1.  One file containing an original letter from Manchester College students to the Board of Trustees, April 5, 1900.

The student petition to the Board of Trustees was from an early era in Manchester College history when both the academic and administrative credibility were in question. This file contains an original letter from Manchester College students to the Board of Trustees,dated April 5, 1900.

Background: E. S. Young was President of Manchester College from 1905 - 1899.   Young was joined in the venture to start a German Baptist Brethren college by his brother, S. S. Young.  Young and his brother resigned in the spring of 1899, four years after they started (see A Century of Faith, Learning and Service, pg. 25).  The local newspaper reported that the Youngs and their board ot trustees could not agree upon the conduct and management of the school (pg. 25, 26).  The finances were tight and enrollment was dwindling.  The trustees chose a successful businessman for Young's successor, H. P. Albaugh.  In 1900 Manchester College awarded its first bachelor's degrees since the college became associated wtih the Church of the Brethren in 1895.  A number of students about to finish their college course began to worry "that their college diplomas wouldn't amount to much unless signed by someone with a college degree."  Other tensions arose and some students and teachers left and Albaugh resigned. Winger later wrote, "It was discouraging to the students and faculty to have these changes succeed one another so closely."  The coming of  L. D. Ikenberry, a Church of the Brethren man with a degree from Lawrence University, Kansas, called to Manchester from a Brethren college in Virginia, changed that picture. Ikenberry seemingly had no ambitions to be president.  He served the college for forty years as a teacher and administrator and served as acting president (1900 - 1901) until a permanent one could be found.  He was followed by Professor E. M. Crouch.

From, A Century of Faith, Learning and Service, pgs. 25 -28.

E. S. Young was President of Manchester College from 1905 - 1899.   Young was joined in the venture to start a German Baptist Brethren college by his brother, S. S. Young.  Young and his brother resigned in the spring of 1899, four years after they started.  Not much is known about the conflicts contributing to President Young's departure although Otho Winger later gave what might be a clue.  He remembered Young as "one of the best Bible teachers I ever heard, for he taught the Bible instead of a lot of opinions about it."  He also conceded that "Professor Young was probably a better teacher than administrator (see A Century of Faith, Learning and Service, pg. 25)."  The local newspaper reported that the Youngs and their board ot trustees could not agree upon the conduct and management of the school (pg. 25, 26).  The finances were tight and enrollment was dwindling.  The trustees chose a successful businessman for Young's successor, H. P. Albaugh.  

In 1900 Manchester College awarded its first bachelor's degrees since the college became associated wtih the Church of the Brethren in 1895.  A number of students about to finish their college course began to worry "that their college diplomas wouldn't amount to much unless signed by someone with a college degree."  Other tensions arose and some students and teachers left and Albaugh resigned (A Century of Faith, Learning and Service, pgs. 27, 28).  Winger later wrote, "It was discouraging to the students and faculty to have these changes succeed one another so closely." 

The coming of L. D. Ikenberry, a quiet man from a Brethren college in Virginia, changed that picture.  The college newspaper announced (p. 27): "In the reorganization of Manchester College the management falls into the hands of a chairman of the Faculty and executive committee, the chairman of he Faculty being also chairman of the executive committee.  To this position Prof. L. D. Ikenberry, President of Botetourt Normal College, has been appointed.  Prof. Ikenberry comes highly recommended, having taken his degree in Lawrence University, Kansas."

Ikenberry seemingly had no ambitions to be president.  He served the college for forty years as a teacher and administrator and served as acting president (1900 - 1901) until a permanent one could be found.  He was followed by Professor E. M. Crouch.

The student petition was from that era in Manchester College history when both the academic and administrative credibility were in question.

Description prepared 26 April 2007 by Jeanine M. Wine and last updated 26 April 2007 by Jeanine M. Wine.