ROCKFORD COLLEGE FOR WOMEN

As early as 1843 there was some discussion of the need of a college for the upper Rock River valley. A general convention of the churches of the northwest was held at Cleveland. Ohio, in June, 1844. at which education received much attention. It was decided that a college and a female seminary should be founded in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, respectively. A resolution was adopted that the "exigencies 'of Wisconsin and northern Illinois require that those sections should unite in establishing a college and a female seminary of the highest order—one in Wisconsin. near to Illinois, and the other in Illinois, near to Wisconsin.

The delegates upon their return, called a convention at Beloit in August. 1844. Three subsequent conventions were held at Beloit, because it was believed from the first that the college should be located at that place. The resolution of the first convention. affirming the need of both college and seminary, was reaffirmed in these subsequent conventions, representing especially the Presbyterian and Congregational ministry and churches in all the region. The union of these two churches in this movement may be attributed to the fact that each was weak as it stood alone, and only in union was there strength. At the fourth convention. held at Beloit in October. 1845. Beloit was selected as the seat of the college. and a board of trustees was elected, to whom was committed the development of both institutions. The first meeting of the trustees was held the same month. Upon the original board were Rey. Aratus Kent and Hon. Wait Talcott The charter for Beloit College was approved by the governor of the territory of Wis­ consin. February 2. 1846. Middle College. the first building. was begun in the autumn of that year.

Then began the discussion of a site for the seminary. Rockford and Rockton were rivals. But Beloit had been selected for the college and from the Puritanical point of view of those days. Rockton was considered not a desirable distance for a college for young ladies. Thus Rockford was given the preference. The Rockford Forum of October 29. 1835. published a call for a meeting at the Methodist church on Monday evening, November 3d. to consider the location of the seminary. This call was signed by thirty-four citizens led by T.D. Robertson. At this meeting it was resolved to attempt to raise the prescribed by the Beloit trustees as necessary $3500. A committee was appointed to elicit subscriptions consisting of Jason ?, George Haskell. Willard Wheeler, Asa ?, Anson S. Miller, P. B. Johnson and Horace Foote. The Forum of November 5, 1845, contains a full report of this meeting, also a lengthy editorial. Citizens pledged the required amount. The Forum of December 3d mentions, in a. sketch of the city, that the trustees of Beloit College have located the seminary at Rockford. A charter was granted February 25, 1847, to the following gentlemen as incorporators : Aratus Kent, D. Clary, S. Peet, F. Bascom, C. Waterbury, S. D. Stevens, A. L. Chapin, R. M. Pearson, G. W. Wilcox, A. Raymond. C. M. Goodsell, E. H. Potter, L. G. Fisher, Wait Talcott, Charles S. Hempstead and Samuel Hinman. These same gentlemen were the incorporators of Beloit College. The board of trustees was to consist of sixteen members, with power to increase the number to twenty-four. But disasters affecting the business interests of the village prevented the fulfillment of the pledges which had been made, and delayed the enterprise for a time : but it was never abandoned.

Meanwhile. June 11, 1849, Miss Anna P. Sill began a preparatory school, under the name of the Rockford Female Seminary. The recitations were held in the old courthouse building on North First street. Miss Sill came to Rockford from the east, with the expectation that her school would develop into the seminary which had been planned by the trustees of Beloit. This preparatory school was not the seminary proper, but rather its forerunner, and entirely under local management. Miss Sill was assisted by Misses Hannah and Eliza Richards. The number of pupils the first term was seventy, most of whom were under ten years of age. The opening of this school apparently gave an impetus to the consummation of the former plans for a seminary. The trustees were Rev. L. H. Loss, Jason Marsh, Anson S. Miller. C. A. Huntington, S. M. Church, Rev. J. C. Parks, Bela Shaw, T. D. Robertson, E. H. Potter, Dr. George Haskell, Asa Crosby. The academic year was divided into four terms of eleven weeks each.

In 1850 the citizens again made pledges aggregating more than five thousand dollars, for buildings, and the ladies pledged one thousand dollars for the beautiful grounds. This original subscription list is still in existence, though eaten away in places. It was found among the papers of the late Charles H. Spafford.

The year 1851 is thus regarded as the date of the founding of the seminary, according to the origi­ nal design. The recitations were conducted in the old courthouse building already noted. The seminary had been granted full collegiate powers by its charter, but it was called a seminary, as was customary for such institutions at that time. Seven of this first class of 1851 graduated in 1854 Only one, Mrs. William Lathrop, is now a resident of the city. The course then covered three years, and was later changed to four years.

