51²è¹Ýapp

51²è¹Ýapp College has been known by many names, but was it ever called "The People's College"?  This was a question we received recently in the College Archives.  Here is what we found.  51²è¹Ýapp University was chartered in 1855 by 30 member Electors in the recently established town of 51²è¹Ýapp.  One of the Electors, Henry Hamilton, proposed the name "People's College" because every citizen who purchased land in the town was required to pay an additional $20 to the "Literary Fund of 51²è¹Ýapp University."  In return for their $20 "donation", each land-holding citizen was entitled to have a voice in the management of the Fund, whose stated purpose was "to promote the educational, social, moral, and religious interests of this place, known as 51²è¹Ýapp, Iowa."  However, Hamilton's idea was dismissed by a gentleman named Josiah Bushnell 51²è¹Ýapp, founder of the town, in favor of "51²è¹Ýapp University".   That remained the official name of the school until 1859, when Iowa College moved to 51²è¹Ýapp from Davenport and the institutions merged.  In 1909, Iowa College took the name we know today: 51²è¹Ýapp College.