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Guide to the Central University Collection (Richmond, Ky.),
kccCC-131 Guide to the Central University (Richmond, Ky.), 1872-1901 Processed by: John LeDoux; machine-readable finding aid created by:Thomas Enneking Special Collections Grace Doherty Library Centre College Danville, Kentucky 40422 USA Phone: (606) 238-5274 Fax: (606) 236-7925 Email: glass@centre.edu URL: http://www.centre.edu/web/library/sc/spec_coll.html Copyright 1998 Centre College Libraries. All Rights Reserved. Machine-readable finding aid derived from Microsoft Word. Date of source: 1982 Description is in English. Guide to the Central University Collection (Richmond, Ky.), 1872-1901 Contact Information Special Collections Grace Doherty Library Centre College Danville, Kentucky 40422 USA Phone: (606) 238-5274 Fax: Fax: (606) 236-7925 Email: glass@centre.edu URL: http://www.centre.edu/web/library/sc/spec_coll.html Processed by: John LeDoux Date Completed: 1982 Encoded by: Thomas Enneking Copyright 1999 Centre College. All Rights Reserved. Central University (Richmond, Ky.), 1872-1901 CC-131 Central University 1.6 linear feet, 2 boxes, 13 volumes The materials are in English. The collection, although small, include the minutes of the Alumni Association and the Board of Curators in their entirety from 1873 to 1901. The University's publications are well represented including catalogs, yearbooks and student literary magazines. Most interesting are papers dealing with the Tilman Robb controversy which provide an interesting sidelight. Central University, founded as a result of the split of the Presbyterian Church in Kentucky into Northern and Southern branches over the issue of slavery, ran several associated institutions during its existence, but due to continued financial difficulties consolidated with Centre College in 1901. No online items. Must visit contributing institution. Centre College Special Collections Danville, Kentucky 40422 USA Open to researchers. Copyright has been assigned to Centre College. [Identification of item], Central University (Richmond, Ky.), 1872-1901, CC-131, Special Collections, Centre College, Danville. Central University (Richmond, KY) Central University was founded as a result of the split of the Presbyterian Church in Kentucky into Northern andSouthern branches. While the Presbyterian Church had divided into two branches in 1861, principally over theissue of slavery, the Church did not split in Kentucky until 1867. The branches both claimed control of CentreCollege in Danville, and it took a Federal court to determine that the Northern branch retained control of theinstitution. A group of concerned members of the Southern Synod met and formed the Alumni Association ofCentral University. The University was chartered on March 3, 1873, and the Association began raising funds. The Association called for an endowment of $150,000, but received pledges for $220,000. Anchorage,Kentucky, was the location selected, but when the citizens of Richmond and Madison County pledged$101,000, the school opened there on September 22, 1874 with at total of 224 students. The Alumni Association appointed the Board of Curators, which served as the trustees. Eventually, theSouthern Synod took over direct control of appointing the Board of Curators in exchange for the Church'sfinancial support. The school itself was headed by a chancellor. Robert L. Breck served in that capacity from1874-1880. He was succeeded by Lindsay H. Blanton, who served until the merger with Centre College. Almost from the beginning, Central faced financial problems. The original endowment was in promissory notesand pledges, a large number of which went uncollected due to the Panic of 1873. Another important endowmentdrive was hampered by the Panic of 1893. Enrollment was also a problem. It dropped every year of Breck'schancellorship, and the school never graduated a class larger than 25 students. These problems eventuallymeant consolidation with Centre. During its existence Central ran several associated institutions. These included a law school, a medical school(located in Louisville), a dental school (also located in Louisville), and a preparatory department. In addition,Central ran three other prep schools in the state. These were the S.P. Lees Collegiate Institute (in Jackson), theHardin Collegiate Institute (Elizabethtown), and the Middlesborough University School (Middlesborough). TheUniversity itself became co-educational in the 1890's with women first graduating in 1896. In 1901, beset with financial difficulties and small enrollment, Central University agreed to consolidation withCentre College. The new institution would be located in Danville, and known as the Central University ofKentucky. An act of the State Legislature in 1918 changed the name back to the Centre College of Kentucky. November 1867 Complete separation of Kentucky Presbyterian Synod into Northern and Southern branches. 1871 Southern Synod lost court case involving control over selecting members to Centre College Board of Trustees. 1872 Series of meetings of ministers and laymen of Southern Synod to form an Alumni Association of Central University. 3 Mar 1873 Kentucky State Legislature granted charter of Central University to Alumni Association. 