Encyclopedia Dubuque
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BAYLESS BUSINESS COLLEGE: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:picnic.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Class picnic--1912]]The school found many ways of advertising itself. In 1875 the school purchased a 64-foot long sign that stretched the entire length of the Finley Block. The sign was not only one of the largest in Dubuque but made of wire which was considered very new and attractive. Considered impervious to weather, the name of the school was displayed in large gold letters. (4) In 1879 Professor Chapman's expertise with a pen earned him a silver medal for a portrait of himself surrounded by a wreath. (5) Bayless Business College also offered evening lectures on subjects such as the mound builders. (6) | [[Image:picnic.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Class picnic--1912]] | ||
[[Image:Baylessc5.jpg|left|thumb|300px|]]The school found many ways of advertising itself. In 1875 the school purchased a 64-foot long sign that stretched the entire length of the Finley Block. The sign was not only one of the largest in Dubuque but made of wire which was considered very new and attractive. Considered impervious to weather, the name of the school was displayed in large gold letters. (4) In 1879 Professor Chapman's expertise with a pen earned him a silver medal for a portrait of himself surrounded by a wreath. (5) Bayless Business College also offered evening lectures on subjects such as the mound builders. (6) | |||
[[Image:imp061.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Receipt for payment of tuition covering four weeks of class. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]] | [[Image:imp061.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Receipt for payment of tuition covering four weeks of class. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]] | ||
Revision as of 04:17, 2 June 2016
Bayless Business College. Bayless Commercial College was the first commercial college established in Iowa and is believed to be the oldest school of its kind north of St. Louis and west of Chicago. The school was known in later years as the Bayless Business College.
The college, founded on September 1, 1858, by Aaron Baylies, formerly of the Milwaukee Commercial College, originally used rooms above the old Log Tavern.(1) The first students, enrolled on October 1, 1858, paid tuition of five dollars per course. Students were also to supply their own spittoon. Such expenses often led to tuition being given in exchange for titles to wild lands or city lots. (2)
On June 16, 1862, Cornelius BAYLESS arrived in Dubuque. Although he and his cousin were nearly strangers, Cornelius was given a job as a teacher. By 1863 the two cousins were partners in the college. On August 2, 1863, Cornelius became sole owner of the college upon the death of Aaron.
Determined that the college would succeed, Cornelius entered upon an aggressive campaign using handbills and advertisements placed in the Daily Times and Herald. By 1873 enrollment had increased, and additional room was needed. Better accommodations were found in the Ogilby Building. In 1874 the college was moved again to a building on Seventh and Main STREETS. On October 19, 1875 new rooms of the school were opened on its seventeenth anniversary. (3)
The reputation of the college graduates helped ensure prompt employment of those successfully passing the curriculum. Shorthand and typing were added to the previous curriculum of bookkeeping, arithmetic, and penmanship.
The school found many ways of advertising itself. In 1875 the school purchased a 64-foot long sign that stretched the entire length of the Finley Block. The sign was not only one of the largest in Dubuque but made of wire which was considered very new and attractive. Considered impervious to weather, the name of the school was displayed in large gold letters. (4) In 1879 Professor Chapman's expertise with a pen earned him a silver medal for a portrait of himself surrounded by a wreath. (5) Bayless Business College also offered evening lectures on subjects such as the mound builders. (6)
Growing enrollment led to the school being moved during April 1892, to the Lincoln Building at Eighth and Locust Streets. In 1908 many of Dubuque's most prominent citizens toasted the college's fiftieth anniversary.
Bayless served as president of the college until 1909 when it was sold to Edwin B. LYONS.
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Source:
1. Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County, Iowa. http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/franklin-t-oldt/history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl/page-14-history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl.shtml
2. "Baylies' Commercial College," Dubuque Herald, October 20, 1873, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18751020&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
3. "The Seventeenth Anniversary," Dubuque Herald, October 19, 1875, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18751019&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
4. "New Sign," Dubuque Herald, October 30, 1875, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18751030&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
5. "Caught on the Fly," Dubuque Herald, February 2, 1879, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18790202&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
6. "The Next Lecture," Dubuque Herald, February 15, 1876, p 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18760215&printsec=frontpage&hl=en