USA > Indiana > Lawrence County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 25
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > History of Lawrence and Monroe counties, Indiana : their people, industries, and institutions > Part 25
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THE MONROE COUNTY SEMINARY ( FOR FEMALES).
This institution was organized as soon as the county itself was, though no building was erected until 1835. The funds from fines, penalties, etc ..
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
had continued to accumulate until at the time of the erection of the house they amounted to about two thousand dollars. The building was commenced in 1832 or 1833, and finished in 1835. Before that, however, aside from the Indiana College (now the University), Professor Pering had estab- lished in Bloomington a female institute, which grew into a considerable school. It will be remembered that at that date no females were admitted into the Indiana University (College), hence the demand upon the part of women for a schooling place for their sex.
It was this sentiment that caused the Legislature to establish the Mon- roe County Female Seminary, with the following persons as incorporators; John Borland, John Hight. William Alexander, James D. Robertson, Fred- erick T. Butler, Austin Seward, Richard Hardesty, Ellis Stone and John Grahani. The building erected in 1835 was a brick structure thirty by fifty feet, two stories high, containing two large halls, and four smaller rooms. The trustees ordered that all doors and windows be thrown open at inter- mission for proper ventilation. Single desks were ordered to take the place of the long benches. The first principal was Prof. Cornelius Pering, A. M., a professional teacher direct from London, England. He had been well educated at the Royal Academy of London, and was thoroughly qualified for the duties he was called to perform here in Bloomington. From the summer of 1835 to 1842 nearly four hundred young ladies finished this seminary course. In all, eight hundred girls and misses attended this in- stitution. The average attendance each term was about sixty.
Following Professor Pering came, in 1849, Mrs. E. J. McFerson, under whom the school was greatly improved in many ways peculiar to a woman's instruction of ladies. The school was the pride of the town and the faithful instructor was fairly idolized by all in the community. In 1857 Mrs. Mc- Ferson was succeeded by Prof. E. P. Cole, who had charge until 1863, when the high school system obtained for the first time in the history of this county. A few years more and the old seminary building was converted into a dwell- ing house and the history of the institution was ready to be written.
BLOOMINGTON FEMALE COLLEGE.
The law of 1852-53 provided for the sale of county seminaries and the transfer of the proceeds to the common school fund. The Methodists of Bloomington had talked some time of founding an academy or seminary of their denomniation at Bloomington, and purchased the old seminary at
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
auction, but before the deed was signed it was learned that the title possibly might be defective, hence the sale fell through, but the church went ahead and organized the Bloomington Female College, using their church building for the purpose. Rev. T. H. Sinex was the first president, and was suc- ceeded in 1856 by Rev. M. M. Tooks. A large college boarding hall was kept on Sixth street between Walnut and Washington. In 1858 Rev. A. D. Lynch succeeded Rev. Tooks as president of the college. He remained until the breaking out of the Civil war, when the institution closed forever.
CHANGE OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
Strange as it seems to us today, the truth is that the people of Indiana, generally, including the citizens of Monroe county, did not favor the adop- tion of the new cherished free school system, as is seen by the following re- turns of the election held over that issue in 1849:
For Free Against Free
Townships.
Schools.
Schools.
Bean Blossom
59
II2
Benton
44
41
Bloomington
128
307
Clear Creek
76
85
Indian Creek
ot
IOI
Marion
16
35
Richland
59
128
Perry
127
20
Salt Creek
39
60
Van Buren
43
II3
Washington
36
38
667
1,040
Majority against
373
I
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
I
1
1
1
1
Not until the close of the Civil war did educational interests make any marked headway under the new school laws of the state. But when once understood and tested out, the system of free schools was greatly appre- ciated, notwithstanding there had been many "Doubting Thomases" in the county, as has been indicated by the above vote by townships.
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
SCHOOLS OF 1913.
According to a digest from the annual report of the county school su- perintendent, the following showing was made at the end of the school year in 1913:
Pupils of Elementary Teachers and High below High
Corporation.
School.
School.
Buildings.
