.
Its organization comprises, besides the elementary and preparatory schools, a normal course, classical and scientific collegiate courses, a three years' theological course, and a graduate course in instrumental and vocal music. " A. spe- cial feature of the curriculum lies in the fact that the Bible (in English, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin) is introduced as a text-book of daily work in the class-room, subject to regula-
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tions requiring as thorough application, examinations, etc., as any branch of mathematics, science, language, or his- tory."
Electives-a few-are allowed in the Junior and Senior years, and the usual degrees conferred.
I. MOORE'S HILL COLLEGE.
This institution was organized January 10, 1854, as Moore's Hill Collegiate Institute, under an independent board of trustees. A year and a half later the institution was adopted by the Southeastern Indiana Conference, and soon after the present name taken. It maintains a Prepar- atory Department, a Normal School, a Commercial Depart- ment, a Department of Music, an Art Department, and the College of Liberal Arts. Limited options are allowed in the course, from the close of the Sophomore year. Much em- phasis is put upon the recently organized Normal School, and with great promise. About one fourth of the enrollment is credited to the college classes.
J. HARTSVILLE COLLEGE.
Hartsville College had its origin in the public school of District No. 7, Haw Creek Township, Bartholomew County, established by a vote of the householders; April, 1847. Two years later buildings and privileges were transferred to the Indiana Conference of the United Brethren in Christ, by whom a charter was obtained for the "Hartsville Academy " -an institution with power "to grant all such degrees in the sciences and arts as are customary in other such colleges, universities, or academies of the United States."
Prof. James McD. Miller was first president, the school opening May, 1850. Subsequently other conferences of the same denomination, both in Ohio and Michigan, joined in supporting the institution. Thirteen conferences now, in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Ontario, co-operate in its management. Almost immediately after the organi- zation the school was rechartered "Hartsville University,"
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which title it held until 1883, when it became in name, what since 1865 it had been in fact, "Hartsville College."
The school has been co-educational from the beginning, and for twenty five years fairly collegiate in rank. At pres- ent it maintains (1) a Preparatory School, (2) a course in pedagogy, (3) a commercial course, (4) a course in music, and (5) two college courses-one in arts, leading to the de- gree of A. B., and one in science, followed by the degree of B. S.
K. UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME.
The University of Notre Dame is the leading Catholic superior institution in Indiana. It was founded by the Very Rev. Edward Sorin in 1842. It was organized under the Congregation of the Holy Cross, of which the founder was Superior-General. It is located about a mile north of South Bend, Ind., in the midst of a large and beautifully kept farm of six hundred acres. It was chartered by the General Assembly of Indiana in 1844. Five of its buildings were burned in 1877, but immediately rebuilt even more magnifi- cently than before. These include the main building, in which are the Lemonnier Library of thirty thousand vol- umes, and a valuable collection of pamphlets; museums of science; art collections, including the famous Bishops' Gal- lery; and the Armory, consisting of one hundred and fifty stand of arms received from the State; the Music Hall, the Institute of Technology, the Gymnasium, an Infirmary, a Church, and dormitories sufficient to accommodate one thou- sand students. Although emphatically a Catholic institu- tion, children of all denominations are admitted to its several courses. Indeed, it is well patronized by others than Catho- lics.
Its organization includes (1) the classical course, (2) the scientific course, (3) the English course, (4) a civil engi- neering course, (5) a mechanical engineering course, (6) a modern language course-each covering four years ; (7) a course in law of three years; and (8) a commercial course and (9) a medical course, each two years. Besides, there is a
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preparatory course of three years, and post-graduate courses in most departments, especially in philosophy, history, law, and physical science. The work in each course is definitely prescribed, but elective subjects are offered which may be taken by any student, "provided he can do so consistently with his regular studies." These are "extras," and are not granted as substitutes.
The courses in engineering comprise (1) theoretical engi- neering, (2) mechanical drawing, and (3) practical mechan- ics, including wood-working, the foundry, blacksmithing, and the machine-shops. These require from nine to twelve hours a week in the laboratory and workshop throughout the course.
The school enrolls from six hundred to seven hundred students, classed as seniors, comprising those over seventeen years of age; juniors, from thirteen to seventeen years; and minims, those under thirteen years. Recent catalogues show twenty professors, fourteen assistant professors, four prepara- tory teachers, and seven special instructors. The present president is the Rev. Thomas E. Walsh, C. S. C.
As in all Catholic schools, and particularly superior in- stitutions, much attention has always been given to the cul- tivation of literary and oratorical power, and the practice of athletics. This is true in an unusual degree of Notre Dame. Of almost a dozen societies maintained at Notre Dame, three are recorded as religious-one, the " Archconfraternity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary," founded in 1845. It is open to juniors and seniors, and has for its object "to pray for the conversion of sinners, and persons in error." Among the more purely literary organizations may be mentioned as typical the "Philodemic Society " (1851), and "The Thes- pian Association " (1861), for the cultivation of "oratory, elo- cution, and the dramatic art." Besides these, and the like societies supported by the Law School, the institution has an admirably equipped gymnasium and a half-dozen athletic clubs, including foot and base ball, a boat club, the Hoynes Light Guards, and the Sorin Cadets.
