CII818L8tl or SIYIITI·Ill IIYIITIST IIUCITIGI CENTURY OF ADVENTIST EDUCATION 1872 - 1972 ·,; Compiled by Walton J. Brown, Ph.D. Department of Education, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists ·t. 6840 Eastern Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20012 i/ .I Foreword In anticipation of the education centennial in 1972 and the publication of a Seventh-day Adventist chronology of education, the General Conference Department of Education started to make inquiries of the world field for historical facts and statistics regarding the various facets of the church program in education. The information started to come in about a year ago. Whlle some of the responses were quite detalled, there were others that were rather general and indefinite. There were gaps and omissions and in several instances conflicting statements on certain events. In view of the limited time and the apparent cessation of incoming materials from the field, a small committee was named with Doctor Walton J. Brown as chairman. It was this committee's responsibility to execute the project in spite of the lack of substantiation of certain information. We believe that this is the first project of its kind in the denomination's history. It is hoped that when the various educators and administrators re­ view the data about their own organizations, they will notify the Department of Education concerning any corrections and additions. They should please include supporting evidence from as many sources as possible. It is hoped that within the next five to ten years a revised edition may replace this first one. It would contain not only necessary changes, but also would be brought up to date. This is a reference work which should be available in all of the church institutions and education offices. As the complier, Doctor Brown, has attempted to verify the facts and figures from available sources. At the same time he, with the members of the committee, aclmowledge the possibility of error as well as omissions resulting from lack of any data. We want to thank all the educators and institutional administrators who assisted in making available information which has helped to make up this chronology. Charles B. Hirsch, Secretary General Conference Department of Education Preface This is an endeavor to gather into one volume chronological informa­ tion concerning the development of the Seventh-day Adventist educational system at the time when it has completed one century of existence, beginning with the first denominationally-sponsored elementary and secondary school in June, 1872. No claim is laid for completeness, for other schools and dates will surely appear which should have been included. It will not be difficult to find inexactitudes. Too many factors have contributed to uncertainties in dates, so that in certain places this work may rank with early Egyptian chronology in the accuracy of dates. Pioneers, worried about finances, the establlshment of new facilities, and overloaded wlth work, wasted little time in recording events that now are thought impor­ tant. In later years memories at times falled. Where some men occasional­ ly set down records, they in later times were sometimes followed by well­ intentioned, neat registrars or others who meticulously cleared out what ap­ peared to them to be old, yellow papers, sending to the incinerator irreplace­ able original sources. Even such sources as school bulletins at times tended to change historical narratives from one publication to another. T.he complier has gathered information from different kinds of sources: School bulletins, Yearbooks, The Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, histories of education and of schools by various writers, original letters, minutes of the General Conference Department of Education and of the Board of Regents, information from division and union secretaries of education, and other miscellaneous informants. Where he found discrepancies he at times made a "guestimate, " occasionally indicating the difference of opinion. He also feels that he niay have made errors both in time and in geography. Included in this volume are events dealing with the Department of Edu­ cation and practically all of the schools in the various academic levels until around 1890. In later years emphasis has been placed on the secondary and the higher schools, with a reference to elementary schools and junior acade­ mies where these may have been forerunners. There has been no special selective process in the schools that have been included. Information con­ cerning dates when some schools ceased to operate bas been unavailable. Dates for the beginning of schools vary. At times the word "estab­ lished" has meant that the land was purchased or that a committee voted to start a school. The word "founded" may also have different meanings. Where possible the compiler has tried to record the date when classes actually began. All schools are Seventh-day Adventist unless specified otherwise. Abbreviations used are the following: c. - .