Colby College - Oracle Yearbook (Waterville, ME)

Page 28 text:

2icaroL,123YlgJg,E51520lloNAcI .RZ Warren resigned, after 28 years of service devoted to mathematics and art. His chair was taken by the late Prof. Curtis Hugh Ross Hatch. In 1902, the department of chemistry was enlarged by the addition of new apparatus and by the offering of advanced courses. This department has grown to be one of the most popular at Colby today, due perhaps to a vote of the Trustees, in 1903, to confer the degree of Bachelor of Science. It was also in this period that the Trustees voted to confer the degree B.A. without a knowledge of Greek. By the resignation, in 1902, of the Honor- able Percival Bonney, Treasurer of the College, 1881-1902, a long period of service was terminated. From beginning to end his integrity com- manded unquestioning confidence. His service was rendered con amofre. His devotion to the College wa.s recognized by all. In this period of the College history, two very generous bequests were received. In 1904, Mrs. Elizah Foss Dexter of Worcester offered 320,000 for the building of a women's dormitory. A promise of an additional 320,000 was announced for a future date and was received at the time of her decease some years later. Another bequest of generous proportion was that of 325,000 to be held as an additional endowment. At the annual meeting of the Trustees in 1907, plans were adopted and necessary official machinery established to consider the celebration of the Centennial in 1920. At this meeting Dr. E. C. Whittemore was appointed historian of the College. By special meeting in March, 1908, the Board met to consider the resig- nation of President Charles L. White, who had been elected Secretary to the American Baptist Home Missionary Society. It was at the close of this year of President White's administration that the financial conditions showed a margin above actual expenditures. Entering his administra- tion with a discouragingly large deficit and leaving with a margin of profit speaks for itself as to the sturdy, industrious, conscientious character of President White. The successor of President White was Professor Arthur Jeremiah Rob- erts, '90. Too ofiicious a title, even professor, we think! Prexy means infinitely more to our sentimental human natures. President Roberts early exhibited the progressive spirit which has been characteristic of his entire administration. He perceived that the future growth and development of Colby depended upon a strong financial system and a heavy endowment policy. In 1909 he avised the Board to take. action concerning membership in the Carnegie Foundation. Though no definite action was taken in favor of President Roberts's suggestion, it simply illustrates that the man was on the job from the beginning and had the best interests of the College at heart. In 1910 Professor Edward W. Hall, for twenty-five years Pro- fessor of Romance Languages and for thirty-seven years actively connected with the College, passed away. Professor Hall was exceedingly jealous always for the growth and prosperity of the College and to the best of his knowledge he gave practically the whole of his productive life in devoted service to her interests. In 1910 and again in 1914, due to congested rooming conditions in the Men's Division, two new dormitories, Roberts Hall and Hedman Hall, were erected at a cost of approximately 320,000 each. 27 Centennial Number

Page 27 text:

ic 0 LJBY 1119335 20 11Q1QAoI.,1.-ij The University of Chicago called Dr. Small in 1892 to be the honored head of its department of sociology. An able successor to President Small was found in the young pastor of the Free Street Church in Portland, Rev. Benaiah L. Whitman, D.D., in whose first year, 1892-93, 206 students were enrolled. Courses in uni- versity extension work were oiered by several of the Colby professors between the years 1892 and 1900. The gymnasium was enlarged and fur- nished with baths and modern equipment in 1893, and physical training became an important adjunct to the curriculum. The vigorous and effi- cient administration of President Whitman attracted the notice of Colum- bia University in 1895, and he was called to the presidency of that institution. A second graduate of the College, Dr. Nathaniel Butler, whose father and grandfather had served as trustees of Waterville College, was induced to leave an important position in the University of Chicago to become president of Colby. Dr. Butler entered upon his duties in January, 1896, bringing a wide experience in college instruction and high ideals of the function of the college in the American educational system. Under his competent direction, intellectual, physical, and social education each received due consideration. The misleading title of university, assumed when our country had no real universities, was exchanged in 1899 for that of College at his instance. A subscription to raise 860,000, for new buildings and other purposes, received the approval of the citizens of Waterville at a public meeting called by the Board of Trade. The desired amount was obtained, Rev. N. T. Dutton acting as financial agent. The Alumni Chemical Hall was erected in 1898 at a cost of 830,000 A pledge that in due time a building for the Women's College should be built and furnished was received from a friend whose name was not yet made public. Rev. C. E. Gwen, after the decease of Mr. Dutton, was given charge of a second subscription of 860,000 and his appeals have met with favorable response. President Butler gradually brought the manifold details and diverse interests of all departments of college activity into harmonious and sys- tematic working. A marked improvement in College spirit and loyalty was awakened in the student body. His scholarly addresses at many lit- erary and educational gatherings reflected great honor upon the College and made its name more widely and honorably known. But the University of Chicago, which reluctantly parted with Dr. Butler in 1896, again claimed him in June, 1901, to take charge of an important division of its work. His resignation seemed like a public calamity, affect- ing not only the College, but the entire community, which had through him been brought to take an unusual interest in the welfare of the College. The trustees elected as the successor of President Butler, Rev. Charles L. White, D.D., of Hampton Falls, N. H., a graduate of Brown University, who entered upon his duties September lst, 1901. During his adminis- tration, although the endowment was not materially increased, yet, by the liquidation of certain outstanding debts of her fitting schools, the finances of the college were strengthened and stabilized. In 1903, Prof. Laban E. 26 Centennial Number

Page 29 text:

fc c3L,1CsYlQ,35 20llODACI .RE During the administration of President Roberts, several bequests have been made to the College: in 1913, 375,000 from the estate of Levi M. Stew- art of Minneapolis, to be known as the Levi M. Stewart Fund, in 1915, William H. Snyder of Los Angeles gave a scholarship of 31,500g in 1916, Franklin Simmons of Portland gave a scholarship of 31,500 to be known as the Knox Scholarship. It was in 1915, after due deliberation with the Board and several com- munications with the General Educational Board of Rockefeller Founda- tion, that President Roberts began active campaign for the 5B500,000 endow- ment. The Educational Board pledged S125,000, providing the balance, 1 , s p .Mex ,A Illlrmnrial iliall 95375,000, be raised by June 1, 1919. Du'e to the war, this date has since been changed to June 1, 1920. At the meeting of the Trustees in 1916, President Roberts laid before the members assembled the plans for the endowment. He also announced thepledge of the Rockefeller Foundation. A general discussion by the Trustees followed his announcement. And then took place what we con- sider one of the most dramatic incidents in the history of Colby: Colonel Shannon addressed a few remarks to the Board, and in closing he pledged a sum identical to that which the Educational Board had pledged. We now quote from the minutes of the Secretary of the Meeting: No language of mine can describe the effect of Col. Shannon's announcement upon the Board of Trustees. There was an appreciable silence. Amazement and delight shone in the faces of all, tears of joy 28 Centennial N nmbev'