Synodical College (MO)

Callaway Then and Now Postcards from the Past: Synodical College

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 16:55:00 +0000

The Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society posted a couple of images on May 21, 2020 focusing on Synodical College as part of their Callaway Then and Now Postcards from the Past series. The post also provides a bit of the institution's history from the inaugural class in 1873, the closing in 1928, and the use of the property in more recent years.

Survey of Former Synodical College Students

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 01:34:00 +0000

Article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides summary of results from a survey of former students. The article indicates that 176 survey questionnaires were returned with alumni residing in 21 states, the District of Columbia, and a number of foreign countries.

Source: FORMER SYNODICAL COLLEGE STUDENTS GIVE OCCUPATIONS. (1921, Mar 18). St.Louis Post - Dispatch (1879-1922) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.proxy.dbrl.org/docview/578988484.

Synodical College is Featured at the Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 01:48:00 +0000

I am posting a few photographs taken this evening of a fascinating window display at the Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society located in downtown Fulton, MO.

J.M Spencer Appointed President on April 11, 1901

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 02:50:00 +0000

Article from The St. Louis Republic, Thursday, April 11, 1901, p. 9 indicating that J.M. Spencer was selected to serve as president of Synodical College, Fulton, MO.

1894 Ad from Vinita [OK] Indian Chieftain

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 04:06:00 +0000

Advertisement from the June 7, 1894 issue of the Indian Chieftain, Vinita, Indian Territory [Oklahoma].

1902 Ad from Vinita [OK] Indian Chieftain

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 03:38:00 +0000

Advertisement from the July 24, 1902 issue of the Indian Chieftain, Vinita, Indian Territory [Oklahoma].

Ad from 1900 Searchlight Yearbook

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 20:30:00 +0000

Ad from Kansas City Journal

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 16:45:00 +0000

Advertisements for Synodical College and Westminster College from the Kansas City Journal, September 9, 1897.

Baccalaureate Speaker Announced for June 3, 1900

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 16:36:00 +0000

Announcement from the April 18, 1900 St. Louis Republic that Rev. Frank W. Sneed of the Washington and Compton Avenue Presbyterian Church will provide the June 3rd baccalaureate sermon for Fulton, MO's Synodical Female College and Westminster College.

Ad from Guthrie [OK] Daily Leader

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 16:21:00 +0000

Advertisement for Synodical College from the Guthrie [OK] Daily Leader, September 12, 1903.

1884 History of Synodical College

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 20:50:00 +0000

An eight page section on Synodical College prepared by the institution's founder, W.W. Robertson, was included in the 1884 History of Callaway County published by the National Historical Company. The material includes names of trustees, faculty, and alumnae.

Opening of Fall Term, 1888

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 17:58:00 +0000

Item selected by Sally Williams for the Callaway Memoirs section of the Sunday, August 18, 2013 Fulton Sun noting the opening of Synodical College for the fall term, 1888.

Art & Musical Departments

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:54:00 +0000

Item highlighting changes for students taking advantage of art and music offerings of Synodical College...from the Sunday, June 16, 2013 Fulton Sun.

Presidential Transition

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 23:48:00 +0000

Item noting transition in Synodical College presidents...from Dr. B. H. Charles [served 1877-1888] to H. C. Evans [served until 1893]...from the Sunday, June 9, 2013 Fulton Sun.

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Mon, 27 May 2013 16:36:00 +0000

Blog posting on Lost Womyn's Space that focuses on Synodical College.

Picnic, May 1913

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Mon, 27 May 2013 16:30:00 +0000

Item mentioning invitation extended to faculty and students of Synodical College from the Sunday, May 26, 2013 Fulton Sun.

President John James

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 19:32:00 +0000

Article on John James in the Centennial History of Missouri (the Center State) One Hundred Years in the Union, 1820-1921. The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, pp. 514-516. James became president of Synodical College in 1914.

Presbyterian Institutions 1913-1914

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:32:00 +0000

Our Presbyterian Institutions 1913-1914 is available in several formats through the Internet Archive. The document provides brief sketches of institutions supported by the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.

Three pages are devoted to Synodical College with the photograph that follows, a brief description of the institution, and a summary of financial information.

Seminole Hotel & Seminole Apartments

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:02:00 +0000

Selected text relating to Synodical College follows from the registration form submitted for consideration of Fulton, Missouri's Court Street Historic Residential District on the National Register of Historic Places.