Bean Blossom
400
I5
IO
Benton
207
9
9
Bloomington
370
IO
9
Clear Creek
417
12
8
Indian Creek
212
9
9
Marion
74
5
5
Perry
385
IO
8
Polk
265
9
9
Richland
187
8
8
Salt Creek
229
8
8
Van Buren
322
IO
9
Washington
I73
9
9
Total
3,24I
II4
IOI
Ellettsville (town)
177
5
2
Bloomington (city )
2,226
42
7
Grand total
-5,664
161
IIO
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Perhaps no more fitting estimate of the Bloomington schools of this date can be had than to quote the language of the Commercial Club in its beautiful, well compiled souvenir issued in 1912, which reads as follows :
The city of Bloomington believes in supporting well its public school system. The history of the school from the time of its organization up to the present reveals this fact. Aside from supplying the schools with a maximum support from taxation, the community has on various occasions made individual donations for special purposes, such as decorating play- grounds and equipping the same, also furnishing pictures. In addition to all
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
this the patrons by their visits and encouragement have evidenced their interest and their faith in the schools.
It is this interest and this faith that has helped to build up and maintain the present educational standards here that demand well qualified school officials and teachers. The high school qualifications of school board miem- bers, and of teachers throughout the history of the schools, has been no acci- dent. At present seventy per cent. of the teaching corps throughout the whole system are graduates of universities, colleges or normal schools. The high school faculty of sixteen members is composed entirely of graduates. A minimum requirement for appointment in the grades is successful ex- perience and two years' academic work in addition to graduation from high school.
Another factor that has figured in the maintenance of a good school spirit and standard in Bloomington is the presence of the State University, where all connected with the public schools have access to the university library and can frequently arrange to attend lectures. There has been at work, too, for many years, a spirit of co-operation between the department of education in the university and the public schools of the city, which has resulted in mutual benefit. In connection with the university a plan has been worked out whereby pupils who need special attention more than the teacher of the room is able to give, can receive outside individual help, free of charge. Each summer, too, from seventy-five to one hundred of the city's two thousand pupils are in school from six to eight weeks, strengthening themselves in weak places, or getting assistance in making up a part or all of a grade. In this way Bloomington has been able to do a great deal toward adapting its schools to the special needs and opportunities connected with this particular community. This adaptation is further seen in the provision for promotion for subjects instead of by grades in the eighth year, by the intro- duction of commercial subjects in the high school, of manual training in grades, and of Latin, with special groups, in the grades.
In the matter of supervision of work, things are so organized that the principals of the buildings give from one-fourth to one-half of their time in the general oversight of the work. Drawing, music and manual training are in charge of special supervisors.
The buildings, though not all of recent construction, are supplied with modern heating plants and are in a satisfactory sanitary condition. With only one exception, each building is on a lot large enough to afford ample play-ground, the grounds ranging from a quarter of a block to ten acres in
270
LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
extent. These grounds are being rapidly equipped with play ground appara- tus. Supplementary material in way of readers, text-books, reference books, maps, globes, etc., have been generously supplied.
The fine spirit of support that the community is giving its school sys- tem makes the new undertaking of new educational problems promising. More than that, it provides teachers capable of and willing to cope with new conditions and new problems. It accounts also for the excellent spirit of the pupils, a spirit of co-operation and of work. Bloomington feels, there- fore, that she has in her schools an inducement to offer to those that are con- sidering a change of location.
مصـ
CHAPTER IX.
INDIANA UNIVERSITY.
Bloomington, Monroe county, is the seat of the Indiana State Univer- sity. Much has been written concerning this great educational institution which has sent out and is from year to year continuing to send forth to the world many men who have and will in the future become potent factors for great good to the world at large, perforce of the training they have received at this place. For the purpose of making a proper record of the university in the annals of the county in which it is situated, the following is deemed sufficient.
