Grand River Institute records

Finding Aid

Prepared by Stephanie Wachalec, December 30, 2003; Updated July 2018; Last Updated: July 2020

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. Commencement programs, 1870, 1871
15. Commencement programs, 1872, 1873
16. Commencement programs, 1874, 1875
17. Commencement programs, 1876, 1877
18. Commencement programs, 1878, 1882
19. Commencement programs, 1883, 1884; 1888
20. Commencement programs, undated
21. Order of exercises, 1858, 1858, 1861-64, 1866, 1868
22. Posters, Disputatorian Literary Society 1874, 1875, Disputes and Fiats, undated
    Physical Location: Filed in map case.
23. Programs, Disputatorian Literary Society, 1869, 1871-1874, 1876, 1877, 1881
24. Programs, Fiat Justitian Society, 1873-1877
25. Programs, Miscellaneous, 1855, 1863, 1872, 1881-1883; undated
26. Programs, Union Literary Society, 1858, 1862, 1866-1872