USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > Historical sketch of Brownell Hall > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
100
BROWNELL HALL
additions to the Library, and has furnished a "Guest Room."
The second matter in which the Alumnae in - terested itself was in regard to the scholarship of the school. A Committee was appointed to interview the Rector of the Hall and Bishop Worthington, asking that Brownell Hall be made an accredited school to our State Univer- sity and to women's colleges, but both Bishop Worthington and Dr. Doherty thought the move unnecessary, and it was not done until 1904, under Miss Macrae, when the same request was made and granted, since which time Brownell Hall has had students in colleges continuously.
The third effort of the Association has not yet been accomplished, viz: The privilege of naming one member of the Board of Trustees.
The Alumnae Association has been active in promoting a pleasant social relationship be- tween the faculty of the school and the citizens of Omaha, occasionally planning entertainments through the year, and it holds its annual busi- ness meeting during commencement week in the Library of the Hall.
In 1893 a financial panic came and Dr. Do- herty had hard work to continue the school. He had lived and labored in the school for twenty- two years, had married and made his home there, his children were all born there, and he was bound by all the ties of home and church to the school, and it was with genuine
101
BROWNELL HALL
sorrow that in 1897 he handed in his resigna- tion. With his family he moved to South Da- kota, where he continued his labors as a priest of the Church.
RT. REV. ARTHUR LLEWELLYN WILLIAMS, A. B.
+ 1899
art Galleries
THE MODERN SCHOOL. 1898-99-1913-14.
-
In 1899 Rev. Arthur L. Williams was made Bishop Co-Adjutor of Nebraska, and so served until the death of Bishop Worthington in 1908, when he succeeded as Bishop. His work in con- nection with Brownell Hall can hardly be called history; he is just in the midst of it, and is connected entirely with the last period. The growing demands of modern life and education present new and difficult problems. The map of Omaha is changing, making a new location for the school desirable, and as we write, the Bishop is even now considering moving the school to some place where there can be more extensive grounds and more modern buildings, but these are all problems for the future, and we write our closing chapter in the Third Building, under the Fourth Bishop and with the Tenth Head of the school.
In 1898 Mrs. Louise Upton of Detroit was engaged by Bishop Worthington and the Board as Principal, the Rector of St. Matthias Church being Chaplain of the school. Mrs. Upton was a good financial manager, and she was fortunate in coming to Omaha at the time of the Omaha Exposition, as that enterprise gave the business interests of Omaha and Nebraska a substantial and lasting push forward. She only remained three years, but in that time she demonstrated
106
BROWNELL HALL
the fact that there was a demand for such a school and that the school could once more pay its own expenses, which last was not only a very important thing to do, but something which is not usual with either Boarding Schools or Col- leges unless they are endowed.
Mrs. Upton secured the usual fine class of students, having over forty boarders and the average number of day scholars on the roll, and left the school well started in its latest chapter.
She was succeeded by Miss Euphan Macrae, a college woman with decided ideas in regard to woman's education, a thorough knowledge of college requirements, and splendid executive ability. Miss Macrae at once engaged young college graduates for teachers, and at the end of three years had her school accredited to our own State University and the University of Chi- cago and to every woman's college in the coun- try, who received certificated students.
Her teachers were most attractive young women and became very popular in Omaha homes, increasing at once the number of day pupils and the standing of the school. Together with Miss Macrae they encouraged "Higher Education for Women" and created a wave of interest in college education that continues with increasing force under the present administra- tion. Miss Macrae was a woman with unusual intellectual powers, and the patrons were in- deed sorry to hear of her resignation in 1909.
MISS EUPHEMIA JOHNSON. A. B.
109
BROWNELL HALL
Miss Edith Marsden, also a college graduate, was Miss Macrae's successor. She, too, had fine teachers who maintained the honor and standing of the school, but Miss Marsden only remained two years, and she made no particular change in the management of the school.