13 May 1873 Anchorage, Ky. chosen as site for Central University, but was later withdrawn. 11 Nov 1873 Richmond chosen as site for Central University. 28 Apr 1874 Robert Levi Breck selected as Chancellor. 26 Aug 1874 Rev. James W. Pratt elected President of the Faculty. 22 Sep 1874 Central University officially opened for classes. 1879 Dr. James Venable Logan elected President of Faculty. 1880 Lindsay Hughes Blanton succeeded Breck as Chancellor. Young Men's Christian Association organized. 1882 Appearance of social fraternities. 1883 Memorial Hall dormitory built. The Atlantis , student literary magazine, began publication. 1884 Southern Synod took over direct control of appointing members to the Board of Curators. 1886 College of Dentistry in Louisville established. Chancellor's residence built. 1890 Preparatory school building built. Jackson (S. P. Lees) Collegiate Institute established. 1892 Hardin Collegiate Institute established. Military training introduced. 1893 Central University defeated Centre College, 20-18, for mythical Kentucky state football championship. 1895 Women admitted for the first time. First issue of student yearbook, .Cream and Crimson . 1896 Middlesboro Collegiate Institute established. 13 Feb 1897 First issue of student newspaper, Central News , appeared. Oct 1897 College of Law reopened in Richmond. 1899 Miller gymnasium built. 16 July 1901 Consolidation of Central University and Centre College. The collection is not particularly rich and is very small, especially when one considers that Central Universityexisted for 28 years. Happily, there are some exceptions to this statement. The minutes of the AlumniAssociation and the Board of Curators exist in their entirety from 1873 to 1901. It is here that one will find theofficial history of Central University, since these were the bodies responsible for founding and administering theinstitution. The University's publications are also well represented. There are catalogues from every academic year excepttwo, 1879-80 and 1900-1901. Yearbooks remain from three of the last six years of the University. In addition,there are 19 issues of the Atlantis, the student literary magazine. The papers dealing with the Tilman Robb controversy provide an interesting sidelight. Young Mr. Robb wasdismissed from the University by the faculty for cheating on an examination. His father, an acquaintance ofChancellor Blanton, protested. Blanton sided with the Robbs, arguing the penalty was too stiff and that Robbhad not had a fair hearing. The lines were drawn and the ill feelings generated between Chancellor and facultycontinued beyond the incident. Tilman Robb went on to become a physician. A major weakness of the collection is the lack of records before 1880. No records remain from the chancellor'soffice during the tenure of Robert L. Breck. The records from L.H. Blanton's tenure are few in number,considering Blanton served for 21 years. (See also CC-63 L.H. Blanton Papers for material on Blanton after1901) There is also little about student life. What does exist is almost entirely programs for commencements orpresentations of the literary societies. Fortunately, a complete list of graduates exists, often adding a sentenceor two on what the person did upon leaving the University. Overall, the collection is very small and not likely to give on a good history of Central University. The minutes ofthe Alumni Association and the Board of Curators will give an official history, but, as a rule, there are notsupporting documents in the collection. An exception would be the Tilman Robb incident. Copies of much of the material in this collection is available at the Eastern Kentucky University Libraries,Special Collections and Archives Section. Related Material See CC-63 L.H. Blanton Papers for material on Blanton after 1901. Container List CC-131 Histories 1 (#1) Contains a picture of the Central University Building, printed on a letterhead dated March 18, 1875. Also contains two copies of Central University by Jonathan Truman Doris, reprinted from the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society 32, April 1934, pp. 91-124. Guide to the Collection of Central University Records, 1873-1901 (at EKU Archives) CC-132 Alumni Association Series A Minutes 1 Minutes of Alumni Association meetings, 1873-1901 Series B Donation Books 1-3 Contain lists of original subscribers to Central University, 1872-1873 Series C Subscription Sheets 1 (#2) Contains 3 sheets listing subscriptions to Central University, undated, ca. 1872-1873 Series D Speeches and Programs 1 (#3) Contains an article "The University Days", by Joel T. Wade (undated); an advertisement for the original subscription drive; copy of address given by J.A. Sullivan, June 12, 1888; copy of address given by Congressman Harvey Helm of Kentucky, December 16, 1911; and a program of a meeting of the Madison County Alumni Association on June 6, 1892 CC-133 Board of Curators Series A Minutes 1-2 Minutes of Board of Curators Meetings, ca. 1873-1901 Series B Correspondence and Reports 1 (#4) Four letters from 1898-1899; announcement of a new class in theology; excerpts from the charter defining roles and powers of officers of the University; notes from May 3, July 3, and July 8, 1901 meetings. Executive Committee meeting reports from May 