Student Scholarship

Document Type

Research Paper

Abstract

This document provides a detailed historical account of the Lindenwood Colleges in Saint Charles, Missouri, tracing the institution's development from its founding through 1973. The narrative begins with the biographies of founders George Champlin Sibley and Mary Easton Sibley, noting that the school originated in a log cabin named for the surrounding linden trees. Mary Sibley initially taught her younger sisters and the children of friends, establishing what is credited as the first women's college west of the Mississippi River. The institution was formally incorporated as Lindenwood Female College in 1853 under the care of the Presbytery of Saint Louis. 

The text highlights a significant evolution in the school's educational philosophy and curriculum. Early education focused heavily on religious instruction, morals, and social graces, with the Bible serving as a permanent classbook. Over time, the curriculum expanded from basic preparatory and collegiate courses in the mid-1800s to a diverse four-year program awarding baccalaureate degrees by 1918. The document tracks how the college adapted to societal changes, particularly during World War II when it emphasized economic independence for women and offered practical vocational training. 

Administrative history is also detailed through sketches of the college's presidents and descriptions of campus growth. Major physical expansions occurred under the leadership of John Roemer and Franc McCluer, resulting in the construction of numerous dormitories, laboratories, and fine arts facilities. A pivotal moment occurred in 1969 with the establishment of Lindenwood College II, a coordinate college for men, which allowed the institution to offer coeducational instruction while maintaining its traditional focus on women's education. By 1973, the colleges offered a wide array of concentrations in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences.

Research Highlights

Primary Figures: Mary Easton Sibley; Major George Sibley; Reverend A. V. C. Schenck; Dr. John L. Roemer; Dr. Franc L. McCluer; John Anthony Brown. 

Key Events: Purchase of Linden Wood land in 1814; formal school commencement; incorporation as Lindenwood Female College in 1853; transition to a four-year degree-granting institution in 1818; establishment of the coordinate college for men, Lindenwood II, in 1969. 

Date/Location: 1782–1973; St. Charles, Missouri; additional historical settings at Fort Osage and the Santa Fe Trail. 

Archival Significance: Contains the 1853 and 1870 legislative charters; original 1863 and 1884 curricula detailing preparatory and collegiate courses; records of evolution in religious philosophy from compulsory Bible study to individual option; documentation of campus physical expansion including the construction of Sibley, Roemer, and Butler Halls. 

Publication Date

12-1973

Faculty Sponsor

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