1. Wesleyan Live
Flames on the Plains Redux
November 9, 2010

2. Flames on the Plains
• November 9, 2010
• Role of Nebraska Churches in Establishing
Colleges and Universities
• The Public School Debate in Nebraska
• Free Masonry and Education in Nebraska

3. Colleges/Universities Chartered by
Territorial Legislature, 1855 - 1867
• 1855 Nebraska University
• 1855 Simpson University
• 1855 Nebraska City Coll & Prep
• 1856 Nemaha University
• 1856 Washington College
• 1856 Western University
• 1856 Plattsmouth Prep & Coll.
• 1857 Brownville College
• 1857 Rock Bluffs Seminary
• 1857 Salem College
• 1857 University of Nebraska
• 1857 Omadi College
• 1857 Dakota City College
• 1857 St. Mary’s Female Sem.
• 1857 University of Saint John
• 1860 Peru Seminary
• 1860 Columbus University
• 1860 Florence Seminary
• 1864 All-Souls College
• 1864 Nemaha Valley Seminary
• 1865 Johnson County Seminary
• 1866 Peru Seminary & College
• 1867 Inst for Deaf and Dumb

4. Sustained Effort Comes with
Statehood
• Denominational Efforts Responsible for most
Nebraska Colleges and Universities after
1867.

5. Creighton University, 1879
• Omaha
• Edward Creighton
• Mary Creighton
• Bishop James O’Connor and the Jesuits
• John A. Creighton

6. Cotner University, 1888
• Bethany (Lincoln)
• Christian Missionary Society
• Christian Church – Disciples of Christ 1890
• Two Colleges
– Liberal Arts
• Classical
• Sacred Literature
• Philosophical
• Normal Philosophical
– Medical College – Lincoln Medical College

7. Doane College, 1872
• Crete
• Congregationalists
• Three courses of study
– Art
– Literature
– Science

8. Nebraska Wesleyan University 1887
• University Place
• Methodists
• First Attempt – Simpson University – Omaha
• Consolidation – Bishop Charles Fowler
– York Seminary
– Nebraska Wesleyan University
• Osceola and Fullerton
– Nebraska Central College – Central City
– Mallalieu University – Bartley

9. Bellevue College, 1874
• Bellevue
• Presbyterians

10. Hastings College, 1882
• Hastings
• Presbyterians

11. Omaha Seminary, 1891
• Omaha
• Presbyterian
• Training for Ministers

12. Grand Island College, 1892
• Grand Island
• Baptists

13. Union College, 1891
• College View (Lincoln)
• Seventh Day Adventists
• Lincoln Selected because
– Environment
– College town already
– Educational Level of Public
• Government and Educational Employment

14. Evangelical Lutheran Teacher’s
Seminary – Now Concordia-Seward,
1893
• Seward
• Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
• St. John’s Lutheran Church Responsible

15. York College, 1886
• Gibbon
• United Brethren in Christ
• Moved to York in 1890

16. Nebraska Central College, 1899
• Central City
• Society of Friends (Quakers)

17. Luther College, 1899
• Wahoo
• Swedish Lutheran Church

18. University of Omaha, 1909
• Omaha
• No denominational ties
• But, Charter says
– An institution influenced by Christian ideals free
from ecclesiastical controls

19. Brownell Hall – Now Brownell-Talbot,
1861
• Saratoga (Omaha)
• Episcopal
• Episcopal Bishop Joseph Talbot

20. State Normal School at Peru, 1867
• Peru
• Originally Peru Seminary

21. State Normal School at Kearney –
Now University of Nebraska-
Kearney, 1903

22. State Normal School at Chadron,
1888
• Chadron
• Founded by the Congregational Church in
1888
• Converted to a Normal School in 1909

23. University of Nebraska, 1871
Lincoln
Originally chartered at Saratoga in
1856

24. The Public School Debate
Free Masonry