PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
In addition to the private schools that existed here in an early day, there were a number of private schools which did good work in Atchison subsequently to the Teasdale school, which was operated here in the eighties. Mrs. Harriet E. Monroe rendered the cause of education in Atchison county an invaluable and also an imperishable service. Mrs. Monroe founded the Atchison Institute. In 1871 she erected a building at the northwest corner of Third and Kansas avenue, to which a wing was added in 1876, and three years later the large brick building, all of which are still standing. The property represented an investment of $25,000, and the success of Mrs. Monroe’s enterprise was phenomenal. She received no bonus or assistance from city, county, State, church or individual. She had nine students when she started her school, and subsequently increased her enrollment to 300. She had a musical department and an art department, and they were admitted to have no superior in the Missouri valley at that time. She also conducted a kindergarten, primary, intermediate and academic grades. Also a collegiate department, consisting of preparatory, scientific, classical and literary courses, together with the normal and commercial courses. She had thirteen teachers. Her vocational department covered all the arts of domestic economy and domestic science, before which she employed most eminent women in their special lines to deliver lectures. Mrs. Monroe was then, and is now, a truly remarkable woman. Her school was a forerunner of Midland College, and when it came to Atchison in 1887, Mrs. Monroe closed her school shortly thereafter and has since been a resident of Washington, D. C. She is a highly educated lady of refinement and culture, and has spent much time upon the lecture platform.
Following the Monroe Institute, some years later, Prof. Flint conducted a Latin school here, which was largely attended. Mr. Flint was succeeded by Prof. Foot, and as an outgrowth of these two schools, Misses Helen and Abigail Scofield opened a preparatory school, and successfully conducted it for a number of years, when they were succeeded by Miss Mary Walton, who ran her school in the building owned by Mrs. J. W. Parker, on Laramie street, between Third and Fourth streets, until a few years ago.
In 1916 the public school system is augmented in its work by several parochial and denominational schools, conducted by the Catholics and the German Lutherans.