Branch Sawyer ('71), an outstanding alumna, who at her death, left a generous legacy to the school; 1929 -- Dedication of the new Gymnasium and Swimming Pool twelfth building of the series of brick structures, costing $85,000, providing facilities, also, for the Department of Drama and Speech. These buildings form a harmonious group on the green campus.
The capstone of Dean McKee's achievements was his forward-looking introduction of two years of liberal arts college work superimposed upon the four-year academy course. Shimer was one of the first institutions to undertake the Junior College Plan and graduated its first college class in 1910. This plan was a boon to young people unable to take a full college course, and for those who could go on, junior college work at Shimer was, and still is, credited for advanced standing in regular colleges and universities. About 80 per cent of Shimer graduates transfer to institutions of higher learning.
The Board, at this time, authorized use of the name "Frances Shimer Junior College and Preparatory School." To old alums this seemed like a revival of the "Collegiate Course" of Mrs. Shimer's day.
In 1920 the school fully met the requirement standards of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and by 1927 there were 250 students in attendance and 22 teachers on the faculty.
In 1929 Frances Shimer was one of 57 institutions which co-operated in a study of revision of standards for the accreditation of colleges being made by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
The seal of Frances Shimer Academy bears the Latin motto, "Non ministrari sed ministrare," -- "Not to be ministered unto, but to minister." The spirit of that motto was not only exemplified by the devoted service of Dean McKee, but came to permeate the faculty, the student body, the Board and the far-flung alumni, particularly in the years just following the devastating fire, which, at the time, seemed a major catastrophe, but later proved to be a blessing in disguise, the prick of necessity that urged the school on to greater things. For, thereafter, occurred the greatest demonstration of love for and loyalty to the school, a veritable outpouring of gifts, services and creative activity. In addition to the substantial gifts of large sums for buildings, referred to hitherto, there were hundreds of alums, Mt. Carroll and Carroll County citizens and well-wishers in distant places who gave liberally as they could afford to further the work of reconstruction.
Gifts of money for scholarships included $10,000 from the Hathaway family plus $1,000 for the Hathaway House Repair Fund, $2,000 from Dr. W. Lichty honoring the memory of his wife, Mary E. Webb Lichty ('71); the $2,500 D.N. Greeley Endowment Fund; the Hissom Annuity Fund, given by Dr. Metcalf, alumnus and President of the Board, in honor of his ward, plus the residue of his estate to be given one-half for laboratory equipment and one-half to be used for the school's best interest as the Trustees should decide; the Susan E. Colver $1,000 Lectureship Fund, given by Mr. and Mrs. Jesse L. Rosenberger in memory of Mrs. Rosenberger's mother who had attended Mount Carroll Seminary.
Mr. T.J. Llewellyn, one of the Trustees, financed the layout out of a 7-hole golf course in what once was the school's orchard; Mrs. S.J. Campbell gave the beautiful mosaic fountain installed in the Campbell Memorial Library; through the efforts of instructors, students and friends of the Music Department a Steinway Grand was purchased for the assembly hall; scores of alums donated to the fund for equipping Metcalf Chapel with opera chairs, and presented an oil painting of Dean McKee, which now hangs over the fireplace in McKee Hall dining room. Mrs. Harriet Nase Connell ('89) wrote, costumed and directed the