Her successor was Miss Euphemia Johnson, the present popular and efficient Principal.
The government of the modern school is quite different from that of former days. The system 'is one of self-government. Classes are organ- ized as they are in colleges, and there is a Stu- dents' Council which co-operates with the faculty.
Miss Johnson encourages young women to take all the education they can get, whether in boarding school or college or through clubs or correspondence. A glance at the list of "Enter- tainments, 1912-13" shows that even the amuse- ments are planned with the idea of promoting culture.
ENTERTAINMENTS 1912-13
September-
Welcome Dance-"Old Girls for the New." Initiation-By the Senior Class.
October-
Camp Fire Picnics.
Concerts : Chicago Opera Co.
Hallow-E'en Party.
November-
Presidential Election-(school election).
Concert: Madame Schumann-Heink.
Opera: Aborn Opera Co.
Thanksgiving Party.
110
BROWNELL HALL
December-
Concert: Miss Münchhoff and Mr. Landow.
Concert: Alice Nielsen.
January-
Twelfth Night Party.
Concert: Madame Calvé.
Opera: Aborn Opera Co.
February-
Musicale given by Piano and Voice Departments.
Concert : Max Pauer.
Theatre: "Blue Bird."
Theatre: Sothern and Marlowe in Shakespeare.
First Basketball Match.
Pre-Lenten Party given by Freshmen and sub- Freshmen.
Entertainment and Gymnasium Exhibit by Junior School.
March-
Concert: Julia Culp. Second Basketball Match. Indoor Meet.
April-
Class Picnics. Symphony Concert: Thomas Orchestra.
May-
Class Picnics.
Concert: Minneapolis Symphony.
Field Day, May 24. Domestic Science Luncheon.
Domestic Art Exhibit. Junior Day, May 31.
June-
Commencement Exercises.
One of the popular studies at present is Do- mestic Science, another Domestic Art. Physical Culture and Athletics receive much attention. Archery, Tennis and Basket Ball are thoroughly enjoyed by the students. Parliamentary tactics are taught in the class organizations, and much
THE GYMNASIUM
1914
CLASS IN PHYSICAL CULTURE
CLASS IN DOMESTIC SCIENCE
DINING ROOM
115
BROWNELL HALL
attention is given to dramatics and debating. Miss Johnson's first care, however, is as it should be, for students' character and spiritual welfare, next for their health, and then for their education.
She emphasizes the fact that all right educa- tion is toward character building, and to that end gives definite instruction in the Bible, Prayer Book, Church History and Missions. All through these fifty years the pupils have attended regularly the Church services and have been made to feel that Divine Service was the most important feature of the week's activities. "For the Divine Service is an in- valuable part of the Christian life, a great safe- guard against distorted ideas and weak-minded devotions, a great instrument of sobriety, peace, intelligence and depth in religion. It is a serv- ice of quiet and thoughtful worship, of medita- tion, of learning, remembering and reflection. There is much rest in it, much time to ponder, and pray, and relax in God from the strain of mundane life, spreading our souls out in the sunshine of heaven, drinking in the atmosphere of ancient holy deeds and thoughts, strengthen- ing our inner life by the fellowship of the com- mon prayer and lifting up tranquil hearts in piety and thankfulness to the God of our Fathers."
Through these fifty years the teachers have been almost exclusively women, though besides the Bishops and Rectors, lectures have been
116
BROWNELL HALL
given by Rev. F. M. Dimmick on Astronomy and Meteorology, which aroused such an interest in Astronomy that it was a very popular study for a long time; by General Alvord on the exact sciences ; by Mr. A. J. Poppleton on Biography, which course aroused both in students and teachers an interest in the lives of great men and great women ; and by Mr. J. M. Woolworth, whose lectures on "General History" were really collegiate in their scope. There have been a few male teachers of music or of the lan- guages, but not many.
The school has lived its life under four Bishops, Talbot, Clarkson, Worthington and Williams, and excepting for their influence and the labors of Dr. Doherty, it is almost entirely the product of Woman's Work. Hundreds of Christian homes in Nebraska are due to its teaching and influence. Many of the strongest teachers remained at the Hall a long time, and their personal influence was very great. Sev- eral others were there a shorter time, but were at once recognized as strong teachers.
The course of study has been altered from time to time, but is as high now, if not higher, than at any period in the school's history.
It was not until Miss Macrae's time that caps and gowns were instituted, but many earlier graduates rank quite as well in the great "World's Work."
One can hardly give even a sketch of the His-
117
BROWNELL HALL
tory of Brownell Hall without mentioning some of its stars among the students. According to the laws of reflection and refraction of light, Brownell Hall must necessarily shine with in- creased brilliancy because of their achievements. We cannot omit mention of the dearly beloved Anna Barkalow, poetic Edith Clark, and gentle Josephine Knouy, who many years ago preceded the rest of us to the "Better Land."
As "Stars" must be ranked, Mrs. Harriet Dakin MacMurphy, the well-known newspaper writer and authority in Nebraska on Domestic Science. Mrs. Ida Clegg Tilden, who has a national reputation as a Missionary and Philan- thropic worker; Mrs. Nell Brown Van Camp, writer of short stories; Miss Elizabeth Mc- Craken, the author, and Miss Edith Abbott, the Hull House worker and well-known writer on sociological questions. Mrs. Rose North Cham- bers uses her beautiful voice in the services of the Church, and to give pleasure to her friends. and there are many other "Stars of lesser mag- nitude," perhaps, who brighten the world by their beauty, talents and charm of character.
Many of the students have been teachers and in that way have lived useful, influential lives, but the vast majority have returned to that highest sphere of woman, the home life, and whether married or single have been better fitted for the ordinary pleasures and duties of the home by their education at Brownell Hall.
SCHOOL SONG
Oh, there's many a school and college, Full of wisdom one and all, But for fun and friend and knowledge, The best is Brownell Hall.
Chorus: Oh, it's Brownell, forever, We're school-fellows here together, We'll sing her due praises, We will sing to Brownell Hall. (Repeat Chorus.)
Oh, it's Brownell we will cherish, When our glad school days are gone, And we hope she'll never perish, As the course of life is run. Chorus (Repeat Chorus).
Alma Mater is our glory, Our greatest joy and pride; And we'll sing to her the story, As we stand here side by side. Chorus (Repeat Chorus).
MR. JOHN W. TOWLE
ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION
OFFICERS OF THE ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION, 1913-14
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Mrs. John W. Towle . Miss Hannah Forbes Mrs. D. W. Magowan Mrs. Denise Barkalow
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Mrs. George C. Smith Mrs. Fred Davis
Mrs. S. D. Barkalow
ALUMNAE
1868
*Helen Hoyt (Mrs. Horace L. Burr)
*Helen M. Ingalls (Mrs. Flemon Drake) 1871
Nellie Clarkson (Mrs. F. H. Davis)
Ida Virginia Clegg (Mrs. George Tilden)
Nellie Flint
1872
Idalyn Gwyer (Mrs. Willis Yates) 1873
Fanny M. Clark (Mrs. Philip Potter)
*Edith Clark (Mrs. Allan Fleming) Minnie R. Wilson
1874
Mellona M. Butterfield 1875
Anna Hayden (Mrs. Ashbel Patterson)
Carrie J. Lake (Mrs. Jay Morton)
Caroline L. McNamara (Mrs. S. D. Barkalow)
1876
May Campbell (Mrs. John C. Chadwick ) Meliora S. Hall (Mrs. T. L. Ringwalt) Jessie Mason (Mrs. Fred Harris) Ella White (Mrs. George Jones)
* Deceased.
122
BROWNELL HALL
1877
Josie Goodale (Mrs. W. T. Price) Mary A. Townsend
1880
Carrie Bennett (Mrs. F. H. Wilson)
May Dundy (Mrs. E. W. Lee)
Margaret Z. Maxwell
Jean Morton (Mrs. Joseph Cudahy)
Fannie Wall (Mrs. F. C. Wakely)
1881
Grace Mason (Mrs. Hiland Wheeler) Lettie M. Welch
Henrietta Wilson (Mrs. Daniel Boughton)
1882
Mamie Ambrose (Mrs. F. C. Revinius)
Susan Hager
Mary L. Waggoner (Mrs. G. W. Loomis)
Florence Ware ( Mrs. R. S. Hall)
1883
Caroline Dinsmore
Margaret Wilson
1884
Osie M. K. Abbott
Jennie Cooper (Mrs. George L. Whittiam)
Lulu Cremer (Mrs. George Griswold)
Fannie M. Latham (Mrs. Van Buskirk)
Anna J. Thomas
Anna Wilson (Mrs. J. D. McDonald)
1885
Hattie Drew (Mrs. Wm. Truman)
Daisy M. Reese (Mrs. Charles Sanford)
Leila Shears (Mrs. Albert Koch-Andrianno)
1886
Emma Fried (Mrs. W. S. Chambers) Ada McBride (Mrs. G. W. Sellers) Ida Wiggenhorn (Mrs. W. Arthur Meyer) Florence Yates (Mrs. George Voss)
*Deceased.
123
BROWNELL HALL
1887
Florence Ayers (Mrs. George Carter) Flora Castellar (Mrs. George J. Nash) Mary Gandy (Mrs. A. T. Timmerman) Elizabeth Hall (Mrs. Oscar Funke) Alta May Royce (Mrs. George Cassels Smith) *Cornelia Thomas (Mrs. John Hall) 1888
Bell Buckworth (Mrs. Cal. Diamond)
*Lucy Burgess
Leola C. Carter (Mrs. Newton Barkalow)
Minnie Comfort (Mrs. Edie) Carlotte E. Crawford
May Crawford Ethel Davenport
1889
Blance Buckworth Louie B. Roe
1890
Winifred Besley Kate E Drake
Angeline Hansen (Mrs. John L. Neble)
Maude L. Hayward (Mrs. J. B. Watkins)
Lulu Loring (Mrs. A. D. Annis)
Mamie Rainbolt (Mrs. W. H. Bucholz)
Jessie M. Tishue (Mrs. Will Longworthy)
1891
Amy Frances Barker (Mrs. C. W. Martin)
Edith Brant (Mrs. John C. Drexel)
Irene Labagh (Mrs. Charles E. Smith) Mary Lionberger
Mary E. Scott (Mrs. C. W. Pierce)
Carrie M. Thomas (Mrs. Henry S. Woolfender) Estella Thorpe (Mrs. Alfred Kneeland Smith)
1892
Pearl Barnes (Mrs. Boyle) Abba Willard Bowen
Jessie Conway
Naomi Everts (Mrs. John W. Towle)
Madge Means (Mrs. Toland)
Mary Murphy (Mrs. A. L. Conklin)
Hattie May Orcutt (Mrs. Berry) . Maud Anna Parsons
*Deceased.
