Hamilton College - Hamiltonian Yearbook (Clinton, NY)

Page 10 text:

Viet. iiliiiiam Pierce Slieeard, Pt. D. Nvnvnvfvv ILLIAM Pierce Shepard was born in the city of Utica, N. Y., onus the 9th of June, 1870. His primary education was received ine the public schools of that place. Being studiously inclined he made- good use of his opportunities, and graduated at the Utica Academy a 'dne student of the classics, but with so strong a bias toward the sciences that prophetic voices told of a coming scientist. In '87 he entered Hamilton College with the Glass of '91, and cast his lot with his best- friend from the Acad emy in the Delta Upsilon Fraternity. It was a. severe siege of typhoid fever in the winter of 'SS-9 that compelled him. to lose a year of work and to drop back with '92. If 391 had given Shepard a strong sentiment of loyalty to Class, '92s prompted him to greater exertion in the class-room. He graduated, recognized both by Faculty and by his thirty-eight classmates as superior in ability, in a group of ten high-honor men, with the department honor in French. He had taken fdrst prizes in French and in German, and second in Chemistry, all in exceptionally hard contests. Application, combined with brilliancy and a splendid memory, favored him. Not. given much to athletics, and little known among the social circles in Clinton, he was nevertheless popular with his college mates. He never- failed to take a hand where whist was the order 5 and to this day is sought for in the best whist circles. He took great delight in hunting and fishing, and his long tramps aiforded him sought for opportunities for enjoying nature. As a student he was always considerate of the rights of his fellows, and the fagging system, at the time so strong in Hamilton, found no supporter in him. 8

Page 9 text:

To our fellow-students we trust we have in no way given offence, but only added to the spirit of unity and good-fellowship which should exist in a college of the size of Hamilton. But to the men of '98 we particularly address ourselves. This book is yours. Our chief desire is that our production may be one which represents the class g one which in future years will call up pleasant memories of those happy days when we were all on the hill togetherg one Which Will bring to mind not the petty jealousies and quarrels, but incidents in which we were united-united as a band of Workers, having at heart the advancement and prosperity of good old Hamilton. S 2,45 f xx 7

Page 11 text:

Through the efforts of Mr. E. P. Powell, of College Hill, Mr- Shepard was retained in the College after graduation as Curator of the Cabinet of Natural History, 792-3. During the year he also pursued studies in Philology and Biology for the degree of A. M., presenting' theses, which have been preserved in the College Library, on The Structure of End-buds in Fishes, and HA Study of the Vowels in the Ohazzsonr de Roland. ln commenting upon the latter Work, Professor Brandt said that it was fully equal to many theses presented in this or any foreign country for the degree of doctor of philosophy. During the spring term Mr. Shepard was given additional work by the College as Instructor in Botany, and became a member of the Faculty. On the 22d of February, 18510, Mr. Shepard received the degree of Ph. D., magna cum laude, at Heidelberg, Where, under Professors Osthoff and Neumann, he had pursued his favorite study of Philology since the fall of '93. The subject of the thesis presented by him at this time Was, A Contribution to the History of the Unaccented Vowels in Old French. He also heard several lectures at the Sorbonne, Paris, and spent some time in Florence, Italy, studying Italian. At Heidelberg he was a member of' the student association, .LV-8Zl-.PlLZAtUlOff'Z'SC7LC'7' Ve?-ein. In the spring of 796 Dr. Shepard returned to Hamilton College to- assist in the department of modern languages as Associate Professor of French, Italian and Romance Philology. This position he is abundantly able to ill, and it is an open secret that the students admire his work and respect and love the man. The HABIILTONIAN desires to pay him the highest compliment in its power, and is glad also to present to its readers his photograph, which. appears as the frontispiece of this volume. 9