£,!!:£! (approximately). GC - General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. NAD - North American Division. SDA - Seventh-day Adventist Walton J. Brown Compiler Contents Page Introduction . 3 Preface 4 Contents 5 Years 7 Schools 57 Secretaries 187 Gatherings 231 Publications 239 Periodicals 251 _r YEARS. Note: A more detailed description of individual schools, including their relationship to other schools, is found in the section "Schools, 11 pages 57-186. 1853 First Seventh-day Adventist home school opened at Aaron Hilliard's home at Buck's Bridge, New York (St. Lawrence County). Five families co­ operated. Teacher: Martha Byington (Amadon), daughter of John By­ ington, the first president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. In 1854 Lucinda Paine taught the school in the Henry Hilliard home. In 1855 John Fletcher Byington taught the school. 1 8 54 First article by Ellen G. White warning church members to separate their children from worldly influences. In the Review and Herald, September 19, page 46, "Duty of Parents to Their Children." Schools opened: A home school was opened at Jackson, Michigan, taught by a church lady. A four-student home school opened in the home of Josiah Hart, at Northfield, Vermont. Was the first SDA school recorded in that state. 1 8 55 Home school initiated by Mrs. M. M. Osgood at Battle Creek, Michigan. 1 8 57 11 ._) James White wrote three articles entitled "Sabbathkeepers' Children, call­ ing for separation from the world. In the Review and Herald, August 20, August 27, and September 3. 7 1 8 6 4 Home church school in operation at Elder F. W. Mace's "Hillside Farm, " at Amherst, New Hampshire, possibly around this year. It was pos­ sibly the first SDA school in New Hampshire, and the first SDA school with boarding facilities. The date of opening and closing is unknown. Hannah Hartshorn was in. charge of the school in 1865. A school operated at Monterey, Allegan County, Michigan. Teacher: Ambrose Coventry. A church committee controlled the school. In 1865 or 1866 Harriet K. Buck (Hattie Runnery) was the teacher. 1867 The Battle Creek, Michigan, church employed Goodloe H. Bell as a teacher for one year A home school was established at Monroe, Wisconsin. Teacher: Mrs. Marian Truesdale. It was the first SDA school in Wisconsin. 1868 Bell's Select Private School operated at Battle Creek, Michigan. 1 8 7 2 Mrs. Ellen G. White had the first vision on education (January). The first comprehensive testimony on the philosophy and aims of C4ristian edu­ cation, called "Proper Education," are now found in Testimonies for the Church, volume 3, pages 131-160, and in Counsels on Education, pages 1-30. The first denominationally-sponsored SDA church school (elementary and secondary) opened at Battle Creek, Michigan, with 12 students (June 3). Teacher: Goodloe Harper Bell. 1873 Property was purchased for the establishment of a college (De'!ember 31), at Battle Creek, Michigan. 8 1874 The Seventh-day Adventist Educational Society was organized (March 11). Articles of incorporation were filed with Michigan (March 16). 1 8 7 5 Goodloe H. Bell prepared the first set of books used in SDA schools to ..1 teach Bible history. [For further chronology on publications, please see the section "Publications," pages 239-249. Battle Creek College opened at Battle Creek, Michigan with 200 students (January 4). It was moved to Berrien Springs in 1901. 1 8 7 7 The first college paper, a monthly, The Battle Creek College, was pub­ lished (January 11). It became a quarterly, The College Record, by July, 1878. 1 8 7 8 A church school in Missouri operated. Teacher: H. W. Carr. Until ap­ proximately 1884. 1 8 8 0 Schools opened: At Gatzian Mansion, in Portland, Oregon. Teacher: G. H. Starbuck. .J it operated for several years . .I A church school opened in the home of P. H. Cady, with 12 students, at Poy Sippi, Wisconsin. Teacher: Miss Allie Robinson (later Mrs. _j J. W. Westphal). 1884 has also been given as the date. 1881 An elementary home school was established in the home of Thielen Haus, on 9 1881, concluded the banks of Walnut River, in Rush County, Kansas. It served the Ger­ man membership. In 1887 it was moved to Lehigh. Later it was transferred again to Hillsboro. 1 8 8 2 Schools opened: Healdsburg Academy .(some spelled it Healdsburgh) opened at Healds­ burg, California with 38 students (April11). It was converted into a college in July, being chartered in the state October 2. It was closed in 1908. It included the first church school established in California. Teacher: Mrs. Sydney Brownsberger. The New England School (South Lancaster Academy) opened with 8 stu­ dents at South Lancaster, Massachusetts (Apri119). It included the first church school established in Massachusetts. A church school operated at Peoria, Texas. Teacher: Miss Maggie Dickerson (Haynes).