Susquehanna University - 1858 to 1894

Missionary Institute graduating class of 1891. Female students were enrolled at the Institute when Selinsgrove Susquehanna Female College closed its doors in 1873.

This is one of the last classes to graduate from the Missionary Institute before the name was changed to Susquehanna University in 1895. The professor seated to left of the woman is Jonathan Rose Dimm, who became Susquehanna University's 2nd President in 1895.

A photograph of an early Missionary Institute graduating class. Seated in the center of the photograph is Peter Born, 3rd President of the Institute.

A photograph of the 1890 Missionary Institute graduating class. Located at the left of the first row is Professor Jonathan Dimm.

Dedication of the Institute Building took place on November 9, 1859. It became Selinsgrove Hall in 1895 to honor the citizens of Selinsgrove responsible for the school's creation.

The Institute Journal was the Missisionary Institute's first publication. It was written by faculty and students, edited by Jonathan Dimm, the Institute's 5th President, and was published monthly begining in October of 1891. In 1898 it became The Susquehanna.

The citizens of Selinsgrove wrote the Board of managers of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Institute in Baltimore stating that they had secured subscription to give to the proper officers to have the Missionary Institute built in their town. On May 3rd 1858, Selinsgrove was selected for the site of the Missionary Institute.

Benjamin Kurtz, the Missionary Institute founder and 1st President, had put out the word that he wanted to start a school where men could learn how to be teachers of the Gospel. For the location he was seeking a farm of about fifty or sixty acres, close to a city or large town and a railroad. This document is the formal letter from the citizens of Selinsgrove announcing their subscription of $22,000 and fifty students that could attend the first year of the school's opening.

This is one of the last student bodies of the Missionary Institute before the name was changed to Susquehanna University in 1895. The professor sitting in the front row left is Jonathan Rose Dimm, who later became the University's 2nd President in 1895.

A photograph of the 1891 Missionary Institute student body. Professor Jonathan Dimm, the Missionary Institute's 5th President, is seated at the left in the front row.

A grade report on Newton Catherman, who graduated from the Missionary Institute in 1891. On weekdays, religious exercises were held every morning and every evening. On Saturday evenings, students conducted their own prayer meetings. On Sundays, students were required to attend a public service. Notice that this report shows that Newton Catherman received demerits for being absent from worship services 31 times.

In response to student discipline problems, the Missionary Institute Board required students to attend morning and evening chapel services under the threat of being expelled.