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As is true of all Catholic institutions, again, Notre Dame is without endowment (except as the farm may be so con- sidered), and is maintained solely by fees. These vary from $250 a year in the Minim Department to $300 in the col- lege proper, including, besides tuition, board, rooms, and laundry.
Among the alumni of Notre Dame are men eminent in every important interest-archbishops and bishops; Chief- Justice O'Brien; J. B. Walker, editor of the Cosmopolitan ; Ballard Smith, of the New York World, etc.
L. ST. MEINRAD'S COLLEGE.
The only other Catholic collegiate institution in Indiana is situated at St. Meinrad, in the northeast corner of Spencer County. It was founded and has been conducted by the Benedictines. It was opened in 1857 as St. Meinrad's Col- lege, but reorganized January, 1890, and rechartered as St. Meinrad's Abbey. Only Catholics are admitted, and the in- stitution seeks "to impart a solid classical and scientific edu- cation, based on strictly Catholic principles."
The organization comprises a preparatory course, the tra- ditional classical course, the Seminary (theological), and the Scholasticate (introduction to the Benedictine Order). It differs from Notre Dame in being narrowly classical and humanistic, and in the emphasis put upon the theological studies. It has no shops, and teaches science but sparingly. The traditional standards of culture are zealously conserved. Its aim to give the severer discipline of the humanities is rigidly adhered to. Few schools can show a more honorable record. The old-time courses are preserved, and the earliest methods; but the training is specific and unquestioned-a scholarship of the classical type.
M. JASPER COLLEGE.
As if to relieve the extreme severity of this humanistic discipline, and in a way provide an education of a more practical sort for general patronage, there was founded by
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the same order in 1889, and managed since by the St. Mein- rad's Abbey, Jasper College, at Jasper, in Dubois County. It is managed in conjunction with the college at St. Meinrad, and is " empowered to grant and confer the usual academic degrees." Unlike St. Meinrad's, "the college is open to all, irrespective of religious persuasion, yet all are required, for the sake of uniformity and discipline, to attend the religious services of the house."
The course covers five years, admission to which requires that the boy (about twelve years of age) shall "know how to read, write, and spell creditably "; and in arithmetic, “be familiar with the four operations with whole numbers." It includes of German, and Christian Doctrine, four years each ; Latin, Greek, and French, two years each; and some sort of text-book science throughout one year. The completion of the commercial course (three years) entitles one to the de- gree of Master of Accounts, and the scientific course to that of B. A. The degree of M. A. may be taken after three years of additional study in one of the professions, or in an advanced course in the liberal arts .*
N. THE MULTIPLICATION OF COLLEGES.
It has been suggested that with so many degree-giving in- stitutions in Indiana the patronage has been unduly divided, and perhaps the standards lowered and learning diluted ; but it does not necessarily follow that the large number of col- leges is alone or chiefly responsible for the defect.
In itself considered, the multiplication of institutions for higher and liberal, classical, scientific, literary, and philo- sophical learning is a great and unquestioned blessing. It is a part of the spirit of the age, and in consonance with at least the recent policy of our own Commonwealth, to make easily available to every child the freest use of the best means of the largest and most generous culture. May the time soon come when every county in Indiana will feel the need
* A prospectus has just been distributed of St. Joseph's College, a Catho- lic institution, located (1891) at Rensselaer.
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of a localized institution, giving a fuller culture than do our present high schools.
The colleges are needed, and more schools are needed, where college training may be had, and had at minimum expense; but there is also needed a public sentiment that shall sustain them liberally and for their public service, without a thought of the degrees they may confer-those loaves and fishes of academic fame; not because they serve to perpetuate exclusive institutions, but simply as a means toward fitting for larger and more efficient living and higher studies. All honor to the work of the little colleges! From them, found in both the East and West, came the men who, fifty years ago, gave us our professors, our school legislation, our educational system, our Normal School, college endow- ments, and that which is better still-an educated public sen- timent favorable to schools and learning.
No factor is more helpful, also, in the improvement of the lower schools than abundant opportunities for higher learning. With a right public sentiment, these furnish the connecting link between the secondary schools and the real universities and professional seminaries. Indeed, it is the college-content to be a college, to do a college's duty, and to receive a college's reward-that alone makes the university of any founding possible. We have not too many schools in Indiana of any grade, where real work is done; the dan- ger comes with the attempt to do college work with high- school facilities, and the distribution of university honors.
2. Denominational Academies.
Few of the churches, as has been elsewhere mentioned, maintain separate secondary schools, or any schools below collegiate grade; and yet the number of pupils enrolled in such institutions as are reported is more than twenty thou- sand. Two thirds of them, perhaps, are under elementary instruction.
