*** 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 79--- for good discipline and thorough work will be fully equal to that which it has already established. The graduates of the institution, up to May, 1876, number fifty-eight. The annual commencement takes place in the month of May, each year. CHRISTIAN COLLEGE. This institution is under the control and patronage of the Christian Church in the State of California. It is one of the two colleges situated in the city of Santa Rosa which institutions are the pride and glory of the place. The grounds were purchased, and the buildings erected during the summer of 1872, at a cost of about twenty-five thousand dollars. The main building is well-constructed. In size it is ample for several hundred students, being one hundred and three feet long by sixty-nine wide. The college chapel is a hall, beautiful in design, and well arranged for comfort. There are a sufficient number of recitation rooms, society and music halls, well adapted to the use for which designed. The present faculty has been secured at great expense, most of them being men of large experience in their profession. The college building was dedi- cated with appropriate services on Monday, September 23, 1872. On the same day the college commenced its first session under the presidency of Alexander Johnson, assisted by a competent corps of teachers. The beginning was truly flattering. After five years’ experience we feel that we may confi- dently say that Christian College is destined, at no very distant day, to take rank among the first institutions on this coast. The college is situated on B street, in the center of the city. The build- ings and grounds are worth at least thirty-five thousand dollars. Christian College has many warm friends throughout the State, and we hope to see the day when it will be placed on the most prosperous possible basis, by endow- ment. The annual commencement is largely attended from all parts of the State, and creates a very lively interest in the subject of education. Much of the prosperity of Santa Rosa is due to the two colleges located within its bounda- ries. We give a list of the faculty: J. M. Martin, A.M., president; J. M. Monroe, A.M., professor of languages; J. Bradshaw, A. B., professor of mathematics; J. Derham, A. M., professor of sciences; A. A. Hoyt, professor in charge of commercial department; Mrs. Murphy, primary department; Mlle. Lovet, teacher of French. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF SANTA ROSA. The public schools of Santa Rosa constitute one of its most important inter- ests, and are among its chief attractions. The same salubrity of climate, beauty of scenery, and morality of sentiment that have been instrumental in building up the colleges of this city, have also produced a remarkable growth in its public educational facilities. Three years ago the schools numbered six teachers and three hundred pupils; to-day they contain fourteen teachers and six hundred and fifty pupils in reg- ular attendance. Within this time the facilities for school work have been *** end ***