The present college grounds were purchased from Buell G. Wheeler. The land originally ex­tended to the river, but a portion was taken by the Chicago & Iowa railroad. The property was not condemned, as the trustees preferred to sell rather than enter into any controversy. The grounds never extended farther east or north. They were never enlarged, and were reduced only on the west. The deed to this property was also found among Mr. Spafford's papers, and appar­ently had never left his possession. The reason therefor may be explained. Mr. Spafford was county recorder at the time ; he was also a trustee of the seminary and the treasurer of the board. The document would thus naturally remain in his possession. This deed and the original subscription list, previously noted, were presented to the college at the last commencement season by Mr. Spafford's family, and are now among its permanent records. The city of Rockford owes a debt of gratitude to three of its early citizens for the very existenec of this institution. At a critical moment in the formative period, Charles H. Spafford, Eleazer H. Potter and Dr. Lucius Clark mortgaged their homes and raised several thousand dollars to insure the success of the seminar.. This self-sacrifice by these gentlemen, who had faith in the future of Rockford, and who appreciated the value of higher education, has never been properly recognized, for the apparent reason that their course has not been generally known.

After the purchase of the grounds Mr. Wheeler said they were sold for much less than their real value. Mrs. Wheeler was deeply interested in the success of the seminary, and thus the property was obtained at a low price. Mr. Spafford also preserved a transcript of an itemized estimate of the cost of the first building, made by John Beattie. This document called for an outlay of seven thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven dollars and thirty-five cents.

July 15, 1852, the corner-stone of the first building was laid by Rev. Arastus Kent, president of the board of trustees.

After the acceptance by the board of trustees o f the financial pledges of the citizens of Rockford in 1850, it was deemed best that each institution should manage its own affairs. A provi­ sional local board appears to have been created at this time, and in 1852 the seminary passed into the control of a separate board of trustees. The principle of cooperation, however, continued to prevail, and certain gentlemen were on the official boards of the college and the seminary. In the lapse of years this number gradually diminished. The first formal appointment to the permanent faculty of the seminary was made in July, 1852, when Miss Sill was elected principal. In July. 1854, the collegiate course was divided into four departments : Mental and moral philosophy, mathematics and natural science, history and Eng­lish literature, ancient languages. The department of mental and moral philosophy was assigned to the principal. Miss Mary White was chosen teacher in mathematics and natural science.

In 1834 work was begun on Linden hall, the western wing. It received its name from the residence of one of its New England friends. From this place and from New York the larger part of the fund was obtained for its construction. In the 1835 Miss Sill raised a large sum of money among her eastern friends, especially in Boston. for the seminary, apparently to raise a deficit. Up to September 8, 1854, Miss Sill had secured in subscriptions the sum of three thousand- six hundred and fifty-nine dollars and sixty-seven cents. This fact appears from a financial statement made by Charles H. Spofford. According to the Rockford Democrat of August 1, 18;4, Mr. Milwain was the architect of Linden hall. and the plans and specifications called for an addition forty-one by sixty-four feet, and four stories. Linden hall was first separate from Middle hall, and then connected by a frame passageway.

In 1866 a second addition. Chapel hall, with its connecting corridors, was begun, and completed two years later. In 1871 Linden hall and Middle hall were connected by a corridor.

Of the first collegiate class admitted in 1851, seven were graduated in 1854, eight in 1855, sixteen in 1856, ten in 1857, eleven in 1858, ten in 1859, eleven in 1860, and nine in 1861, a total of eighty-two in eight years. There were then three departments—collegiate, normal and academic. During that time there were eighty-five others who entered the seminar y, but did not complete the course. Fort y-one were in the junior class in 1861. The whole number who shared in the instruction of the collegiate course during the first ten years was two hundred and six. One hundred and eighty-three had received instruction in the normal course, and the whole number of pupils for a longer or shorter time connected with the institution, including the preparatory courses, from the beginning in 1849 to July, 1861, was fifteen hundred and thirty. During this time there was contributed to the seminary from all sources the sum of thirty-nine thousand two hundred and twenty-eight dollars.

In the winter of 1886 Sill hall was completed. This building, erected at a cost of $15,000, with funds almost entirely provided by the citizens of Rockford, contains the gymnasium on the second floor and the music rooms on the first floor.

