Graceland University, February 1927 article

WALKER, HOPKINS, FITZPATICK, PENCE, GUNSOLLEY, BRIGGS, MCDOWELL

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/31/2016 at 16:16:03

Waterloo Evening Courier
Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa
Saturday, February 05, 1927, Page 8

LAMONI COLLEGE IS REALIZATION OF WOMAN'S DREAM
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At 92, Mrs. Marietta Walker Watches Institution Her 20 Acres Started.

Lamoni, Ia., Feb. 5. - (AP) - Originated as a dream in the mind of Mrs. Marietta Walker and others promient in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Graceland college was opened here in a downtown building 32 years ago.

Mrs. Walker, now 92 years old, called "the Mother of Graceland," saw the first realiztion of her dream when she donated a tract of 20 acres of land in east Lamoni and 13 adjoining that plat were donated by W. A. Hopkins for establishment of a church school.

The orginal building was erected on the hill on which Mrs. Walker's land was located, and was ready of occupancy in the winter of 1896-97.

Three Faculty Members.

With a faculty of three persons, Graceland college opened: T. J. Fitzpatrick, president and teacher of mathematics and science; J. T. Pence, English and languages, elected president in 1896; and J. A. Gunsolley, commercial school, a member of the faculty until his retirement this year [1927]. In the three score years the college has been open, 10 presidents have served it.

Twenty-one students were counted in the first student body, while one was in the first graduating class in 1898. The 1899 class of four was graduated from the regular college work, a clss from the commerical and one from the expression department. The first boys' dormitory, Marietta hall, was erected two years later, and Patroness hall for girls in 1906. The latter was destroyd by fire Jan. 2, last.

Now Fully Accredited.

George N. Briggs came to Graceland as president in 1915 and under his direction the college received state and national recognition as fully standarized and accredited junior college in 1918. A third year of instruction was added in 1923, Dr. F. M. McDowell, dean of the junior college, aiding Professor Briggs in this work.

Briggs hall, a recitation hall with temporary girls' dormitory on the third floor, was built in 1922; the gymnasium, Zimmerman hall, in 1923-24; while Herald hall, boys' dormitory, has been established in town as a temporary necessity. The college plans to build a large brick dormitory for the girls this spring.

The growth of Graceland has been steady, and the school stands out among the smaller colleges of the state for its cosmopolitanism. It draws students from a wide territory,a nd from all nationalities and classes of people. Thru its religious education department, the college sends ministers to all parts of the world. Its present student body number about 300, while there are 18 members of the faculty.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016