Page:Shimer College History 1853-1950.pdf/6

 workers, as well as to furnish the new building "from attic to cellar."

In those days Mount Carroll Seminary offered a variety of courses, covering six years of study. These were the Primary, Advanced, Teachers' and Collegiate Courses. Later the Primary became the Preparatory Course and Advanced became the Academic Course. In the first printed "Register and Circular" Miss Wood states, "As we claim the female mind is susceptible of the same cultivation as the male, and that there is equal demand for it, the same graduating course is prescribed for both. Their minds will be trained to vigorous thought, enlarged views and practical efficiency ... The time devoted to each study is not specified as students will be advanced from class to class according to their progress."

Not only intellect, but character was to be trained. Along with books, music and art were studied, ideals of sincerity, thoroughness, purpose and self-reliance were instilled.

In addition to doing her share of the teaching, Miss Wood kept the accounts, toiling over them far into the night She writes, "Here are no less than eight great account books standing in my writing desk in solemn array right before me waiting with impatience my attention.  They must be posted and ready to submit to the Board next Monday ... bills for the quarter scarcely straight ... next week I must commence making bills for this quarter ... As soon as I am out of school I have to go to the Library, seat myself at my desk, pen in hand, till midnight, and not infrequently writing from five to ten letters besides accounts, bills, etc in one evening." While serving thus as bookkeeper and treasurer she often allowed herself only four hours of sleep a night, while Miss Gregory carried the heavy end of the educational work and was the disciplinarian. The students dreaded her displeasure expressed by a "withering look."

Six months after transferring to permanent quarters, the Board, profoundly discouraged because of the school's financial plight, offered the property to Misses Wood and Gregory for the contract price of the building, $4500, proposing to donate the five-acre site, as well as the furniture if the ladies would agree to continue the school for ten years. The offer was accepted. To validate the transfer a new charter, vesting all rights in the two principals, was obtained from the Legislature. With a small legacy from the estate of Miss Wood's father and financial help from eastern backers, the two women took over full proprietorship in the struggling, young institution. And it was only by dint of hard work in schoolroom and office, most careful management and attention to detail, plus complete dedication to the task, that the two young proprietors were able to win through.

Miss Wood personally supervised the landscaping and planting of the campus. Twenty additional acres, adjoining the original five, were acquired and the entire rectangular tract planted for both use and for beauty. A line of evergreens was set along the rim of the grounds that stood for years, tall and straight, like