Old Marietta Papers - Number 26

 The Marietta Register, March 25, 1864

"Old Marietta Papers" was a series of columns compiled and published in 1863 and 1864 by Rodney M. Stimson, editor of "The Marietta Register."

The Institute of Education at Marietta was advertised at length in the "Friend" of September 11, 1830, by Rev. L. G. Bingham. It comprised four departments - Infant School, Primary School, High School, and Young Ladies' School.

March 24, 1831, Spring Term of the "Institute of Education" began. High School, Dr. N. P. Brown, a graduate of Williams College. Young Ladies' School, Miss Spalding from Ipswich Female Seminary, Massachusetts. Primary School, Miss Battelle and Miss Winchell. Infant School, Miss Howe. Writing School, Mr. A. Bingham.

April 1831, Rev. Mr. Bingham sold one-half of the "Institute of Education" to Mansfield French, who had been a teacher in the Preparatory Department of Kenyon College; after which Mr. French gave his attention to the management of the Institute.

Luther Bingham

July 1831, the young men of the High School in the Institute formed a "Manual Labor Association" - a kind of association just then beginning to come into notoriety in connection with educational institutions. By these associations, "Manual Labor," for a certain number of hours in a day, was compulsory upon the students - for health, the benefit of the pocket, etc. Shops were provided to work in and ground to labor upon. For some years these Manual Labor Associations had quite a "run," but for nearly a quarter of a century they have been among the "things that were." However good in theory, they failed in practice.

August 30 1831, David Putnam, Ephraim Cutler, Caleb Emerson, William R. Putnam, Dudley Woodbridge, John Cotton, Arius Nye, Luke DeWitt, and Levi Whipple, published a communication in the "Friend," that they had attended the examinations of the "Institute" and were "highly gratified with the management of the teachers and the progress of the scholars," etc.

March 15, 1832, in the evening a meeting of the friends of the "Institute" and of the advancement of education in Marietta was held - S. P. Hildreth, chairman, Douglas Putnam, secretary.

The Institute, it appears, had prospered so largely that it had outgrown its facilities for the accommodation of students. Mr. French, one of the proprietors (Rev. Mr. Bingham being the other), read a paper setting forth the wants of the Institute. Caleb Emerson, Arius Nye, and Dr. Cotton addressed the meeting. A committee of seven was appointed to consult upon the interests of the Institute and report an an adjourned meeting, Friday evening, March 23d, to-wit: C. Emerson, A. Nye, J. Cotton, D. Protsman, W. Thomas, R. Crawford, J. Whitney.

An able report in the premises was published in the "Friend" of April 7, 1832. The great advantage of Marietta for an institution of learning - health, beauty of location, etc., were duly set forth, as well as the profit to the town from such an institution. The result was a plan set on foot to erect a new building, donations for it to be received; also a Board of Trust was appointed, Caleb Emerson, James Whitney, S. P. Hildreth, John Cotton, Arius Nye, Weston Thomas, and Douglas Putnam.

April 7, 1832, the "Friend" announced: "The new building (for the Institute) is already commenced. It is to be very spacious and located on a high and healthful situation - far above the reach of our highest floods, and will have a very commanding prospect. The dimensions of the building are 75 by 40 feet. It is to be three stories in height, besides the basement story, with a dome above. The building, it is hoped, will be ready for the reception of scholars in the Fall."

Institute Building
(First Marietta College Building)

At this date the name "Institute of Education" appears to have been dropped for the "Marietta Collegiate Institute.."

About September 1, 1832, the Annual Catalogue was published. The number of pupils during the year was 230, of whom 117 were from abroad. Eight states were represented, among them: Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. In the High School, 33 had been in the languages. It was announced in the "Friend" as the intention of all concerned to make the Marietta Collegiate Institute an entirely public institution, so as to perpetuate its advantages on a permanent basis."

September 25, 1832, the Fall Term of the Marietta Collegiate Institute commenced. Miss Deborah Wells (subsequently Mrs. D. P. Bosworth) now became associated with Miss Spalding in the Ladies' Seminary; and "Mr. Smith," with Mr. French, in the High School. "Mr. Smith," then so humbly announced, was a graduate of Middlebury College, Vermont, and remained here nearly twenty-two years - became widely known as "Rev. Henry Smith, D.D., President of Marietta College," and since has been a Professor in Lane Theological Seminary, then Pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, and now is Pastor of a Presbyterian church at Buffalo, New York.

Henry Smith

January 26, 1833, public notice was given that the Institute which had before that time been under the "exclusive control of Messrs. Bingham and French," had been recently incorporated by the name of "Marietta Collegiate Institute and Western Teachers' Seminary" and placed under the direction of a Board of Trustees appointed by the legislature, "with the view of making it a public institution, and thus enlarging the sphere of its operations, and extending its usefulness." In pursuance of this design, the Trustees called a public meeting to be held at Library Hall, Wednesday evening, February 6, 1833. The call was signed by John Cotton, L. G. Bingham, Jonas Moore, and Douglas Putnam, committee of the trustees.

February 6, 1833, Wednesday evening, public meeting for the Collegiate Institute, held at Library Hall, according to notice previously given. Rev. John Spalding from the East (a Home Missionary Agent, we believe) made an eloquent address; also Rev. Mr. McAboy, on the practicability and importance of elevating the standard of education in the West, as connected with the great and interesting objects proposed by the Board of Trustees at this meeting. Rev. Mr. Smith, then a teacher in the High School, spoke particularly upon the Manual Labor system in connection with education, enlarging upon its merits. Rev. Mr. Vail, of Lane Seminary, spoke of the striking advantages of this system and presented a plan for the Institute, as adopted by the Board, requiring $20,000 to carry it into effect. It was resolved unanimously to attempt to raise the $20,000 in the East and the West, within twelve months, and to make an effort to raise $8,000 or $10,000 in town and vicinity, within three months. The books were opened on the spot, and within a few minutes, between $6,000 and $7,000 was subscribed by individuals present.

The plan then proposed was for an English Department to enable young men to obtain a thorough English education, training them for teachers; a Classical or Collegiate Department; an Academic Department, to prepare for the two higher Departments; and a Female Department.

February 25, 1833, Monday evening, was held at Library Hall, the first public Exhibition by the young men of the Institute, of which we have any account - by part of the members of the "Philodemic Society." The parts consisted of eight original orations:

Signs of the Times: Sidney Brooks, Buckland, Massachusetts.

Importance of Fixed Moral Principles: John M. Slocomb, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.

Physical Education: Luther Temple, Heath, Massachusetts.

Novel Reading, Israel Archbold: Harrison County, Virginia.

Public Opinion: John W. Bosworth, Marietta.

Virtuous and Intelligent Youth, the Hope of our Country: John W. Latta, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Literature and Civil Government as influenced by a general devotion to Party Politics: David Dunn, Mount Vernon, Ohio.

Christian Missions: S. P. Dunham, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Our notice of the infancy of Marietta College must conclude with the remark that the present Charter of "Marietta College," by the legislature, bears date January - , 1835. In that year, Rev. Joel Linsley, D.D., from Park Street Church, Boston, became the first President of the College. The first class graduated in the summer of 1838.

Joel Harvey Linsley