University of New England

Comments by Jacqueline Morrill '07* at the March 22, 2006, 175th Anniversary Convocation Celebration

As a student living on the Westbrook College Campus, I’m proud to be the one to tell the story of our unique history.

The Westbrook College Campus was founded as Westbrook Seminary in 1831. 175 years ago the founders set forth their mission: to establish a “literary institution” for “the education of youth.” In 1834, the year when the first classes were taught on this site, Westbrook Seminary announced that, “males and females will be admitted to equal privileges.” Such co-education was a daring innovation in the 1830s – a time when women couldn’t even vote!

Westbrook Seminary was so named, because in 1831 this portion of Stevens Plains was part of the town of Westbrook. This campus has remained in the same exact location for 175 years, yet has existed in 3 towns – Westbrook from 1831-1870, Deering from 1871-1898, and Portland since 1899!

In 1863 the Maine state legislature amended Westbrook Seminary’s charter to prescribe “a course of studies for young ladies equivalent to that of any female college in New England.”  Westbrook Seminary thus became Westbrook Seminary and Female College; and, for a short time, it offered degrees called L.L.L., or “Lady of Liberal Learning” and L.E.L. “Lady of English Learning.”

In 1925 the institution became Westbrook Junior College, offering a two-year, career-oriented curriculum to women only. In 1970, recognizing the growth of four-year programs of study, the Board of Trustees changed the name to Westbrook College.

And coming full circle in 1973, Westbrook College again became co-ed when it opened its doors to both male and female students.

In 1996 Westbrook College and the University of New England merged and the Westbrook College Campus became the home of the
College of Health Professions.

Any academic institution that’s been in existence for 175 years has seen a lot of students pass through its doors. Although courses of study, faculty, dress and manners have certainly changed at the Westbrook College Campus, the wit, exuberance and enthusiasm for life demonstrated by our students has remained constant. Here are just a couple of examples found in the Library’s Westbrook College History Collection:

19th Century Student Wit
The wit of 19th century students is found in the memoirs of student Edwin Rollins. Rollins wrote: “One of the brightest, and at the same time most mischievous students at Westbrook Seminary was a lad from the South. When assigned a long algebra problem one day, he wrote the beginning of the problem at the left end of the blackboard with a large bracket beside it. He left a large space, and at the other end he placed the companion bracket. He then took his seat. When called up to explain his solution... gravely he opened his book, picked up the pointer, and proceeded thus:

‘I was assigned the problem which I have written here,’ he said, as he pointed at the problem. ‘And through a long and tiresome solution represented by the space between these brackets,’ as he gestured at the empty space… ‘I arrived at the answer, shown here…  Which I found . . . in the back of the book.’   Just as gravely he returned to his seat, but there was no gravity among the rest of us.”   A fine example of nineteenth-century student wit and exuberance!

Strict standards of conduct were scrupulously observed by the majority of Westbrook Seminary students – most of the time! In 1903 Adelaide Louise Butman wrote of student life:  “Sometimes we went to Bowdoin and sometimes to Bates for interscholastic track meets. 

Of course, Miss Deborah Morton and other members of the faculty went with us. We went by electric car and they didn’t run very often. After one such meet at Bowdoin was over, Miss Morton and most of the girls got on the electric car, which pulled away and left a bunch of us behind on the street.  Up flew our banners! We were free!  Our liberty was short-lived, though.  Some way up the hill the electric car stopped. Out came Miss Morton. She was holding her long skirts in both hands coming determinedly down the rocky path. When she reached us she surveyed us up and down, and one by one, and two by two!  She said, “It seems to me strange that all those left behind are . . . couples.”

World War II-Era Exuberance
World War II-era exuberance figured prominently in Westbrook Junior College student life as well. In 1945, shocking new songs such as “Hey there, Kitty!” and “Kitchen Mechanic,” sung by the high-spirited junior college girls during dinner, would cause Dean Melville’s and Dean Kimball’s eyebrows to raise at least six inches. But their eyebrows rose six feet the day an Air Force pilot buzzed the campus, tipping his airplane wing at the 14 girls living at The Lodge, a house for seniors on Stevens Avenue.

In 1994, an overabundance of student exuberance (involving activities more suited for the Old Port) got the men of Ginn first floor confined to campus. That year’s Charter Day theme celebrated the 1960’s, so the students from Ginn Hall took the opportunity to exhibit their newly-acquired knowledge of the period. They held a peaceful 60’s-style protest and demonstration that led Dean Watson to lift their campus restrictions, insuring that 20th century student spirit and 19th century student wit would continue on into the future.

Today the Westbrook College Campus is celebrating the anniversary of its founding 175 years ago. It is also celebrating 175 years of student exuberance for learning and study, and for life.  So, here’s to wishing a Happy 175th Birthday to the Westbrook College Campus!
Thank you.

*Jacqueline is a dental hygiene major, recipient of a Deborah Morton student scholarship, Student Leader Scholar, Orientation Leader, and president of the Student Association of Dental Hygienists