The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-04-01
WHITES INSTITUTE
CHANGE EFFECTIVE
MIR. and Mrs. John u. Hark-
ness Have Retired After
Long Service There.
RECORDS ARE CREDITABLE.
RESIDENTS OF RICHMOND AS
SUPERINTENDENT AND MA
IRON OF EARLHAM COLLEGE.

IRON Or EARLHAM CCELE1E.
Wabash, Ind, April John L
Hardness, superintendent, and Mrs
Hardness, matron of Whites Institute
one of the most successful institutions
Of its kind in the country, yesterday
severed their connections with the in
stitution and are succeeded by Mr.. and
Mrs. James Norman of Winchester
Ind
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Hardness have
been interested in educational and
charitable work in Indiana for many
years and have an acquaintance all
over the State due 10 their work here
They leave on account of lllhealth
and will return to their home in Hud
son, Mich, where they will reside III
the future having retired.
Mr. Hardness became superintend-
ent of the Raisin Valley (Mich.) Semi
nary in 1885. He remained there two
years and in 1887 became superintend-
ent of Earlham College, Mrs. Hank
utSo bclIlS, tic itlCllACii- IVY NiAAt'AA'e~"
at Earlham for ten years, retiring in
1897.
During the ten years at Earlham
Mr. Hardness did much for organizing
the finances of the college, being
treasurer as we'll as superintendent
and he took an active part in educa-
tional work during those ten years
During that time he made very
large acquaintance and has always
been prominent in the Indiana Yearly
Meeting of Friends and in educational
work
Four years ago Mr. and Mrs. Hark-
ness came to Whites Institute and as
a result of Mr. Harllness's superin-
tendency this institution has become
in reality the State orphanage, for
there are thirty of the ninety-two
counties in Indiana which send their
this institution.
Favors Michigan Plan.
Superintendent Hardness fayors the
abandonment of county orphanages
and the establishment of State or
phanage This is the method Of car
ing for the orphans in Michigan and
it has proved of value and a real
benefit for the orphans of that State,
he says.
Whites institute is governed and
owned exclusively by the Indiana
Yearly Meeting of Friends. 1t was
founded in 1853 The farm consists
of Gao acres Mr. White. the founder,
wished the institution TO be for the
benefit of poor white children, but for
years Indian children were educated
here Ten years ago the Indians were
no longer accepted and the institution
orphans
Largely through the influence of
Superintendent Hardness several
counties in Indiana were induced to
do away with their orphanages when
he took charge, and all of the wards
from these counties are sent to
Whites Institute.
Wabash. Howard, Kosciusl1o, Posey,
Wayne and Hendricks Counties now
send all of their children to this in
stitution and have no OrDhanages.
About twenty-six other counties send
a large number of their orphans here,
and as result children from all over
the State are sent here. The institu-
ton is merely self-supporting, being q
charitable organization, and orphans
sent are main tanned until they are old
enough to care for themselves.
Juvenile Court Wards.
Superintendent Hardness and Judge
Stubs of indianapolis, inaugurated
the plan of sending children from the
Juvenile Courts to the institution, and
as a result there are seventy of these
children now here. They come large
1y from indianapolis, Anderson, Mar
ion and Wabash. The work of reform
ing these boys has proven very sue
cessful, and as a result the institution
has gained great deal of prominence
in the courts of the State.
During the time Indian youths were
educated here the government had a
certain supervision, but the Friends
decided this was not carrying out the
provisions of the will of the founder
and the plan was changed. The $40
acre farm is one of the most beautiful
in the State and from the present
plan of management the income, none
of which reverts to the Friends or
leaves the farm, has maintained the
best of service.