Baird College

Many modern conveniences, including bathrooms on every floor, fire escapes, gas lighting, speaking tubes and electric bells, were provided for the students' comfort.

[5] It was advertised as one of the strongest female colleges of the west[6] and within 2 years of its opening boasted of having over 100 boarding students and 300 attendees, being taught elocution, languages, art and music.

[13] Initially, the school directive was to teach German-speaking students to be ministers so that they could speak to German immigrant worshippers in their native tongue;[14] however, with the advent of World War I a name change was deemed prudent by then president, Frank Isaac.

[15] As the war continued, many congregations adopted English as their preferred worship language to show their patriotism and confirm that they had joined in their new society.

As the need for German-speaking ministers declined, administrators questioned the need for the school, which competed for the same students as Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska.