Grand River Institute records

Finding Aid

Prepared by Stephanie Wachalec, December 30, 2003; Updated July 2018; Last Updated: January 2024

Inclusive Dates: 1855-1927
Bulk Dates: 1860-1880
Extent: .16 cubic foot (1 slim document case)
Physical Location: 11th floor

Historical Note: The Grand River Institute, originally named the Ashtabula County Institute of Science and Industry, was founded in 1831 by a group of prominent Austinburg Congregational Church leaders. The school was originally intended to prepare young men for ministerial vocations, but in 1840 it began to admit female students as well. Betsy Mix Cowles was appointed as the school's first female principal in charge of the Women's Department, a post she held from 1843-1848. The institution's name and location changed in 1836 at the behest of Joab Austin, a wealthy citizen who pledged a sizeable endowment for the school.

The above information was located in Balanced in the Wind: A Biography of Betsy Mix Cowles by Linda Geary (Associated University Press, 1989), pp. 46-47.

Scope and Content: This collection includes documents, including catalogs, commencement and organizational programs.

Related Materials: Related information can be found in the Betsy Mix Cowles papers.

Box 1
Folder -- Contents

1. Bulletin of Grand River Institute, February 1927
2. Catalog, 1859-1860 [Giles H. Cowles, student]
3. Catalog, 1860-1861 [Giles H. Cowles, student]
4. Catalog, 1861-1862 [Giles W. Cowles, student]
5. Catalog, 1864 [E. H. Cowles, student]
6. Catalog, 1865 [Louisa L. Cowles, student]
7. Catalog, 1870-1871 [E. H. Cowles, student]
8. Catalog, 1871-1872 [Julia Cowles, student]
9. Catalog, 1872-1873 [Julia Cowles, student]
10. Catalog, 1873-1874 [Julia Cowles, student]
11. Catalog, 1874-1875
12. Catalog, 1875-1876 [L. M. Cowles, student]
13. Catalog, 1881-1882
14. Catalog, 1897
    Scope and Content: Includes a "roll of alumni" from class years 1873-1896.
15. Commencement programs, 1870, 1871
16. Commencement programs, 1872, 1873
17. Commencement programs, 1874, 1875
18. Commencement programs, 1876, 1877
19. Commencement programs, 1878, 1882
20. Commencement programs, 1883, 1884; 1888
21. Commencement program, 1926
    Scope and Content: Title is "Commencement Calendar" for June 3-10, 1926 and includes daily schedule of events as well as the program (order of exercise) for the commencement that year. Includes handwritten annotations throughout.
22. Commencement programs, undated
23. Order of exercises, 1858, 1858, 1861-64, 1866, 1868
24. Posters: Disputatorian Literary Society 1874, 1875, Disputes and Fiats, undated
    Physical Location: Filed in map case.
25. Programs: Disputatorian Literary Society, 1869, 1871-1874, 1876, 1877, 1881
26. Programs: Fiat Justitian Society, 1873-1877
27. Programs: Homecoming, 1925
28. Programs: Miscellaneous, 1855, 1863, 1872, 1881-1883; undated
29. Programs: Union Literary Society, 1858, 1862, 1866-1872