In 1838 an act was passed by the Legislature to establish a university in the state and John Law, of Knox county, Robert Dale Owen, of Posey county, Richard W. Thompson, of Lawrence county, Samuel R. Hosovuer, of Wayne county, P. C. Dunning, James Blair, Joshua O. Howe, Chesley D. Bailey, William Turner and Leroy Mayfield, of Monroe county, were ap- pointed trustees to make the change from the Indiana College to the Indiana University. The history of the old seminary and college that preceded it will be found later on in this chapter.
The above board of trustees met May 24, 1838, elected Paris C. Dun- ning president of the board, and James D. Maxwell, secretary, and made such changes as they deemed necessary. A new building was erected of brick and the course of study was widened. Andrew Wylie, D. D., served as president until his death in 1851, when for two years Theophilus A. Wylie, Daniel Reed and Alfred Ryors acted as such. In 1853 William M. Daily was appointed president, serving until 1858, when serious trouble arose and he resigned. On All Fool's day. 1854, the college building was destroyed by fire, which loss embarrassed the institution very materially, as not only were the recitation rooms gone, but a valuable library of rare works was burned. It is supposed this fire was caused by an incendiary. The citizens at once went to work to raise funds for a new building. They re- ceived a meager sum from the state, and in 1859 completed the building that was still standing in 1883, and used by the university of that date. It stood on the old campus south of town.
272
LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
After the resignation of President Daily, in 1858, T. A. Wylie acted as such for a year, and John H. Lathrop for a year, or until 1860, when Cyrus Nutt was appointed, the latter serving from 1860 to 1875. In the year last named Lemuel Moss, D. D., LL. D., was chosen president, in which capacity he served until 1884 and was succeeded by Dr. David Starr Jordan.
. The fine brick building, erected on the old campus late in the seventies for the use of the scientific department, was destroyed by lightning in July, 1883, incurring a loss of about three hundred thousand dollars. The library, of twelve thousand volumes, the Owen collection of fossils, etc., and other valuable articles were also destroyed. In 1883 the trustees of the university purchased a tract of twenty acres in Dunn's woods, fronting Fifth street, and made preparations to erect thereon two brick buildings, one for the main university edifice and another for the scientific department. This twenty- acre tract cost six thousand dollars. This appears to have been the brief his- tory up to the autumn of 1883.
From year books, historical accounts, and various information pub- lished by authority of the state, and from personal interviews with those in authority at the university in the summer of 1913, the following is the con- densed history of this institution, of which Bloomington, Monroe county and all the great commonwealth of Indiana take a just pride :
FEDERAL LEGISLATION.
The legislation which led to the founding of Indiana University begins with two acts of Congress setting aside portions of the public domain, within the limits of the present state of Indiana, for the endowment of an institution of higher learning. The first of these is an act, approved March 26, 1804, for the disposal of the public lands in the Indiana territory ; in it provision is made for the reservation "of an entire township in each of the three described tracts of country or districts [Detroit, Kaskaskia, and Vincennes], to be located by the secretary of the treasury, for the use of a seminary of learning." The second is the act of April 16, 1816, which provides for the admission into the Union of the district of Vincennes as the state of In- diana; in this an additional township is set aside "for the use of a seminary of learning, and vested in the Legislature of said state, to be appropriated solely to the uses of such seminary by the said Legislature." These two seminary townships for Indiana were chosen as follows: One in what is now Gibson county, October 10, 1806, by Albert Gallatin as secretary of the
273
LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
treasury ; the other by President Madison, in 1816, in what is now Monroe county.
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY.
The first act of local legislation looking toward a university in Indiana was the act of the Territorial Legislature, approved November 9, 1806, estab- lishing in the borough of Vincennes "an university *
* to be known by the name and style of The Vincennes University," and appropriating to its use the township of land reserved by the act of Congress of 1804. Owing to a number of causes the institution thus founded did not prosper, so that when the Indiana Seminary, which was later to become the Indiana Univer- sity, was established, the General Assembly turned over to it the Gibson county lands, together with the township of land in Monroe county. This action led to a long and tedious litigation, which resulted finally in a verdict of the supreme court of the United States, in 1852, in favor of Vincennes University. To compensate the university for the loss of endowment thus sustained, Congress granted to the state nineteen thousand and forty acres of public land in Indiana "for the use of the Indiana University." (Act of February 23, 1854. )
In the Constitution of the state, adopted in 1816 upon its admission to the Union, the following provisions occur with respect to education :
ARTICLE IX.