124
BROWNELL HALL
1893
Edith Abbott Ellen M. Baird (Mrs. Paul Patton) Edna Elmer Louise Rheem
1894
Sarah H. Bowen (Mrs. C. H. Young)
Katherine D. Collins
Anna Couchman (Mrs. Henry Roberts)
Mary E. Couchman (Mrs. Arnold)
Elizabeth McCracken
1895
Flora Jane Besley (Mrs. Roland Spencer)
Winifred M. Cattle (Mrs. Byron R. Newton)
Charlotte Diebold (Mrs. Steven Langworthy)
1896
Helen Morgan Burnham (Mrs. J. B. Lewis) May Alice Hetzel (Mrs. Joseph V. Davis)
Mary Isabel Rice (Mrs. Fred Radcliffe)
1897
Lillian McCracken Alice Nelson
Edith Smith (Mrs. Clarence Richmond Day)
1901
Luree Beemer Laura Campbell (Mrs. George W. Lander)
Verenice Cochran (Mrs. George W. Egan) Hope Hanchett
Susie L. Robb
Minnie Storz (Mrs. Edgar A. Higgins)
1902
Olga Lamhofer (Mrs. George Charters)
1903
Alice French (Mrs. Oliver Carpenter) Elizabeth Goodell
1904
Helen Davis (Mrs. Walter Roberts) Isabelle French (Mrs. George W. Johnston) Gertrude Graves Katheryne G. McClanahan Edith M. Patrick (Mrs. Myles Standish) Olive Patterson
125
BROWNELL HALL
Mabel Perry (Mrs. Wm. Mickel) Maud Perry (Mrs. Howard Barnard) Alice Potter Josephine Roche
1905
Belle Bryant
Muriel Cattle (Mrs. W. H. Packard)
Katherine Lee Grable
Katherine Kilpatrick Helen Remgan (Mrs. Ralph Shephardson)
Dorothy Ringwalt Marcia Webber
1906
Carolyn Barkalow Bess Baum (Mrs. John Rouse)
Margaret Bruce
Shirley Castetter Florence Cattle Gwendolyn Cattle
Jean Cudahy (Mrs. Frank Wilhelm) Edith Fisher Annie C. Fry
Elsie Funkhouser
Mona Kloke (Mrs. Louis Clarke)
Ada Ostrander
Louise Peck (Mrs. D. Barkalow)
Mary Richardson
Letta Rohrbaugh (Mrs. J. C. Chapman) Ethel Taylor
Elizabeth Whittman
Eleanor Williman Louise Yiells (Mrs. E. B. Lefferts)
1907
Charlotte Fike Alice Fry
Lela Galloway Margaret Guthrie Evangeline Homan
Alice Cary McGrew (Mrs. Wilson Austin)
Elizabeth McMillan Denna Melick (Mrs. J. C. Swetzenberg) Dorothy Morgan (Mrs. Ralph Peters) Gladys Peters Elizabeth Pickens Ruth Rainey Alice L. Troxell (Mrs. Cyrus Bowman) Gwendolyn White
126
BROWNELL HALL
1908
Ethel Anderson
Margaret Busch
Carmelita Chase
Perle Eddy
Helen Forbes (Mrs. McPherson)
Zoe Fries
Gladys Graham (Mrs. Joseph Barlan)
Gladys Imprey
Grace Jackson
Margaret Koehler
Mary Lanning
Pauline Mills (Mrs. W. H. Temple, Jr.)
