History of Springfield, Illinois, its attractions as a home and advantages for business, manufacturing, etc. Pub. under the auspices of the Springfield board of trade, by J. C. Power.

ITS ADVANTAGES FOR MANUFACTURING. 57
INDEPENDENT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
BETTIE STUART INSTITUTE. her it was called the BETTIE STUART INNumerous efforts have been made in STITUTE.
Springfield, at various periods of its ex- With the-addition of the new building,
the entire edifice is ninety feet front,
istence, to establish an institution of the entire edifice is ninety feet front,
seventy-five feet deep and two and a half
learning, in which the daughters of its
stories high, making as symmetrical a
citizens, after having availed themselves stories high, making as symmetrical a
home for a young ladies' collegiate instiof all the advantages to be derived from home for a young ladies' collegiate instithe common schools, could pursue their tute as though it had originally been
studies in the higher branches of learn- designed for the purpose. It has capaito to accommodate about two hundred
ing without passing away from the
parental guardianship. pupils.
The second year, the average attendIn the early part of 1868,Mrs. 1M. McKee ance was nearly doubled and the numHomes opened a private boarding and ber of instructors increased to eleven.
day school for young ladies and children. The institntign is now in the last half of
The building in which her school opened the third year, and is increasing in usewas not suitable for the purpose, but she fulness and efficiency. All the teachers
organized each department in regular and a limited number of the pupils
order at the beginning, with a corps of board in the institution, where they are
eight teachers, and during the first year under the influences of a Christian Home.
admitted seventy-five pupils. The citi- The ability of the instructors, the
zens of Springfield were not slow to per- methods of teaching and the high standceive Mrs. Homes'. ability to manage an ard of scholarship, place the Bettie
institution for the education of their Stuart Institute on an equality with the
daughters, and began,to feel the impera- best schools for young ladies in the west.
tive necessity of providing suitable build- The first term of each year commences on
ings to accommodate the school. the first Wednesday in September, which
To accomplish this, a few of the public- for the current year is the sixth day of
spirited citizens, in the month of July, the month. Persons wishing to know
1869, effected an organization under the more of the school, can do so by addressgeneral laws of the State of Illinois for ing either of the following board of
the incorporation of academies. About trustees. Hon. John T. Stuart, John
this time it became known that the resi- Williams, Esq., Jacob Bunn, Esq., Hon.
dence of C. C. Brown, Esq., could be ob- J. C. Conkling, John A. Chesnut, Esq.,
tained upon very advantageous terms G. W. Chatterton, Esq., Dr. A. W.
for such a purpose. Funds were raised French, Gov. John M. Palmer, or Mrs.
to the amount of $25,000, the property M. McKee Homes, Principal, Springfield,
secured, and measures taken to erect the Ill.
necessary additional buildings. The in- SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS COLLEGE.
stitution was named for Mrs. C. C. Brown, This institution has been in operation
deceased, who was a daughter of the about eight years. During that time
Hon. John T. Stuart, and in memory of hundreds of young men have pursued