*** Source: Thompson, Robert A., Historical and descriptive sketch of Sonoma County, California. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1877, 122 pgs. Notice: This data is donated to the Public Domain by TAG, 2004, and may be copied freely by anyone to anywhere. *** ---page 78--- It was decided to open a preparatory school on the 11th of March, 1861. The first regular session of the college was opened in July, 1861, with Profes- sor C. S. Smyth, department of mathematics; Professor S. B. Morse, depart- ment of languages, and Miss E. A. Caldwell in charge of primary department. The first day showed an attendance of only thirteen students; yet within four months the number had increased to forty-six. Three weeks before the close of the session, Rev. W. T. Lucky, who had previously been elected president, arrived and took charge of the institution. The first annual catalogue, published in May, 1862, contained the names of over eighty students enrolled for the year. There was a period of uninter- upted prosperity from 1862 to April, 1865, when the main college building was destroyed by fire- the work of an incendiary. Provision was promptly made for the accommodation of classes, and the exercises of the institution went on as usual, without the loss of a single recitation. After a year and a half of zealous effort on the part of the agent, Rev. W. M. Winters, another building was erected, at a cost of sixteen thousand dol- ars. In December, 1866, Dr. Lucky tendered his resignation, to take effect in May, 1867. At the annual meeting of the board of trustees, in May, Dr. J. R. Thomas, of Emory College, Georgia, was elected president. The insti- tution continued its sessions in Vacaville until May, 1870, when, by vote of the trustees, it was removed to Santa Rosa. The citizens of Santa Rosa and vicinity generously donated ten acres of land, and erected thereon a spacious college building, at a cost of twenty-five thou- sand dollars. The present value of the buildings and grounds is estimated at thirty thousand dollars. The college grounds are situated in the northeastern part of the city, and are beautifully ornamented with evergreens and native oaks. The building is commodious, affording accommodations for three hun- dred students. There are two literary societies connected with the college, which have their halls neatly furnished. The libraries of the two societies contain about eight hundred volumes. The first regular session in Santa Rosa was opened in August, 1871, with A. L. Fitzgerald, A. M., president and professor of mental and moral science; C. S. Smyth, professor of mathematics; Charles King, professor of languages, and Miss Florence Miller in charge of the primary department. In July, 1876, President A. L. Fitzgerald tendered his resignation, to take effect in October, when Rev. W. A. Finley was elected to take charge of the institution. The present faculty consists of Rev. W. A. Finley, D. D. , president and professor of mental and moral science; C. S. Smyth, A. M., professor of math- ematics; O. H. Roberts, A. M., professor of Latin language and literature; E. J. Griffith, A. M., professor of natural science; W. A. Finley, A. M., professor of Greek language and literature; Ferdinand Kenyon, A. B., tutor in mathe- matics; W. A. Wright, A. M., commercial and business department; Miss Lilla Werlien, department of music. The present attendance is good, and the prospects of the college are in every respect encouraging. While the institution has enjoyed marked prosperity under previous administrations, we are confident that in the future its reputation *** end ***