Wesleyan Live

Flames on the Plains Redux

November 9, 2010

Flames on the Plains• November 9, 2010

• Role of Nebraska Churches in Establishing Colleges and Universities

• The Public School Debate in Nebraska

• Free Masonry and Education in Nebraska

Colleges/Universities Chartered by Territorial Legislature, 1855 - 1867

• 1855 Nebraska University• 1855 Simpson University• 1855 Nebraska City Coll & Prep• 1856 Nemaha University• 1856 Washington College• 1856 Western University• 1856 Plattsmouth Prep & Coll.• 1857 Brownville College• 1857 Rock Bluffs Seminary• 1857 Salem College• 1857 University of Nebraska• 1857 Omadi College

• 1857 Dakota City College• 1857 St. Mary’s Female Sem.• 1857 University of Saint John• 1860 Peru Seminary• 1860 Columbus University• 1860 Florence Seminary• 1864 All-Souls College• 1864 Nemaha Valley Seminary• 1865 Johnson County Seminary• 1866 Peru Seminary & College• 1867 Inst for Deaf and Dumb

Sustained Effort Comes with Statehood

• Denominational Efforts Responsible for most Nebraska Colleges and Universities after 1867.

Creighton University, 1879• Omaha

• Edward Creighton

• Mary Creighton

• Bishop James O’Connor and the Jesuits

• John A. Creighton

Cotner University, 1888• Bethany (Lincoln)• Christian Missionary Society• Christian Church – Disciples of Christ 1890• Two Colleges

– Liberal Arts• Classical• Sacred Literature• Philosophical• Normal Philosophical

– Medical College – Lincoln Medical College

Doane College, 1872• Crete

• Congregationalists

• Three courses of study– Art– Literature– Science

Nebraska Wesleyan University 1887• University Place• Methodists• First Attempt – Simpson University – Omaha• Consolidation – Bishop Charles Fowler

– York Seminary– Nebraska Wesleyan University

• Osceola and Fullerton

– Nebraska Central College – Central City– Mallalieu University – Bartley

Bellevue College, 1874• Bellevue

• Presbyterians

Hastings College, 1882• Hastings

• Presbyterians

Omaha Seminary, 1891• Omaha

• Presbyterian

• Training for Ministers

Grand Island College, 1892• Grand Island

• Baptists

Union College, 1891• College View (Lincoln)

• Seventh Day Adventists

• Lincoln Selected because– Environment– College town already– Educational Level of Public

• Government and Educational Employment

Evangelical Lutheran Teacher’s Seminary – Now Concordia-Seward,

1893

• Seward

• Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

• St. John’s Lutheran Church Responsible

York College, 1886• Gibbon

• United Brethren in Christ

• Moved to York in 1890

Nebraska Central College, 1899• Central City

• Society of Friends (Quakers)

Luther College, 1899• Wahoo

• Swedish Lutheran Church

University of Omaha, 1909• Omaha

• No denominational ties

• But, Charter says– An institution influenced by Christian ideals free

from ecclesiastical controls

Brownell Hall – Now Brownell-Talbot, 1861

• Saratoga (Omaha)

• Episcopal

• Episcopal Bishop Joseph Talbot

State Normal School at Peru, 1867

• Peru

• Originally Peru Seminary

State Normal School at Kearney – Now University of Nebraska-

Kearney, 1903

State Normal School at Chadron, 1888

• Chadron

• Founded by the Congregational Church in 1888

• Converted to a Normal School in 1909

University of Nebraska, 1871

Lincoln

Originally chartered at Saratoga in 1856

The Public School Debate

Free Masonry