History

Feeling the need of a school “where their children might be educated under Friendly influence,” the Nebraska Society of Friends opened a college in Central City in 1899, initially called Nebraska Central Academy.  The academy opened with 40 students and eight faculty.  In addition to regular college work with classical, literary, scientific, biblical, and normal courses of study, students could enroll in programs of elocution, music, physical culture, art or commerce.  There was also a grammar department offering two years of high school level work.

 

Nebraska Central students attended chapel daily, and most walked into Central City to attend religious services twice each Sunday.  The local chapters of the Y.M.C.A., the Y.W.C.A. and later the S.C.A. provided much of the social life of the school. Until 1924 there were Saturday classes but no Monday classes, the school determining that Monday was the better day for both study and work. 

 

The Ionian Literary Society was formed in the second year of the school’s existence, beginning Nebraska Central’s strong tradition in speech and debate.  Later literary societies included Spartan, Athenian, Hesperian, Delphian and Whittierian—the last named for the great Quaker poet.

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Enrollment at Nebraska Central was never robust—especially after the academy was dropped in 1929.  As a result, the financial status of the college was always precarious.   In 1952 enrollment dropped to 35 students.  When only 20 enrolled a year later, the school was forced to close.  In 1958 school records and memorabilia went to William Penn College at Oskaloosa, IA.