Historical Sketch of Brownell Hall

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Brownell Hall

THE PARLORS

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don't progress," and there was no thought of Brownell Hall's dying.

Tradition hands down to the "modern school" thrilling tales of "fasts and famines," April Fool snakes and bedfellows, until the hair of the uninitiated quite stands on end.

The school now was in a flourishing condition and in the year 1891 there were reported seventy-three boarders and fifty-nine day scholars, one hundred and thirty-two in all, the high water mark in attendance.

Some of Dr. Doherty's teachers remained in the school a long time. Among those were Miss Wallace, a teacher of music, who gave many years of faithful service, and Miss Ethel Davenport, a teacher of that much neglected but most important class, "The Intermediates." Miss Davenport also excelled in mathematics. Here, too, we find Miss Lyman, a graduate of Vassar. She was the first college woman employed in the school, and she inserted the entering wedge in favor of college education for women. Some of the Brownell Hall students in Dr. Doherty's time and before went to college, but they did not finish their preparation at the Hall.

It was at the suggestion of Mrs. Windsor that the Alumnae Association was formed in 1889. Mrs. Windsor realized that while Bishops and Boards might change, that "once a graduate always a graduate" would be the case with members of an Alumnae Association, and that such

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body would forever be deeply interested in Brownell Hall. Indeed she, with Mrs. Woolworth and a few others, had formed a preliminary organization, calling it an Alumnae Association, but as none of the members were graduates of the Hall, the society was abandoned as soon as the real graduates caught the idea and organized. The following note was sent to all graduates on June 5, 1889:

"You are cordially invited to be present at a meeting of the graduates of Brownell Hall on Monday, June 10, 1889, at 3 p. m., in the Library of that Institution.

"It is proposed at that time to organize an Alumnae Association.

"We hope this will meet with your hearty approval, and if you are unable to attend in person, you will send us a letter of encouragement. (Signed)

Caroline M. N. Barkalow,
Lucy E. Burgess,
Mary E. Campbell,

Leola C. Carter,
Helen Drake,

Ethel Davenport,
Florence Ware Hall,

Fanny M. Potter,
Meliora S. Ringwalt,

Leila Shears,
Mary A. Smith,
Carrie M. Tremaine,

Minnie B. Wilson,
Fannie D. Wall,

Florence A. Yates."

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The meeting, was held, and the organization formed in the parlors of Brownell Hall on June 10, 1889, Mrs. Meliora S. Ringwalt being first President. The Constitution was very simple, Article II being: "The object of this association shall be: First, to promote the growth of a higher life in woman; secondly, to further in all possible ways the prosperity of the school, and thirdly, to encourage young girls to take advantage of the opportunities for Christian Education, which Brownell Hall affords."

Having received a diploma from Brownell Hall constitutes eligibility to membership and an annual fee of one dollar is asked.

Three things were undertaken almost at once: First it was voted that moneys contributed should go for payment of tuition of daughters of clergymen. This was done for two years, the income being sufficient to defray the expenses of a day pupil, a daughter of a clergyman of the city.

In 1892 it was voted to raise $3000 as a permanent fund to be known as "The Talbot Scholarship Fund," the interest of which was to be used for payment of the expenses of a clergyman's daughter. This fund was completed and presented to the Trustees in June, 1905, the offering being first laid upon the altar in St. Matthias Church by Bishop Worthington. With the exception of the year that the school was closed, this scholarship has been in constant use. The Association has also presented some

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additions to the Library, and has furnished a "Guest Room."

The second matter in which the Alumnae interested itself was in regard to the scholarship of the school. A Committee was appointed to interview the Rector of the Hall and Bishop Worthington, asking that Brownell Hall be made an accredited school to our State University and to women's colleges, but both Bishop Worthington and Dr. Doherty thought the move unnecessary, and it was not done until 1904, under Miss Macrae, when the same request was made and granted, since which time Brownell Hall has had students in colleges continuously.

The third effort of the Association has not yet been accomplished, viz: The privilege of naming one member of the Board of Trustees.

The Alumnae Association has been active in promoting a pleasant social relationship between the faculty of the school and the citizens of Omaha, occasionally planning entertainments through the year, and it holds its annual business meeting during commencement week in the Library of the Hall.

In 1893 a financial panic came and Dr. Doherty had hard work to continue the school. He had lived and labored in the school for twenty-two years, had married and made his home there, his children were all born there, and he was bound by all the ties of home and church to the school, and it was with genuine

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sorrow that in 1897 he handed in his resignation. With his family he moved to South Dakota, where he continued his labors as a priest of the Church.



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