c.1880s College of the Sisters of Bethany Manuscript List Topeka Kansas Women

Description: This is an original antique c.1880s manuscript “Invitation List” for the women's college the College of the Sisters of Bethany of Topeka, Kansas. This is a notebook of lined paper with leather covers measuring about 8.5” x 5.75”. The name “J.W. Colwell” is written on the inside front cover which I think means this book was the property of Reverend J.W. Colwell who was a Dean of the college. The college was established as the Episcopal Female Seminary of Topeka in 1861 to provide Episcopal education for women in Kansas and operated until 1928. The first page of lined paper is tilted “College of the Sisters of Bethany – Invitation List” and is followed by 33 hand numbered pages with every other page in the notebook left blank and some additional unnumbered blank pages at the end. There are 17 pages with handwritten names and addresses with most of the addresses in Topeka including one person that resided at Throope Hotel in Topeka. There are about 180 names written in this book along with addresses for most of them who I presume were supporters of Topeka’s College of the Sisters of Bethany of Topeka. I don’t find a date on this book but I find some references to J.W. Colwell being connected to the College of the Sisters of Bethany of Topeka in the 1880s and 1890s so I’d date this to around that time period. I believe the Reverend J.W. Colwell was also involved with the women’s suffrage movement in Kansas. This antique original booklet is fully complete and well intact and in good shape with moderate wear, a bit of bowing and toning from age. The following is some information on the college from the 1912 Cyclopedia of Kansas: College of the Sisters of Bethany, commonly called "Bethany College," located at Topeka, Kan., has a history coincident with that of the Episcopal diocese of Kansas. In 1859, Bishop Kemper called a convention to organize the diocese, and in the report of the educational committee is found the following statement: "There is a female seminary duly incorporated at Tecumseh, Shawnee county. Liberal donations have been secured and a building is being erected to be used in Sept., 1860." The convention adopted resolutions approving the erection of a female seminary and recognized it as one of the church institutions of the diocese. The location at Tecumseh proved unsatisfactory, and it was not long until the institution was removed to Topeka. Through the influence of the rector of Grace Church, Topeka, a seminary building was commenced on a plat of ground bounded by Eighth, Tenth and Folk streets, and Western avenue. "The Episcopal Seminary of Topeka" was organized under a charter granted by the territorial legislature on Feb. 2, 1861, giving it the rights of a college. The first session of the school opened on June 10, 1861, with Mr. Preston as principal, two assistant instructors and 35 pupils. In 1865 the school reopened with Rev. J. N. Lee as principal and a staff of five assistants. Five years later the management decided to abandon the old charter and a new one was obtained under the state laws on Feb. 4, 1870. The property which had been held by Wilson Shannon as trustee was turned over to a board of trustees, and on July 10, 1872, the name of the institution was changed to the College of the Sisters of Bethany. This name does not refer to any order of sisters, but to the scriptural model of the two sisters of Bethany—Mary and Martha. In 1900 the college received a legacy of over $35,000 from Phelix R. Brunot of Philadelphia, Pa., and in 1907 opened a school for boarding pupils between the ages of seven and twelve years in a separate building from the college. The main building, Wolf Hall, was erected at a cost of $70,000 in 1872. In 1875 two stone buildings, a laundry and a barn were built at a cost of $10,000. Holmes Hall, built in 1881, cost $18,000 and Burr Hall, an addition to Wolf, was built in 1884. In addition there is a stone boiler house and chaplain's residence. The courses of the school include a kindergarten, primary and intermediate departments; a four-year college preparatory course; four-year academic course for pupils who do not intend to enter college, and a college course equivalent to the first two years of work in the University of Kansas. There is a two-year kindergarten training course and work done here receives credit at the Chicago Kindergarten College, Chicago, Ill. Special courses are offered in music, art and elocution. The college is under the supervision of Rt. Rev. Frank R. Millspaugh, bishop of the diocese, who acts as president of the school. Meliora C. Hambletin is the principal, assisted by a staff of sixteen instructors. The institution is supported by tuition and the income from its endowment fund. The property is valued at about $400,000. Bethany is one of the few women's colleges in Kansas. Payment Terms Winning bidders will receive an email at the end of the auction explaining the option for paying with Paypal. If you have questions about how to pay for this item please let me know. If you made multiple purchases for a single shipment contact us for combined shipping charges which will normally be less than the amount shown on Paypal invoice. You will receive an email notifying you when your item ships. Buyers outside the USA, please provide a telephone number for customs forms. Shipping Terms Please click on the Shipping & Payment tab above to access the eBay shipping calculator which will give you the options and costs for shipping your item depending on your zip code or country. All items are professionally packed and well protected for shipment. 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Price: 150 USD

Location: Lincoln, Nebraska

End Time: 2023-12-06T21:00:37.000Z

Shipping Cost: 10.15 USD