Alumni Reunion (1910)

This lantern slide, “Alumni Reunion (1910),” shows seven graduates of the International YMCA Training School during the school’s 25th Reunion in 1910. The men pictured are (left to right, top to bottom) Louis Schroeder (class of 1912), William H. Bennett (class of 1900), Thomas M. Brainard (class of 1900), T. Wallace Billings (class of 1912), John Sherrill (class of 1899), Joseph E. Merrett (class of 1899), and Walter W. Saunders (class of 1900).The YMCA and Springfield College share a unique history and partnership dating back to the establishment of the College, then known as the School for Christian Workers, in 1885. Springfield College was founded by David Allen Reed, a visionary minister who was deeply interested in the training and education of lay workers for churches and Association work. In 1890, supporters and donors sought to have the name and focus of the school changed to the International YMCA Training School, which eventually evolved into Springfield College as we know it today.A facsimile of this image was found with an SC number (SC21218) and a note saying that it was scanned from a glass negative. However, no glass negative can be found and the facsimile is identical to the lantern slide. We do not know whether the facsimile was made from the lantern slide or from a glass negative that is now missing. The SC file was not large enough to justify keeping and was discarded in January 2014