Section 1. Knowledge and learning, generally diffused through a com- munity, being essential to the preservation of a free government, and spread- ing the opportunities and advantages of education through the various parts of the country being highly conducive to this end, it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to provide by law, for the improvement of such lands as are, or hereafter may be granted by the United States to this state for the use of schools, and to apply any funds which may be raised from such lands, or from any other quarter, to the accomplishment of the grand object for which they are or may be intended : But no lands granted for the use of schools or seminaries of learning, shall be sold by authority of this state, prior to the year eighteen hundred and twenty ; and the monies which may be raised out of the sale of any such lands or otherwise obtained for the purpose aforesaid. shall be and remain a fund for the exclusive purpose of promoting the interest of literature and the sciences, and for the support of seminaries (18)
274
LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
and public schools. The General Assembly shall, from time to time, pass such laws as shall be calculated to encourage intellectual, scientific, and agri- cultural improvement, by allowing rewards and immunities for the promo- tion and improvement of arts, sciences, commerce, manufactures, and natural history ; and to countenance and encourage the principles of humanity, in- dustry and morality.
Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the General Assembly, as soon as cir- cumstances will permit, to provide by law, for a general system of education, ascending in a regular graduation from township schools to a state university, wherein tuition shall be gratis, and equally open to all.
SEMIN ARY FOUNDED.
In accordance with this provision of the Constitution, the General As- sembly, by an act passed and approved January 20, 1820, took the first defi- nite step toward the establishing of the Indiana University. The act is as follows :
AN ACT to establish a State Seminary, and for other purposes. [Approved January 20, 1820.]
Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, that Charles Dewey, Jonathan Lindley, David H. Maxwell, John M. Jenkins, Jonathan Nichols and William Lowe be, and they are hereby appointed trus- tees of the State Seminary, for the state of Indiana, and shall be known by the name and style of the trustees of the State Seminary of the State of In- diana, and they, and their successors in office, shall have perpetual succession, and by the name and style aforesaid, shall be able and capable in law, to sue, and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer, and be answered unto, as a body corporate and politic, in any court of justice ; and the trustees hereby appointed shall continue in office until the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, and until their successors are chosen and qualified.
Sec. 2. The trustees aforesaid, or a majority of them, shall meet at Bloomington, in the county of Monroe, on the first Monday in June next, or so soon thereafter as may be convenient, and being first duly sworn to dis- charge the duties of their office, shall repair to the reserved township of land in said county, which was granted by Congress to this state for the use of a
275
LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
seminary of learning, and proceed to select an eligible and convenient site for a state seminary.
Sec. 3. It shall be lawful for the trustees hereby appointed to appoint an agent, who shall give bond with security to be approved of by the trustees aforesaid, payable to the governor and his successors in office, for the use of the State Seminary aforesaid, in the sum of twenty thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties of his office; and it shall be the duty of the agent aforesaid, after taking an oath of office, to proceed to lay off and expose to sale, under the sanction of the trustees aforesaid, any number of lots, or quantity of land, within the reserved town- ship, aforesaid, and contiguous to Bloomington, not exceeding one section, or six hundred and forty acres thereof.
Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the agent aforesaid, first to expose to sale, such lots as may be selected most contiguous to the site which may be selected for the seminary aforesaid, and take of the purchase of any lots of lands which he may sell, under the provisions of this act, such payments and security therefor, as may be directed by the trustees as aforesaid.
Sec. 5. The trustees aforesaid, shall, so soon as they deem it expedient, proceed to the erection of a suitable building for a state seminary, as also a suitable and commodious house for a professor, on the site which may be selected by them for that purpose.