10, July 2, and July 3, 1901; two reports from Synod of Kentucky concerning consolidation (undated); "Resolution re Dr. Barbour", July 3, 1901; and April 5, 1901 report re Hospital college. CC-134 Chancellor's Office Series 134.1 Robert L. Breck, ca. 1874-1880 No records Series 134.2 Lindsay H. Blanton, ca. 1880-1904) Series A 1-3 (#5-7) Contain official correspondence of L.H. Blanton 4 (#8) Contains personal correspondence arranged chronologically; included is a partially completed application to the Sons of the American Revolution Series B Relations with Board of Curators 1 (#9) Contains 13 letters from E.M. Green, Chairman of the Board of Curators; extracts of minutes; copies of petitions; statements submitted by Blanton and other items. Undated items at the beginning, ca. 1896-1901 Series C Tilman Robb Controversey 1-4 (#10-13) Contain all material related to Tilman Robb's dismissal. Includes reports, summaries, statements & correspondence, ca.1898-1900 Series D Speeches and Reports 1 (#14) Contains speech given December 13, 1900 opening the Louisville College of Dentistry; an address given April 10, 1901 concerning consolidation with Centre; an undated (probably 1900) sketch of the University, ca. 1900-1901 CC-135 Registrar's Office 1 Contains class records from 1874-1901 2 Contains lists of non-graduate students from 1874-1901 1 (#15) Contains miscellaneous class lists; lists of Board of Trustees, Board of Curators, Treasurers, Chancellors, Presidents of the faculty, Professors, Instructors, Librarians, and Honorary Degree winners 2 (#16) Contains student lists by classes from 1875-1892 3 (#17) Contains student lists by classes from 1893-1901 4 (#18) Contains handwritten student lists to 1900 5 (#19) Contains typed list "Alumni not correctly recorded in the files of Centre College." ca. 1875-1901 CC-136 Legal Documents 1 (#1) Contains agreements, contracts, county clerk reports, mortgages, court petitions, and the agreement for consolidation of Central and Centre. Undated material at the beginning, ca. 1886-1901 CC-137 Financial 1 Account book, Balances Due, ca. 1874-1884 1 (#2) Contains lists of subscriptions paid, expenses, debts, notes received, financial reports, correspondence with lawyers on collecting notes due, and lists of assets. Undated material at the beginning, ca. 187?-1901 CC-138 Associated Institutions 1 and Folder 1 Contain all documents including correspondence, calendars, announcements, and agreements related to the institutions associated with Central University Series 138.1 Caldwell High School 1 (#3) Contains calendar for the school year 1896-97 Series 138.2 Hardin Collegiate Institute 1 (#4) Contains 8 letters between J.E. Austin, Principal and Chancellor L.H. Blanton Series 138.3 College of Law 1 (#5) Contains announcement for the year 1900-1901 Series 138.4 S. P. Lees Collegiate Institute 1 (#6) Contains notes on the school by J.M. Moore (undated); three letters and a program of dedication exercises, ca. 1892-1899 Series 138.5 College of Medicine and College of Dentistry 1 (#7) Contains 5 letters and 1 set of minutes of committee appointed to consider and take action on faculty recommendations, ca. 1900-1901 Series 138.6 Middlesborough University School 1 (#8) Contains petitions, specifications for construction, bids, and correspondence. Undated material at the beginning, ca. 1896-1898 CC-139 Library 1 Catalogue of Landis Library donated by Rev. Robert N. Landis on September 15, 1877 2 Contains library accession numbers, beginning in 1877 and showing books taken out of circulation in 1948 when a part of Centre. See CC-7, Library CC-140 Faculty 1 Contains faculty records, 1883-1900 CC-141 Student Life Series A General (ca. 1881-1900) 1 (#9) Contains lyrics to college song (1892); an edition of University Hot Times (1900); and commencement programs from 1881-1899 . Oversize documents. Diplomas of Katherine Blanton (1895, Zoology & Botany); Katherine Blanton (1895, Physiology); Graves Griffith (1891, Bachelor of Arts); and Everett Wade Bedinger, Jr. (1879, Bachelor of Arts) Series 141.1 Literary Societies 1 (#10) Contains programs of joint celebrations of the Philalethean Literary Society and the Epiphyllidian Literary Society. Undated materials at the beginning, ca. 1887-1888 Series 141.2 Fraternities 1 (#11) Contains third annual letter (1890) of Kentucky Delta; Charter of the SAE fraternity is located in CC-30, Fraternities CC-142 Publications Series A Catalogues 1-25 Catalogues for every year except 1879-89 and 1900-01, ca. 1874-1900 Series B Yearbooks 1-6 One copy of 1896 edition, one copy of 1898 edition, and two copies each for 1900 and 1901 editions. Series C Atlantis 1-6 (#12-17) Contain copies of 19 issues of the student literary magazine. The run is incomplete, ca. 1887-1898 CC-143 Newspaper Clippings 1 Contains miscellaneous newspaper clippings, located in the newspaper clipping file 2 Central-Centre consolidation CC-144 Photographs 1 Contains photos of alumni include Everett Wade Bedinger, Jr.; Graves Griffith; and group shot of several Central Alumni who were commissioners to the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church, U.S. Located in photograph collection CC-145 Microfilm 1 Board of Curators meeting minutes 1873-1901. Located in audio-visual collection in archives