Among the denominations so supporting independent academies are the Friends, with a dozen schools of mixed
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grades (most of which are mentioned elsewhere), and enroll- ing a thousand pupils. The Methodists and Presbyterians have really no such schools apart from their colleges; though the Westminster School, in Fort Wayne, and Coates Col- lege, in Terre Haute, have Presbyterian connections; and the late Fort Wayne School (now Taylor University), and De Pauw College, New Albany (now co-educational and partially endowed), have had Methodist support and recog- nition. The Roanoke Classical Seminary is controlled by the United Brethren Church, and the Oakland City College by the General Baptists. The various branches of the Lu- therans maintain more than eighty schools throughout the State, and report about five thousand pupils, a large major- ity of whom belong to the elementary classes in parochial schools. All other Protestant denominations together report about four thousand pupils.
The attendance upon Catholic elementary and secondary schools is about thirty thousand. Of these, thirty-five hun- dred are in a score or more of schools that may fairly be called secondary. Some of these are among the pioneer educational institutions of the State, "St. Mary's of the Woods," in Vigo County, being founded in 1840, and "St. Mary's Academy," at Notre Dame, in 1845. St. Mary's Academy, in Indianapolis, accommodates from four hundred to five hundred pupils, and a half-dozen other schools almost as many each.
It may fairly be estimated that the total school enroll- ment, both elementary and secondary, of the institutions under the direct control of the churches of the State is not less than forty thousand; of these, six thousand perhaps be- long to the schools of academic rank, two thirds of the total number being under Roman Catholic influence. If to these numbers there be added the enrollment in private and nor- mal schools, the State has, exclusive of occasional subscrip- tion classes taught in public school-houses, not less than fifty thousand pupils outside the public schools and colleges.
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CHAPTER XXXII.
PRIVATE AND ENDOWED INSTITUTIONS.
OF all the institutions in Indiana established by private enterprise or beneficence, few have any endowment. The money given by individuals in aid of learning is no incon- siderable amount, but the beneficiaries have usually been either prospective or established denominational schools. A dozen higher schools in the State have received nearly three and a half millions of endowment, besides lands and build- ings, more than five sixths of which have gone to denomi- national institutions.
Numerous attempts have been made, as may be gathered from the earlier pages of this sketch, to found and endow high-grade private or incorporated institutions ; but they have generally failed. Of this class, either failing at once, or being soon abandoned, were La Porte University, the Western Literary and Scientific College, Clark University, the Richmond University, etc.
The most conspicuous instance of a successful endowed institution of this class is the Technological School at Terre Haute, and is a recent establishment.
1. Rose Polytechnic Institute.
The Rose Polytechnic Institute was founded in 1874, through the beneficence of Chauncy Rose, of Terre Haute, and is, with the exception of Purdue University, the only high-grade technical or industrial school in the State.
Instruction in this Terre Haute School of Industrial Sci- ence (as it was first called) was " to be based upon the prac- tical mathematics, and the application of the physical sci- ences to the various arts and manufactures, together with other branches of active business; and was to include such training as would furnish the pupils with useful and practi- cal knowledge of some art or occupation, and enable them to earn competent livings."
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PRIVATE AND ENDOWED INSTITUTIONS.
Mr. Rose was a pioneer, settling in Terre Haute in 1818. A man of little book-learning, but well informed, he was public-spirited, of sound judgment, shrewd in business, and a friend to every legitimate means of public improvement. At various times he made liberal contributions to Wabash College, to local aid societies, hospitals, and orphans' homes ; and to the Newsboys' Home and other charitable institu- tions in New York city. He was chiefly instrumental in securing (what he did not himself furnish of) the money with which to build and equip what is now the Terre Haute and Indianapolis Railroad, the line from Evansville to Craw- fordsville, and that from Terre Haute to Danville, Ill., from which ventures and investments he amassed a considerable fortune.
Interested in education generally, he was particularly solicitous that young men of real ability and enterprise should have opportunities, as he had not, to fit for the spheres of practical life. He would "blend the industrial sciences with the branches of knowledge usually taught in the schools and colleges, so that the pupils should not only become scholars in the ordinary sense, but should be enabled to fol- low the various mechanical, professional, and industrial pur- suits with intelligence and skill." To this end was the insti- tution founded.
The total gifts from Mr. Rose of lands, buildings, and equipments prior to his death, which occurred in August, 1877, amounted to $345,615. Two years before, by order of the Board of Trustees, the name of the institution was changed to that which it now bears. By will, the institute was made his residuary legatee, making the total benefaction not less than half a million dollars.
Under the conditions of the gift, the principal could not be expended; and it was not until 1883 that the school was ready to open. Dr. Charles O. Thompson had been chosen president. He had been for fifteen years at the head of the Worcester Free Institute, in Massachusetts, and brought to his new field a large scholarship, an individual fitness, and
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professional insight that greatly dignified the new enter- prise. His short service of two years (he died in 1885) had honored Indiana, improved the educational thought, and made the currents of culture flow more smoothly, as his death deprived the State of one of its most distinguished teachers. He was succeeded by Dr. T. C. Mendenhall, of Ohio State University, who was no less distinguished, and who equally honored the institution and the course of edu- cation, and who left the State in 1890, after five years, to accept a Federal appointment as Superintendent of the United States Coast Survey. The present president is Dr. H. T. Eddy, recently of the University of Cincinnati.
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