Sec. 6. The trustees aforesaid, shall within ten days after the meeting of the next General Assembly, lay before them a true and perfect statement of their proceedings so far as they have progressed under the provisions of this act, and a plat of the lots or lands laid off and sold, and the amount of the proceeds of such sales, and also a plan of buildings, by them erected, or proposed to be erected.
Sec. 7. The trustees hereby appointed, shall before they enter upon the duties of their office, give bond and security, to be approved of by the governor, in the sum of five thousand dollars, payable to the governor and his successors in office, for the use of the State Seminary, conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties of their office; and if any vacancy shall happen in the office of trustees, the governor shall fill such vacancy by an appointment which shall expire on the first day of January next.
THE TITLE CHANGED.
As a result of this legislation the new seminary was opened in May, 1824. Within three years it had made such progress in number of students
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
and the general character of its work that a board of visitors, appointed by the General Assembly in 1827, recommended that the Indiana Seminary be raised to the dignity of a college. This recommendation, approved by Gov- ernor Ray in his annual message, induced the General Assembly to pass the following act :
AN ACT to establish a College in the State of Indiana. [Approved January 24. 1828.]
Section I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana. that there shall be, and hereby is created and established a college, adjacent to the town of Bloomington, in the county of Monroe, for the education of youth in the American, learned, and foreign languages, the useful arts, sciences, and literature, to be known by the name and style of the Indiana College, and to be governed and regulated as hereinafter directed.
Sec. 2. There shall be a board of trustees appointed, consisting of fifteen persons, residents of this state, who shall be, and hereby are con- stituted a body corporate and politic, by the name of "The trustees of the Indiana College." and in their said corporate name and capacity may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, in any court of record, and by that name shall have perpetual succession.
Sec. 3. The said trustees shall fill all vacancies which may happen in their own body, elect a president of the board, secretary, treasurer, and such other officers as may be necessary for the good order and government of said corporation, and shall be competent at law and in equity to take to them- selves and their successors, in their said corporate name. any estate. real, personal, or mixed by the gift. grant, bargain, sale. conveyance. will. devise or bequest of any person or persons whomsoever, and the same estate, whether real or personal, to grant, bargain, sell. convey, devise, let. place out on inter- est. or otherwise dispose of. for the use of said college. in such man- ner as to them shall seem most beneficial to the institution, and to receive the rents. issues, profits, income and interest thereon, and apply the same to the proper use and support of the said college. and generally. in their said cor- porate name, shall have full power to do and transact all and every business touching or concerning the premises, or which shall be incidentally neces- sary thereto, as fully and effectually as any natural person. body politic or corporate may or can do. in the management of their own concerns, and to hit enjoy. exercise and use the rights, powers and privileges incident to andres politic or corporate. in law and in equity.
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LAWRENCE AND MONROE COUNTIES, INDIANA.
Sec. 4. The said trustees shall cause to be made for their use, one common seal, with such devices and inscriptions thereon as they shall think proper, under and by which all deeds, diplomas, certificates and acts of the said corporation shall pass and be authenticated.
Sec. 7. The said board of trustes shall, from time to time, as the in- terests of the institution may require, elect a president of said college, and such professors, tutors, instructors, and other officers of the same, as they may judge necessary for the interests thereof, and shall determine the duties, salaries, emoluments, responsibilities, and tenures of their several offices, and designate the course of instruction in said college.
Sec. 9. The president, professors, and tutors, shall be styled the faculty of said college; which faculty shall have the power of enforcing the rules and regulations adopted by the said trustees for the government of the students, by rewarding or censuring them, and finally by suspending such as, after repeated admonition, shall continue refractory, until a determination of a quorum of the trustees can be had thereon; and of granting and conferring, by and with the approbation and consent of the board of trustees, such de- grees in the liberal arts and sciences as are usually granted and conferred in other colleges in America, to the students of the college, or others who by their proficiency in learning or other meritorious distinction may be entitled to the same, and to grant unto such graduates, diplomas, or certificates, under their common seal, and signed by the faculty to authenticate and per- petuate the memory of such graduations.
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