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WK JI IN THE STATO’ VOLUJIL ONE. NO. NINETEEN. ~ IXTY-THREE Years ago, at La Grange, Ga., an institution was organized with the purpose of providing higher educa tion for women. In those days it was not deemed necessary, nor even expedient, that women should be educated beyond the merest elements of learning. Fe male Colleges were rare, and the few “ that did exist had to maintain their ex istence against prejudice and opposition. Great honor is due the noble men who rose above that prejudice, and fore-ran their generation in cham pioning the right of woman to a 'cultivated mind and a larger life, and who laid the foundations for the splendid colleges for the higher education of woman that are serving our civili zation so well today. Thus did Cox College and Conservatory have its be ginning, and through all these years it has wrought nobly, and contributed much to the civilization of Georgia and the South. There is scarcely a hamlet within the borders of Geor gia where one may not find the daughters of this insti tion, and which has not felt, through them, larger powers and multiplied pos sibilities of usefulness by reason of their contact with this college. As social leaders, teachers, wives and mothers the daughters and grand-daughters of this col lege have joined their hands and hearts with the workers for the high- er good of humanity, and not a few of them have been notable women. Some have gone as heralds of the 1 ‘glorious gospel of Christ” to the benighted lands beyond the seas, making the influence of this school felt in the dark est corners of the earth. The leader in the organization, and the first pres ident of the college was Dr. John E. Dawson, whose ability as a pulpit orator was recognized far beyond his own state. Talented, far-sighted and bold, he was a worthy pioneer in the cause of woman’s edu cation. On account of failing health Dr. Dawson contin ued in the presidency only a few months after the organization. He was succeeded by Milton E. Ba con, a man of superb intellect and broad culture. In 1845 Mr. Bacon secured the first charter, under NO'BLT. INSTITUTION. ~~ ~ ' ' • - ' . ■ - j— ■ ■ - ' ■ ■ • TaJS • - . . » .JMfr MBS'.'.'.' ' cLg JmMk’• .fc .• ■s• - ■O|ME fcMwE.o . i4SH .• y it' ... ’A* •».' ' 'uh- ’»- **’• WBt* "'■•>• >• ■ Iras *•■ ATLANTA, GA., JUNE 28, 1906. the name of the “La Grange Female Seminary.” In 1850 this name was changed to “La Grange Collegiate Seminary for Young Ladies,” and two years later was changed again to “Southern and Western College.” On February 17, 1854, the im stitution was incorporated under its present formal name, “Southern Female College.” Mr. Bacon conducted the school as a private institution, and boldly and very ably espoused the cause of higher education for women. In a preface to the cata logue of the school, for the year 1845, he thus dis- COX COLLEGE, COLLEGE PARK, GEORGIA. cusses the objections to woman’s education: “If, in alleging that the education of females is unnec essary, reference is had exclusively to its agency in coining dimes and dollars, no argument need be adduced. So contracted a view could not be affect ed and exhibition of its most evident benefits. The same objections may be urged against improvements in food and dress. The plainest diet and the coarsest apparel may subserve the necessities of man; but the means used to elevate his condition form the mainspring of civilized life. It perpetuates the degradation of the savage, that he is contented when the wants of nature as satisfied; but it is the char acter of civilized man to aim at higher attainments in his mental, moral and physical condition, and to find happiness in loftier aspirations and nobler em ployments. The well-informed man who confines his view of education simply to its pecuniary bene fits does not consider the happiness which his own acquirements afford. Like the free air around him, though the source of life and health, he has ever enjoyed its gratutuous support with scarcely a re flection of its existence.” These would be forceful words today, when there is a utilitarian side to woman’s education, but when it is remembered that they were penned in those days, “before the war,” when the home was wom an’s exclusive sphere, they indicate very high ground community asked for his detail, that he might go on with the noble work of the college. From 1860 to 1863, Dr. W. H. Rob ert was associate president, and for a short time sole president. The college building was siezed for use as a hospital during the civil war, and the work of the college was conducted in the Baptist church. In 1864, while in use Iby the army, the building was burned. The Confederate government, then on the verge of surrender and dissolution, could make no return. Nor was there any other source from which to look for aid, but President Cox resolved that the institution should not perish. In spite of great difficulties he carried the work forward, teaching for some years in various rented buildings. In 1817 he purchased, in his own name, a new site, and began the erection of new buildings, on his own responsibility, and as a private enter- TWO DOLLARS A YEAR. FIVE CENTS A COPY. indeed. It cannot be esti mated how much woman owes to these knights, of a generation gone, who, with a higher chivalry, advocat ed the cause that secured to her the position of dignity and power she occupies to day. President Bacon retired in 1855, and was succeeded by John A. Foster. A year later he was joined by Hen ry E. Brooks, and as as sociate presidents they ad ministered the affairs of the institution through the ses sion of 1857. Mr. Foster removed to Alabama to practice law, and subse quently became Chancellor of the Southeastern Divi sion of the State. Mr. Brooks resigned to enlist in the Confederate army. These men were succeeded by I. F. Cox, father of the late lamented Charles C. Cox. Mr. Cox also volun teered for service in the Confederate army, but the