This completes the number of edifices erected during Miss Sill's lifetime. For the sake of clearness and completeness in this connection, it is to be noted that in the fall of 1892 Adams hall was opened. This is a fine, modern edifice, costing about $35,000. Of this sum Mr. J. L. Adams, of Chicago, contributed a large portion, and the remainder was chiefly given by the citizens of Rockford It contains all the laboratories and a number of large, well-lighted recitation rooms. The upper floor is occupied by the studio.

In 1891 Memorial hall, a residence for stu­ dents, was given as a memorial to Ralph Emerson, Jr This completes the list of structures used for the institution.

Having become the first principal of the seminary in 1849, Miss Sill filled that position until the summer of 1884, when she resigned, but as principal emerita she retained her connection with the school, when she died under the roof that her own strength and devotion had reared.

Miss Sill was followed by Miss Martha Hillard (now Mrs. Martha Hillard MacLeish), who was principal of Rockford seminary from 1884 to 1888. Her genial personality did much to increase the social power or the school, both at home and abroad, and the regret felt when her marriage caused her resignation was universal and very sincere.

Miss Anna Gelston was the next in the succession. 1888-1890: but her fragile health compelled her to relinquish the task in two years.

Miss Sarah F. Anderson (now Mrs. Sarah Anderson Ainsworth) became acting principal in 1890, and principal in 1891, a position she continued to occupy until 1896. Miss Anderson graduated from the normal depai lucent of the seminary in 1869, and for many years acted as financial secretary before she became principal, and her wise financial management forms one of the striking features of her administration. The whole body of alumnae knew her well, and were deeply attached to her. Through her efforts and those of Miss Jane Addams, who accompani her in a trip abroad, an unusually fine college of photographs was secured for the art department

When Miss Anderson resigned to be married in 1896, Miss Phebe T. Sutliff was made president of Rockford college, and continued in that office until 1901. Miss Sutliff bent all her energies toward raising the standard of scholarship, and, as a result of her efforts, the whole tone of the institution changed for the better in this respect.

For some time previous to Miss Sutliff's administration, the trustees had been working steadily to make Rockford a woman's college of the first rank. In 1882 a collegiate course of study was added to the seminary curriculum, and since then all students who have done the requisite amount of work have received the degree of A. B.

In June, 1891, the board of trustees decided to discontinue the seminary course, and in June, 1892. the name of the institution was legally changed from Rockford seminary to Rockford college, in order that the title might represent the work done. The last seminary graduates belong to the class of 1895. Begining with the class of 1896, all graduates have been college graduates.

On Miss Sutliff's resignation in 19or. Miss Emily K. Reynolds was elected president. Un­fortunately, Miss Reynold's health broke down before she had scarcely begun her work, and she was obliged to leave Rockford after only two or three months of residence. Even during this short space of time, however, she made her influence felt in establishing a system of self-government at the college and in helping to beautify the college home. On Miss Reynold's resignation, in 1902, Miss Julia Gulliver was elected president, and she now holds that position.

In 1903-4 there were 155 students and a faculty of twenty. The number of the faculty in proportion to the number of students is so unusually large that it will at once attract attention as guaranteeing an amount of personal care for the individual students that is impossible, save under just these conditions. The heads of the different departments are all trained specialists, and in gen­ eral the instructors have done advanced work above their college degrees. It may be added that the relation of genial and sympathetic com- panionship between the faculty and students is one of Rockford's distinguished characteristics.

All through its history Rockford college has been blessed in its trustees. They have been broad-minded men and women, who have counted not life itself dear unto them in their devoted labors for the best interests of the institution. Progressive, clear-sighted, courageous, they have laid its foundation in heroic self-sacrifice : they have reared its walls in honor. The present board worthily represents a long line of illustrious predecessors. Whatever can be contributed in the way of money, time, professional knowledge, siness sagacity and vital interest is given freely.
The marked musical preeminence of the city had its origin and inspiration in the musicaldepartment of the college, notably during the years when Professor D. N. Hood had it in charge (1858-1895).

The commencement of 1904 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the class of 1854. the first graduating class. There were seven of them, and all were living, and all were present to celebrate the occasion. An almost unprecedented event in the annals of any college this—that a graduating class should reach the half-century mark with its number unbroken, and for all those connected with Rockford college the commencement of 1904 will always be hallowed by the presence of these noble souls who had for many years fought the good fight and kept the faith.

 

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