The Principia history

When the school started its second year, 1899, a boarding department was established for 5 students, one of whom was “A boy from Australia, whose parents simply notified the school, after the boy had set sail, that he was on his way to America to enter Principia” (As the Sowing, p.62).

The first high school class graduated in 1906.

In 1910, the four-year program expanded to six years, resulting in one of the first junior colleges in the nation.

Then with the founding of the School of Nations in May of 1927, a scholarship program was established to enable more international students to enroll.

When Principia began moving the college to Elsah in 1930, Eliestoun at once became important.

In 1934, Principia’s new four-year liberal arts college, established across the Mississippi River in Elsah, Illinois, graduated its first class.

IV. Munby, "The two titlepages of the distribution of the first edition of Newton's Principia," Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London 10 (October 1952). Todd, "A bibliography of the Principia.

Eliestoun served as the official residence of the President of The Principia until 1959, when it housed single staff women for several years, and then students in various academic programs.

In the late 1970’s the CEO of Principia realized that the international students needed additional support.

The International Student Coordinating Committee was established in 1975.

In 1980 a new position was created, and Margie Hamlin became the first International Student Coordinator at Principia College.

In 1981 the international students organized the first Whole World Festival.