Wisconsin Thematic Panel 103-109

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The style of reachings, temporal or spiritual, for transformation of the earth.The chapel of Rockford Female Seminary, later Rockford College, 1889-1892. Anna P. Sill, who bad been Principal until 1884, was inclined toward the foreign missionary field, but became convinced that her mission was, in part, to prepare others for that calling. She prayed, however, that at least she "might be permitted after death to go as a ministering spirit and whisper sweet words of peace to some poor heathen soul." Her power over her pupils was rare and marvelous," according to one tribute, "and day after day, by word, look and act, she forged the unseen chain that at last she riveted around them. The impatience of youth might seek to shake it off and break it; the pleasures of life and the dictum of the world might strive to undo its fastenings, but sooner or later disloyal legions would wheel into line and do valiant service in the cause of truth and right.""Society Room" (below) and "Recitation Room" (at right) of Downer College in the early 1890's, at Fox Lake, Wis., before its relocation and consolidation as Milwaukee-Downer College. In its earlier phase as Wisconsin Female College, it was called a "distinctively non-sectarian Christian institution for the training of young women for Christian service in the business of transforming the earth, making it into the Paradise of God." But it was at this school that the study of home economics was first introduced into a Wisconsin curriculum as "of all subjects the most fitting to be studied by young women who are to be the chief builders of our homes."