History
The Beginning of Drake University
Copied from Quax 1928, Drake University's yearbook
Drake University opened on September 20, 1881, in a temporary, four-story frame building that had been constructed during the summer, on the site now occupied by Howard Hall, and facing Twenty-fifth Street. This building was called the Students' Home, and for two years, while Main Building, now known as Administration, was under construction, provided chapel, recitation rooms, dormitory and dining hall. The campus was beyond the residence district, and was not then in the city limits. Except for the newly built homes, there were none but farm houses west of Twenty-second Street and north of Cottage Grove Avenue. The location was in a heavily wooded tract through which only a few weeks before the opening of school streets had not been cut nor sidewalks laid. The city street car line, with its horse or mule power, came no nearer than Fifteenth Street and Woodland Avenue.
But to begin at the beginning. In the '50's the Church of Christ in Iowa had undertaken the establishing of a college in Oskaloosa. The Civil War came on. Contractors failed. Subscribers could not meet their pledges. And so, in the unfinished building that had been erected, on September 2, 1861, George Thomas Carpenter and his brother, two young men recently from Illinois colleges, opened a preparatory department.
The next year the school was taken over by the Board of Trustees, and the faculty was enlarged. Years passed and the school continued, but always with a struggle. One strong teacher after another would be forced to leave for a more remunerative position.
In the fall of 1880 three of that year's best teachers had tendered their resignations to take effect at the close of the school year. That proved a crucial hour. It seemed useless longer to try to build upon the old foundation the great school for which the Church of Iowa hoped. Then it was that Daniel R. Lucas, pastor of the Central Church of Christ in Des Moines, learning from President Carpenter that he was greatly troubled regarding the future of Oskaloosa College, suggested the removal of the school to Des Moines. This conference took place in the Altoona, Iowa home of J.B. Vawter.
During the months that followed plans were developed and forces set in motion for the establishing of the new school.
To start the endowment it was decided that if some friend would give $20,000 the University would be named for him. That friend proved to be General Francis Marion Drake of Centerville, Iowa, who under date of February 24, 1881, replied to D.R. Lucas' appeal to him as follows: "I can and will do it. I will give you $20,000. Go ahead." The new school had a name.
The following incident may have had much to do with determining the location of the school. In March, 1881, President Carpenter was called to Des Moines to see a certain tract of land. At that time one could not enter this tract with horse and buggy except at what now is the corner of Twenty-forth Street and University Avenue. The story is told that he and Mr. Ira B. Anderson were going over the ground, Mr. Anderson a little way ahead, President Carpenter climbed for twenty-five feet or more into a tree (about one rod east of where the Main or Administration building now stands) and called to his companion that he plainly could see the State Capitol. "Later," said Anderson, "I looked back and there stood that great and good man with with bared head praying that a great educational institution might be established at this location. I went to him, took his hand, but neither of us spoke."
Articles of incorporation of Drake University were filed on May 7, 1881. One June 28, 1881 the building committee was appointed by the Board of Trustees. On July 15, 1881, a contract was accepted for the four-story frame building to be completed and read for occupancy within sixty days. On September 20, school opened with fifty students and consecrated corps of teachers. The attendance for that year was two hundred and seventy.
These were the beginnings of Drake University.