Historical Sketch of the St. Louis University - The Celebration of Its Fiftieth Anniversary, or Golden Jubilee, on June 24, 1879 #272547

The college began fifty years ago, on its present site, which was in the open prairie, at some distance from the town of St. Louis, as the town was in the year 1829. Such leading facts of its history as could be learned from its somewhat imperfect records are stated ingenuously, and as they actually happened, even when they were not the most favorable for God has a hand, either directly or permissively, in real facts, but has no share in things falsely affirmed to have happened. The means employed at different periods by the faculties of the university for the advancement of learning, with more or less good fortune, may be suggestive of some useful thought to minds engaged with questions per taining to the matter and the methods of collegiate education. Though not free, doubtless, from numer ous imperfections, yet the work records some things which are, perha' s, sufficiently various and significant in their nature to interest the reader that finds pleasure and subject-matter for reflection in the deeds of good men who have gone before us.