Projects
The Rise and Demise of the Latin School

Project Editor: Kimberly Kraska, UCARE, 2007

Table of Contents

Overview
Back to the Basics
Student Reactions
Being Preppie
Board of Regents Minutes and Papers



U.Hall as it looked when Helena entered the Latin School.

Picture of University Hall


  • Organization Date: June 14, 1871

  • Created by: The Board of Regents & Chancellor Allen R. Benton

  • Opening Date: September, 1871

  • Building: University Hall

  • Entrance Requirements: Applicants were both male and female, at least fourteen years old, of good moral character, and able to pass an entrance examination in reading, spelling, English grammar, practical arithmetic, and descriptive geography.

  • Initial Course of Study: Two Year Course of Study; Latin, Rhetoric, Ancient History, Algebra, Geometry, Greek

  • Instruction: Given by several levels of instructors: from tutors to professors.

  • Authoritative Figure: Head tutor, the Principal of the Latin School.

  • First Principal: George E. Church

  • Other Principals: C.B. Palmer, Ellen Smith, James Lees

  • Educational Tracks: Classical, Scientific, Latin or Greek Scientific, as well as many more once the University established more colleges.

  • Discontinuance Established Date: June 12, 1890, from this point on the Latin School starts to deteriorate.

  • Demise Date: Class of 1900 is the last class to have any kind of preparatory instruction.



Registration card for 1st yr. preparatory course of Helena I. Redford. It also exhibits Miss Smith's handwriting and signature.

Latin School registration card for the Fall term in 1891.




The back of a registration card listing the 1st yr. preparatory courses of Helena I. Redford.

Latin School registration card for the Fall term in 1891.


The Sombrero, the student yearbook for the University in 1883-84, lists the students in the Latin School. Both the Second and First Year students are represented. Their names, hometown, and their local residence are listed. The first issue of the Sombrero is the only yearbook to list the names of the preparatory students like this. The list starts towards the bottom of the first page.



A list of the students in the Latin School from the 1883-84 Sombrero beginning towards the bottom of the page.

Inventory of Second Year Latin School




A list of the students of the second year in the Latin School from the 1883-84 Sombrero continued.

Inventory of Second Year Latin School continued




A list of the students of the second year in the Latin School finished and the beginning of the list of the first year students from the 1883-84 Sombrero.

Inventory of Second Year Latin School and First Year Latin School Students




A list of the first year students in the Latin School from the 1883-84 Sombrero.

Inventory of First Year Latin School Students




The ending of the list of the first year students of the Latin School from the 1883-84 Sombrero.

Inventory of First Year in the Latin School


Pages like these can also be found in the Catalogues and Bulletins for the University. The 1892 Sombrero has the class histories of the Latin School too. The second year preparatory students list their classmates with their hometown. The first year preparatory students are not listed just the total number of first year students are present.



In the class history of the 1892 Sombrero, the second year preparatory students listed their fellow classmates as a part of their class history. This is the first page.

List of the Second Year Preparatory Department Students as a part of their class history




In the class history of the 1892 Sombrero, the second year preparatory students listed their fellow classmates as a part of their class history. This is the second page.

List of the Second Year Preparatory Department Students as a part of their class history




In the class history of the 1892 Sombrero, the second year preparatory students listed their fellow classmates as a part of their class history. This is the second page. This page also shows the first year students' page. There is no list of classmates but the total students in the first year program.

List of the Second Year Preparatory Department Students and the First Year Students.