ILLINOIS FEMALE COLLEGE
A flourishing institution for the education of women, located at Jacksonville and incorporated in 1847.
While essentially insectaria in teaching, it is controlled by the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Its first charter was granted to the "Illinois Conference Female Academy" in 1847 but four years later the charter was amended and the name changed to the present cognomen. The cost of building and meager support in early years brought on bankruptcy.
The friends of the institution rallied to its support, however, and the purchasers at the foreclosure sale (all of whom were friends of Methodist education) donated the property to what was technically a new institution.
A second charter was obtained from the State in 1863 and the restrictions imposed upon the grant were such as to prevent alienation of the title by either conveyance of mortgage. While the college has only a small endowment fund ($2,000) it owns $60,000 worth of real property besides $9,000 invested in apparatus and library.
Preparatory and collegiate departments are maintained both classical and scientific courses being established in the latter. Instruction is also given in fine arts, elocution and music.
The faculty (1898) numbers 15 and there are about 170 students.