A St. Louis mother, concerned about the moral and spiritual dimensions of her two sons' education, began to home-school them in a carriage house behind her home. Soon another little boy from their Christian Science Sunday School joined Mary Kimball Morgan and her two boys in what was to blossom into The Principia.

As other Christian Scientists learned of her informal school and its goals, they asked if she would teach their children too. Soon she had to move from her carriage house to a two-room storefront in order to accommodate the fifteen students, herself, and a second teacher, Fannie Ball Perrin.

The school continued to grow. By 1906, Principia had graduated its first high school class. In 1912, the Junior College was added - one of the first in the nation. And, by the mid-1930s, a separate campus for the four-year College was established on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. In 1934, the first class from this four-year liberal arts and sciences college graduated on the Elsah, Illinois, campus.

From those early days, Principia has developed into a strong, independent school with two beautiful campuses and fine, modern facilities - enrolling a total of about 1,200 students. Today Principia's students come from all over the United States and many other nations.

Mrs. Morgan, a Christian Science practitioner and teacher, continued to provide prayerful, inspired leadership to the development of Principia and grounded its progress solely on spiritual unfoldment. Today over 14,000 Principia alumni live throughout the world.

In recognition of its consistently high academic standards, Principia continues to earn outstanding evaluations of its primary, secondary, and higher education programs by regional and national accreditation associations.

Principia also serves adult Christian Scientists each year through programs sponsored by Principia Clubs throughout the United States and in several other countries. Through our PACE (Principia Adult Continuing Education) activities, we offer two-week adult enrichment programs at Summer and Autumn Sessions - held at Principia College - and travel programs led by experienced faculty members.