"The district's ties to the educational institutions of Fulton also went beyond the teachers and former students who lived in the district. Two buildings associated with one of Fulton's oldest, though now defunct, private schools are contributing resources in the district. Synodical College traces its history to the Fulton Female Seminary, established in Fulton by Rev. William Robertson in 1850. Robertson also served as pastor for the Fulton Presbyterian Church. When Robertson left town, he closed the school. In 1869, a group of Fulton citizens lobbied the Synod of Missouri to open a women's college in Fulton, the Synod agreed to the plan in 1871. To secure the school, Fulton's citizens pledged $16,500 and four acres of land for the campus. By 1872, Synodical College began construction of their first building. The building served both as classroom and dormitory. The college prospered and was on the verge of expanding when it abruptly closed in 1928.

One of the two remaining buildings, 103 E. 10th St., was constructed in 1913 and was mentioned in Fulton Missouri: Past and Present Progress and Prosperity published in 1912. The booklet noted: For the session of 1912, the college shows the largest enrollment that has been known for a quarter of a century and the plans for a much enlarged plant are now being completed. This will include a new dormitory, a gymnasium, swimming pool, and all other features found in the most modern colleges for girls.

The other Synodical College building was constructed c. 1900 as West Hall. Originally an ltalianate style building with lantern at the crest of the roof, the building's exterior was extensively altered about the time of the school's closing in 1928. The current facade reflects the influence of the Tudor Revival style and was likely redone when the building was converted to a hotel c.1930. Both West Hall and the 1913 building now house the Seminole Apartments. The apartments likely took their name from the Synodical College yearbook which was called the "The Seminole." The girls who attended the schools were often referred to as "Semmies"

The Seminole Apartments, originally Synodical College's West Hall, was extensively remodeled c. 1930 to house a hotel. The exterior was resurfaced with new brick and stuccoed half timbering in the gables. The roof was reconfigured from a low-pitched hip to a steeply pitched cross gable. Oriel windows, rusticated stone accents, and stone chimneys were added to give the building the look of an English Tudor manor house.

101 East 10th Street (C)
Original Historic owner or Name: Synodical College/Seminole Apartments; Construction
Date: c. 1900/1930; Property type/style: Tudor Revival; Architect/Builder: unknown;
Outbuilding: N/A
This large L-shaped apartment building began its life as a multipurpose institutional building with ltalianate details. After Synodical College closed in 1928, the building was expanded and substantially remodeled. The two-story building has a steeply pitched hipped roof covered in clay tile. The main entrance has a pavilioned stone doorway with battlements and arch door surround molded belt course cutting the door area in half. Other Tudor Revival features include half timbering and stucco in the gable ends, stone accents,
projecting oriel windows, and large chimneys.

103 East 10th Street (C)
Original/Historic owner or Name: Synodical College Dormitory/Seminole Apartments;
Construction Date: 1913; Property type/Style: N/A; ArchitecVBuilder: unknown; Outbuilding:
N/A

This three story apartment building began its life as East Hall, and dormitory and dining room for Synodical College. The large brick building has a hipped roof with projecting bays at the east and west ends of the facade. The facade is symmetrical with a central entrance flanked by evenly spaced windows. Between the projecting bays is a multi-story porch with prick piers on the first floor and Tuscan columns on the second.

This was East Hall (dormitory and dining room) of Synodical College. Synodical College and Conservatory of Music for Young Ladies was a part of the Presbyterian Church Synod from 1873-1 928. The first building for the school was built in 1873. The campus later had three main buildings, two of which survive as the Seminole Apartments, named after the Synodical school yearbook, "The Seminole". A picket fence surrounded the well-kept campus and a gazebo and lawn tennis court was a part of the landscape. A rivalry existed between Synodical College and William Woods College (also a school for girls). Sunday mornings would find a parade of girls on each side of Court Street making their way to church, the William Woods girls on the west side and Synodical girls on the east."

1927-28 Synodical College Catalogue

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:55:00 +0000

You can click on the image to find a .pdf of the 1927-28 Synodical Catalogue.

Reprint of 1912 Souvenir Booklet

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:08:00 +0000

The Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society reprinted a 1912 souvenir publication in 1981. The souvenir booklet is available for $7.00 from the Society. Synodical College was featured on p. 14.

1927 Seminole

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:02:00 +0000

You can click on the image to reach a .pdf of the 1927 yearbook for Synodical College, The Seminole.

1928 Seminole

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:02:00 +0000

You can click on the image to find a .pdf with selected pages from the 1928 Synodical College yearbook, The Seminole.

1926 Seminole

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:01:00 +0000

You can click on the image to find a .pdf with selected pages from the 1926 Synodical College yearbook, The Seminole.

1925 Seminole

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Brown) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:00:00 +0000

You can click on the image to find a .pdf with selected pages of the 1925 Synodical College yearbook, The Seminole.