Mary Mellor
Aurel Murtey
Carrie Patrick
Fanny Putcamp
Annie Rogers
Nettie Wattles
1909
Eunice Arthur
Louise Barnard
Vera Benson (Mrs. James Love)
Ethel Bickford
Elizabeth Bruce
Margaret Buckley
Mary Buckley
Maude Butler
Mildred Butler
Margaret Douglas (Mrs. Edwin Turner)
Lela M. Faris
Dorothy Hall
Helen Haller (Mrs. Wilfred Arndt)
Ruth Hammer (Mrs. Harold Pritchett)
Ethel Irwin
Helen Koehler
Stella Love
Dora McGurk
Evelyn V. Park (Mrs. Guy C. Congdon)
Bernice Stewart (Mrs. George Porter)
Marguerite Stowitts
Amy Thomas (Mrs. Dickinson)
Jessie Thomas
Hattie Weller
Irma Willing
1910
Lois Majorie Alleman (Mrs. Louis Atkins) Katherine M. Beeson
127
BROWNELL HALL
Myrna M. Boyce Mary Alice Carter Margaret T. Cattle Mabel Irene Clarke Frances P. Damron Ida Rowena Darlow Irma M. Douglas Janet Ellen Hall
Ethel K. Holmquist Catherine F. Thummel
Helen Sylvig Hunter
Ida Belle Jones (Mrs. Boyd Blakeman)
Violet Carl Joslyn (Mrs. T. W. Magowan)
Helen Marguerite Matters Zoe Mellor (Mrs. Stanley Huffman)
Evelyn Bess Miller Stella Mulligan Daphne E. Peters
Hazel Rumsey
Helen Edith Smith
Margaret Spargo
Estella Belle Stephens
Olga A. Storz
1911
Bessie Willifer Cattle
Nona Ruth Cotterman
Bertha Dickey (Mrs. Blomfield Brown)
Catherine Huffman
Perna Jackson Ava G. Johnson
Helen Elaine Leet (Mrs. R. L. Todd)
Mildred I. Miles
Alma Brooks Seymour
Ruth Streitz
Ruth Wales Glenn Way
1912
Alice Lucile Bacon
Helen Blake
Harriet Copley
Halcyon Cotton Mary Alice Duval
Pauline Paul
Margaret Fugitt Anne Millard Gifford
Margaret Louise Salladin Stella Louise Thummel
Mabel Latham Allen Genevieve Brooks
Frances Eunice Hochstetler Stella Margaret Holmquist Eleanor Johnson
Eleanor Mackay
1913
Eva Gertrude Hall Alice Lucile Jaquith
128
BROWNELL HALL
Trenna Marie Chamberlain Bess Dickinson Gertrude Draper Hannah Elizabeth Forbes
Gladys Martin Kindred Charlotte Eva Mellor Marion Ruth Towle
Florence Ruth Walker
Fern Irene Gilbert
1914
Ruth Allen Beecher Elizabeth Hartwell Davidson
Lydia Emma Dawson
Mildred Marion Todd
Helen Louise Eastman
Naomi Everts Towle
Mary Etta Higinbotham
Helen Eugenie Van Dusen
Ruth Leavitt Howell
Isabel Vinsonhaler
Jean Margaret Hunter
Dorothy Stockett Knittle
Frances Neble Dorothy Smith
Margery Violet Smith
Eliza Belle Young
-
IMPORTANT DATES.
BISHOPS.
Rt. Rev. Joseph Cruikshank Talbot, D. D., Mis- sionary Bishop of the Northwest, 1860-1865, FOUNDER.
Rt. Rev. Robert Harper Clarkson D. D., 1865- 1884.
Rt. Rev. George Worthington, S. T. D., LL. D., 1885-1908.
Rt. Rev. Arthur Llewellyn Williams, S. T. D., 1908.
HEADS OF THE SCHOOL.
Rev. O. C. Dake, Rector, 1863.
Rev. Isaac Hagar, Rector, 1864.
Rev. Samuel Hermann, Rector, 1864-1869. Miss Elizabeth Butterfield, Principal, 1869-1871. Mrs. P. C. Hall, Principal, 1871-1876.
Rev. Robert Doherty, D. D., Chaplain, 1874- 1876; Rector, 1876-1897. Mrs. Louise R. Upton, Principal, 1898-1901. Miss Euphan Washington Macrae, A. B., Princi- pal, 1901-1909.
Miss Edith Dearborn Marsden, A. B., Principal, 1909-1911.
Miss Euphemia Johnson, A. B., Principal, 1911 -.
OTHER IMPORTANT DATES.
Brownell Hall Founded 1863
Brownell Hall Incorporated 1868
First Graduates 1868
Second Building
1868
Third Building
1887
Alumnae Association Formed
1889
School Closed 1897-98
First Pupils Certificated to College 1904
Talbot Scholarship Founded .
1905
Worthington Scholarships Founded
1908
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.