Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-10-06
IN AND ABOUT Town.
NO. X.
WESLEYAN yEMALE COLLEGE.

will compare favorably with those of any
other city or town in the country, in any
point of view. Among the number is the
Wesleyan Female College, situated in French
Street, near Sixth, belonging to the Metho.
dist Episcopal Church, under the control of
the Philadelphia Annual Conference.
In 1885, the subject of female education
was presented to the Philadelphia Annual
Conference, and committee was appointed
TO receive communications and proposals
for establishing female seminary in the
southern part of the Conference" This
committee not finding contributors, as was
anticipated, made no written report at the
succeeding conference, and were discharged
from further duty in the case. In 1887 the
educational committee took up the subject of
female seminsries, and In their annual report
said THAT it is inexpedient to bear the ex.
pense of purchasing site, building or build.
ings, for the establishment Of a female semi
nary under the control and patronage of the
Conference, but if any of our friends will,
on their own responsibility, establish a
seminary in Wilmington and another further
south between the Chesapeake and Delaware
bays, your committee beg leave to recon-
mend TO the Conference to extend its patron
age in establishing, encouraging and en-.
deavoring to support such an institution or
institutions. This report the conference
adopted correspondence was opened
between the proprietor of the Seminary at
seatdtd and Rev. VIM. A. Virgins, in charge
of Asbury NJ. E. Church in this CITY. This
correspondence resulted in the change of the
location of the Resleydn Female Seminary
from seaford to Wilmington. On the sec
ond Monday in October, 1887, the Seminary
was opened under the charge of the Rev. 8
Frettyman, in building which had been
rented and fitted up for the purpose at what
was then 175 Market Street, with ten schol.
srs In few weeks the number increased
10 between twenty and thirty, and the most
intelligent and influential citizens lent their
alo' contributing not a little to insure its
success The first house occupied was soon
found to be too small for a boarding school
larger building was secured and fitted M
to which the school was removed on the
25th of March, 1898. The Ministers of the
Philadelphia Conference took every occasion
to commend the Seminary to their friends.
ana hnally the Baltimore and New Jersey
Conferences united with the Philsdelphia
and extended their patronage to the Yves.
leyan' In the latter part of the year 1888,
the building that had been fitted up for the
reception Of the students, at the corner q,
Ninth and Market Streets was found too
small for the accommodation of all who
sought admission. 1t became NECESSARY
either to enlarge it, or procure another that
would be sufficiently roomy. At this Juno.
ture the project of a new building was sug-
gested' A meeting was held and liberal
proposal being made by David @. Wilson.
Esq, the erection of new ediHce was de.
termined upon. These engagements were
entered into in February, 1889, and ON the
I'd day of June following, the laying of the
cornerstone of the Seminary in French
street above Sixth took place, in the presence
OF the students and faculty, and number Of
other persons. This stone was laid bv Mr.
John Finn, at the northeast corner of the
main building. In ten months from tina,
date the whole establishment, As by SO feet,
including back buildings, was finished and
occupied
In 1910 the Board of Council and q mum,
Der OF citizens, united and petitioned to the
Legislature for the grant of charter. which
was obtained in February 1s4i. This Act
besides regularly incorporating the Institu
tion' clothing it with the powers and privi.
leges of corporate bodies In general, and
providing for the permanency and regular
succession OF Board of Trustees, Council
the authority ito confer Degrees and give Di
plomas, gave it all the powers and privilege,
usually granted to Colleges; thereby constitu
ting the Wesleyan Female Collegiate Institute
properly Female College Under these new
regulations the plan of instruction was some.
what improved, and the school gradually
increased in the number Ct its students.
In 1874, monthly journal was issued
from the College, called the "Psmale Student
md Young Ladies' Chronicle.r Its rubliea
tion was continued for three years. 1t con
tanned much matter which was very interest.
ing, and was well supported by the students
ana graduates of the Institution. From
ls47 to 1850, the College was not SO prosper.
ous' and became considerably involved.
In 1850, the Institution passed from Mr..
Prettyman into the hands of number OF
gentlemen, who purchased it for the NJ. E.
Church, under the control OF the Philadel.
phia Conference. 1t was conducted for ono
year by Prof T. E. Sudler, graduate of
West Point, and for several years Professo
OF Mathematics in Dickinson College, with
indifferent success, although every effort was
used by the Ministers of the Conference IN
increase its patronage, About this time the
name was changed to the "Wesleyan Fe.
male College" BIr. sudler was succeeded
by the Rev George Loomis, gentleman OF
high scholastic attainments and excellent
qualifications for the position. Under his
administration the college was very prosper.
Gus, and the large handsome building on
Sixth Street was erected in 1854. Mr. Loomis
retired in 1857, and the Conference selected
1. .. Thompson and Prof L. C. Loomis. tn
conduct the College conjointly. Under this
direction, from some cause or other tina Col.
lege was not as successful as had been expect.
ed it would be byits friends. In 1859, the Rev
John Wilson was selected as the Presiden,'
ond med control of the institution. =
Under his m.nsoe,r.r, = has steadily pro.
creased. until NOW !. r.rLs ,s;,t A.. -, Fs.